For a while it looked as though executive producer Dick Wolf and NBC may have been able to come to some kind of agreement, but it looks like that’s fallen through. NBC’s press release said they will continue to work with Mr. Wolf on the spin-offs, including a new one set in Los Angeles.

‘Law & Order’ has been one of the most successful franchises in the history of television, which is why it is so critical that we continue this important brand and our relationship with Dick Wolf and his team with ‘LOLA’ and ‘Law & Order: SVU.'

The death of the flagship show means Mr. Wolf will just miss his goal of defeating Gunsmoke for the title of longest-running TV drama. We reached out to him for comment and he offered a terse statement via email: "Never complain. Never explain."