Fans worried that they might not get their fill of LAW & ORDER come next fall can rest easy, although they might find themselves looking elsewhere for first-run episodes of CRIMINAL INTENT. In an unexpected move, NBC renewed all three of Dick Wolf’s crime dramas, but will shift original episodes of CRIMINAL INTENT to its sister channel, USA. It is not yet clear how big a window there will be between the airing of episodes on USA and their debut (as repeats) on NBC. Jeff Zucker, Chairman of NBC Universal, told the Associated Press that this was “a strategic decision” designed to take USA “to a new stratosphere.” The announcement means the original L&O will enter its 18th season this fall, bringing Wolf one step closer to his dream of seeing the show last longer than GUNSMOKE, which at 20 seasons was the longest-running drama in network television history. 
