'The Coke Of TV Shows' by Rob Owen Post Gazette Online July 21st, 2001 NBC's "Law & Order" started as a TV show, but it's become a franchise with the spinoff "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and now "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." Reruns of the original air daily on TNT with the spinoffs airing on NBC and getting a second weekly run on USA Network. "All three shows will be on 27 times a week" in the fall, said series creator Dick Wolf. "I don't think that's oversaturation. There's a huge appetite for the show. This is a brand. It's Coke, Diet Coke, Diet Coke without caffeine, Cherry Coke. As long as we don't screw up one of the brand extensions, I think the brand remains intact." Elisabeth Rohm (TNT's "Bull," "Angel") joins the original "Law & Order" cast, replacing Angie Harmon. Rohm's character, Serena Southerlyn, will be a protege to mentor/executive assistant district attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston). The newest "franchise extension," "Criminal Intent," shows crimes from the viewpoint of the perpetrator and follows investigators as they attempt to piece the puzzle together and solve the crime. Cast members said they're happy to be part of show where plot is the star and character development takes a back seat. "I've always had the fear of being involved in something that's too soapy," said series lead Vincent D'Onofrio, who plays Det. Robert Goren. "I've never been entertained by stuff that's too soapy." Jamey Sheridan, who portrays Goren's commanding officer, agreed. "I think most of us are pretty happy we do not have personal woes and cares and home life on the show," Sheridan said. "I think it was episode 13 before we heard each other voice a personal opinion about anything. On the one hand, we were excited to have the chance, and on the other hand, we were grateful we had never done that before ... We have a story that changes and we provide the architecture for the story." "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" is just one of several "procedural" shows hitting the air this fall. The success of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and past "Law & Order" incarnations has led to the creation of CBS's "The Agency" (inside the CIA), NBC's "Crossing Jordan" (a medical examiner) and NBC's "UC: Undercover" (Justice Department crime fighting unit). "These shows have a very strong franchise," said NBC's Jeff Zucker. "You know what the show is. They're close-ended, they're not soapy, serialized dramas that you have to tune in every week to find out the ongoing story line. You can watch an episode and skip the next two and come back. It's easier for the audience to come in and out in a day and age when the audience comes in and out." This article is the intellectual property of Post Gazette online and its author. It is transcribed simply for fan purposes. No copyright infringement is intended. :: Back up ::       2008 Rohm with a View. Rohm with a View (lis-rohm.net) is an independent publication and is not endorsed by Elisabeth Rohm, her management or any related companies. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Elisabeth Rohm or her management.