“If I write a cop show, it's not up to me to decide how different it is from 'Law & Order.' I had screenwriters go on and on and on about how their cop show isn't like any other cop show on TV. They made very good points, and it absolutely doesn't matter. It's entirely up to the audience to decide.”

American television anchor, author, and political commentator

Lawrence Francis O'Donnell Jr. is an American television anchor, political commentator, author, screenwriter, and actor. He is known as the host of The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, an MS NOW opinion and news program that airs on weeknights. O'Donnell has built a career across television and writing, moving between broadcasting, commentary, and scripted work. His public voice is most closely associated with political analysis and opinion, especially through his role on The Last Word, where he presents news and commentary in a nightly format.