The One Law And Order Episode NBC Refuses To Air Again

When "Law and Order" debuted on NBC all the way back in 1990, it was a truly novel concept for an hour long crime show. It put together the classic cop series and the courtroom drama, following both the detectives and prosecutors who work criminal cases. It also did something different with its stories, using a "ripped from the headlines" approach where episode plots were based on real news.

Largely, that method of storytelling has been a smashing success for "Law and Order," giving it a realism few other shows of its type can boast. But a few times, things have gone awry, and at least once, it led to the network to shelve one episode permanently. Here's the one "Law and Order" episode NBC refuses to air again.

#LawandOrder #CrimeDrama #TVShows

[Looper]

What do you think about NBC not airing this episode anymore?

[robariosto]

This episode has been aired on the WE network, Sundance Channel and BBC America. I have seen it at least twice since its original presentation on NBC.

[islandgaming]

NBC may not air it but TNT sure has. I watched that episode at least 5 times recently.

[williamcrowe]

Some people don't like having to look in the mirror of truth.

[terrypetersen]

Sexual abusers cross all demographics, race, religion, economics. I have seen first hand the blame put on the victim. Even read a case where a ten year old was blamed for seducing a 40+ year old man. Stranger danger is probably the worst thing taught. Over 70% of children under the age of 12 are assaulted by family members or close friends. Children need to be taught to talk to a trusted adult if this happens.
Preferibly instead of prison I would like to see them under the prison.

[mattstyles]

I can see not airing it for the victims. But the people being offended. Those are the people that did it. It happened. That's not portraying a whole group of people. It portrays the group of people who did. Again it happened. U dont get to be mad at someone else that states what someone else did. Be mad at the people who did it if you think it looks bad. It happened

[SilentWarrior]

My heart goes out to the victims, but as Dick said, it’s based on real life situations. Plus, in life there is no BAN on life situations that can be put into place. At the end of the day it’s entertainment, by that same token, it gives voices to those who would, in some cases, never wise be heard. One of the only shows out there that gets gritty, real, and in your grill with it. Just like most of life’s uncomfortable issues, they need to be seen, heard, and not swept away like last weeks trash.

[tammycroft]

That L&O was essentially censored due to public pressure is deeply disturbing to me. The L&O and One Chicago franchises are the best of the very few programs that are dealing with difficult topics/subject matter without sensationalizing them.

[kathrynjordan]

I have seen this episode on WEtv, BBCAmerica and even Sundance. Yes, my heart goes out to the victims. Law & Order was entertainment and yet brought voice that would otherwise would not be heard. It's episodes were torn out of real life events and yet were written to be done as fiction. It had topics that affect our society today; some of it people may not like to deal with. At the end of the day, they dealt with it in a manner that could be done "tastefully". This episode was about one particular group of people who did this awful deed; it was not against the entire group of people. NBC just caved in.

[catmom]

That's a real shame, NBC. Every ethnic group has good & bad people. There's no reason to single out one group to ignore.

[DeathScepter]

Well no matter the age of the victim, Rape is a special form of evil

[stephanielaurenbounds]

“You’re NOT on trial because you didn’t buy the BLACK BARBIE!!” My FAVORITE Jack McCoy line!!!

[juanmonge]

I remember the real incident with the Puerto Rican day parade. My Brother and Sister and laws were police officers in NYC. A bunch of men we’re running around and groping women and being offensive. They disappeared into the crowd. The women couldn’t give the cops descriptions, or much more information. Everyone wanted to blame the cops. Even if they had caught the group of men identification and physical proof would have been hard to prove.

[shahidulkhan]

They caved in to people who are scared to show the harsh realities of mob like behavior towards women in these sort of parades. It wasn't because it depicted a nations parade but what happens in most of these parades. Whether it be st patricks day parade, mardi gras, superbowl, columbus day and many more of these parades. These parades are essential for the economy and rather than have people vigilant they want people to behave as if this doesn't happen just to make sure the economy doesn't get hurt.

[carlhicksjr]

So I'm an L&O fan. I'm in my mid-50's [aka 'old', aka 'no longer in the target demographic'] and L&O reruns are one of my go-to shows when reality TV and superhero costume shows start to run together like pre-schooler's finger paints.
I'm rather surprised that 'Sundays' is so controversial that NBC pulled it from rotation. In my mind, there were FAR more controversial episodes that could have had that distinction. For example, the guy who murders his wife on 9/11 and dumps her body in the wreckage of the Twin Towers... And I don't recall there being much backlash about the episode in the national media.
But one of the unsung characters of L&O and most of the spinoffs is City of New York itself, the franchise's basic premise is how New York... the police, the justice system, **and the people** ... handle notorious crime. If there was a slew of letters from angry Latinos about the 'Sundays' episode sent to City Hall, then that would have an effect on the show.

[jp-fkke]

This episode has aired multiple times. NBC might not but isnt off of TV.

[davidanderson]

Yup. A total cave in to a special interest group that didn't like the way some of their members were portrayed even though those members actually did what they were portrayed as doing. To that special interest group I would say this - you will earn a lot more respect from the public at large if you own this behaviour rather than try to suppress it or run away and hide.

[jinakaye]

I've seen this episode 3 times in syndication. I'll be honest: I get the trauma those survivors are facing and understand if they never want to see it. However, I think many of the Latine organizations were against it because they wanted folks to forget what happened and the fact that it was repeated the following year before it was changed to be more family friendly.

[davidscoggin]

I think NBC is spineless to have caved in like that. Through out my years I have found that if a show is in bad taste I don't whine about it, I change programs.

[jackprecip]

I remember watching the very first Law and Order when it originally aired on NBC. I wasn't much of a TV buff, so I had clue about it, it just happened to come on while I was relaxing. I remembered the intro hinted it was going to be telling a story from two perspectives split into half hours, and after it ended, I thought, that was interesting, this might stay on TV for a few years. Who knew it would become a two- decade phenomenon spurning multiple spin offs?