Will 'Law & Order' live on to break a TV record?

NEW YORK (AP):

Will the criminal justice system be alive on Law and Order next fall? It's down to the wire whether the venerable TV cop drama will be nabbing more bad guys in a history-making run.

With the official announcement of NBC's 2010-11 schedule due tomorrow, the network on Thursday still wasn't handing down a verdict on the show.

NBC refused to confirm multiple reports that the show was being cancelled after 20 seasons on the air, one year short of an all-time record.

Meanwhile, a person close to the production said talks are still going on. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because that person was not authorised to speak publicly about the negotiations.

No official closure

The show's season (or series) finale airs May 24, with no official closure. It will mark the departure of S. Epatha Merkerson, a cast member since 1993, but her leave-taking is unrelated to the show's future.

The series' other current stars include Jeremy Sisto, Anthony Anderson, Linus Roache, Alana De La Garza and Sam Waterston.

Despite sagging ratings, Law and Order had been considered likely for renewal next season when it would be poised to surpass Gunsmoke as TV's longest-running drama. That achievement has been an enduring dream of the series' powerful creator, Dick Wolf, who not only furnished NBC with this so-called "mother ship" but expanded it into two still-running Law and Order spin-offs.

Last September, a dozen past and present Law and Order stars gathered in the show's courtroom set to celebrate the start of the 20th year.

At the time, Wolf said he looked forward to the show continuing another year and beyond. Then he added, "I hope we'll see you here in 2013."