Rather than settling for only entertaining their audiences, contemporary Amer- ican television series have been taking on the role of highlighting social reali- ties. This article sets out to define and describe the context of the production and emergence of what the author identifies as 'neo-series'?. In the early 1980s, following the deregulation of the US broadcasting system and of the ensuing crisis that struck the three main television networks, a new generation of qual- ity, realistic TV series targeting an up-market audience began to appear and to mature on the networks. Through the examples of Law & Order, The Practice and Oz, the author examines these dramas imbued with a social conscience, which develop a critical discourse on the current condition of American soci- ety, its legal system and its institutions. These series thus act as political arenas of public debate, which encourage discussion and foster interaction around topical social issues.