John Oliver blasts Law and Order for being pro-law ‘fantasy’
Law and Order is a television institution. It’s one of the longest-running and most respected crime dramas in history, but that hasn’t made it averse to criticism. The show was recently criticized by John Oliver for misleading viewers and promoting a “false narrative” of law enforcement.
Oliver, the host of the HBO talk show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, made it clear that he’s not a fan of police procedurals in general, but what caught most fans off-guard was the singling out of Law and Order as the biggest offender.
Why did John Oliver criticize Law and Order?
"“It’s presenting a world where the cops can always figure out who did it, defense attorneys are irritating obstacles to be overcome, and even if a cop roughs up a suspect, it’s all in pursuit of a just outcome”, Oliver said of the Dick Wolf show."
He went on to target the producer and his pro-law enforcement stance for setting the tone for Law and Order and its various spinoffs.
"“It blasts that fantasy at you in endless reruns and marathons in the guise of very well-produced, extremely entertaining TV. But underneath it all, it is a commercial — a commercial produced by a man who is, in his own words, unabashedly pro-law enforcement.”"
While Oliver minced very few words, he did round out his statement by saying that it’s not wrong to enjoy Law and Order and its characters, many of whom have become staples for fans. He says its not wrong to root for someone like Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), but that it’s “important” to maintain that Law and Order is, in his words, an “ad for a defective product.”
A comedian picking a fight with an entire franchise probably wasn’t on anybody’s 2022 bingo board and yet here we are. Dick Wolf Productions has not yet responded to Oliver’s remarks, nor has any of the Law and Order cast members.
What do you think of Oliver’s stance? Do you agree, disagree, or are you somewhere in the middle?
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