Nov. 11--Longtime TV producer Dick Wolf made one guarantee about a potential fourth NBC drama in his "Chicago" franchise: He guaranteed it won't happen if the third show in the franchise, "Chicago Med," which premieres Tuesday, doesn't succeed.
Just because "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago P.D." have been thriving -- and were officially renewed for another season this week -- doesn't necessarily mean "Med" will find an audience as well. Wolf cited a statistic that about 97 percent of shows don't make it to Season 2. Just look at the short-lived "Law and Order: Trial by Jury," a spinoff of Wolf's "Law and Order" franchise.
"But if ('Chicago Med') works," Wolf teased during a press junket Monday at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios for "Chicago Med," "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago P.D., "I know what the fourth show is."
That potential show is rumored to be a legal drama, "Chicago Law." Wolf wouldn't confirm the rumor, only offering up a clue: "What's missing?"
"Chicago P.D." actor and Harvey native LaRoyce Hawkins has heard similar rumors. He said he would welcome another show to the growing family, but he hopes it doesn't get to the point where viewers feel burned-out by the number of "Chicago" spinoffs.
"Who's to say how many more shows there will be?" Hawkins said at Cinespace. "That Dick Wolf is something else. You never know what he has up his sleeve. I hope Chicago welcomes it and it happens in stride and people don't get sick of it, like 'OK, stop.' Right now people are excited about every move this man is making. ... I've heard rumors of 'Chicago Law.' That would be exciting."
There have been four "Law and Order" spinoff dramas, not to mention a "Law and Order: You the Jury" reality show in the works. Is there a limit on the number of "Chicago" shows Wolf would do?
"Yeah," Wolf said. "There is a limit to how many nights a week there are."
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