Associated Press
Monday, November 24, 2008

NEW YORK, Nov. 23 -- Producer Dick Wolf will receive a special honor at the 36th International Emmy Awards for extending the long arm of his "Law & Order" franchise into almost every corner of the globe.

Sam Waterston, who has appeared as prosecutor Jack McCoy in more than 325 "Law & Order" episodes since 1994, is on tap to present the International Emmy Founders Award to Wolf at Monday night's awards gala.

"It's just stunning. People see 'Law & Order' everyplace," said Bruce L. Paisner, president of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

"Law & Order" and its spinoffs -- in the original U.S. and locally franchised versions -- have been sold to almost 300 television markets around the world, Paisner said. Earlier this year, deals were inked to make locally produced versions using existing U.S. "Law & Order" scripts in Britain, France and Russia.

The award to Wolf, the creator and executive producer of "Law & Order," will cap an evening in which 40 nominees from 16 countries will be competing for International Emmys, honoring excellence in TV programming produced outside the United States, in 10 categories.

Paisner said the International Academy wanted to get the jump in honoring Wolf with its Founders Award before "Law & Order," now in its 19th season, overtakes "Gunsmoke" (1955-75) as the longest-running prime-time drama series in U.S. television history.