Is Law & Order in danger of cancellation?

That's the buzz. I don't like it, because the original Law & Order is the one that got me hooked on the genre. But I can't complain, because since it moved to Fridays -- and with all these cast changes -- I haven't made watching it a priority. Still, it's a shame to hear of a show struggling after almost 17 years!

I love how formulaic it is. As a writer, I enjoy watching them squeeze and shape each story to fit their template. It starts with typical New Yorkers caught in the act of doing something very ordinary … until they stumble upon a body, emphasizing the randomness of it all. Then the first half of the show is the investigation and the second half is the prosecution. More than once I've been surprised by the jury's verdict, too. I love being surprised. And who can resist the audacity of their "ripped from today's headlines" plotlines? I wonder how close they've come to being sued …

The cast changes were once the show's strength. I have my favorite L&O lineup. I believe it's ca. 1995.

DA -- Adam Schif (the conscience of the series)
Exec. ADA -- Jack McCoy
ADA -- Claire Kincaid
Police Lt -- Anita Van Buren
Detectives -- My beloved Lennie Briscoe and that hottie Reynaldo Curtis

For plot twists, character development and dialog, I know that SVU has moved passed the original. But still, I'd hate to see L&O go … even though I suspect it will live on eternally on cable.

At least one cast member probably wouldn't care if it's cancelled though. Sounds like Fred Thompson has his next career move mapped out already.