MovieChat Forums > Bull (2016) Discussion > Did BULL rip off Law & Order

Did BULL rip off Law & Order


I thought only the Law & Order TV series and it's spinoffs had title to using the fictitious "Hudson University" as background or a setting for their episodes. Shouldn't Bull at least show a little creativity and make up their own fictitious college or university instead of ripping off L&O.

reply

It might be a standard fictitious school, something like Oceanic Airlines which has been used in a couple dozen movies and tv series.

reply

Well Bull has been ripping off NCIS since it started. Maybe they're getting more creative by ripping off other shows.

reply

I've heard Hudson U. on NCIS before.

"All I know is some of the Nuns I've known could get pretty agitated" Agent McGee, NCIS

reply

I don't see NCIS listed, but it is widely used:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_University

reply

Was it the one with McGee's sister drugged and framed for murder?

reply

Sarah McGee attended Waverly University in/near DC.



Dr Jason Bull: Don't give up on people, they're all we've got.

reply

IIRC 'Bikini wax' the girl was introduced as a Hudson U co-ed.


````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
"All I know is some of the Nuns I've known could get pretty agitated" Agent McGee, NCIS

reply

I had no idea Hudson U was used by a lot of programs. Some tv show should have done a spoof on Hudson U. and why so many criminal acts happen there.

reply

On the NCIS board we used to jest that the Navy and Marines should institute a ban on visits to Rock Creek Park because the show finds so many dead bodies there.

reply

Yes, and why so many military die in Rockcreek Park! It's like the Cabot Cove of D.C.!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"All I know is some of the Nuns I've known could get pretty agitated" Agent McGee, NCIS

reply

First time I ever heard of Hudson University was in Batman comics of the '70s. Dick Grayson attended the New York college during that time.

No blah, blah, blah!

reply

I think it's a CBS thing. "Blue Bloods" mentioned Hudson University once or twice.

"Forget reality, give me a picture"-Remington Steele

reply

I guess every writer and producer are jumping on the Bandwagon. Rather than come up with something original, they will just use the old-standby school name. I hope some cop show decides to spoof this on their show, where you have 3 or 4 other shows have their actors show up at the "Hudson University" to investigate their crimes and they all meet to discuss their particular cases.

The only place that might happen is the police show "Angie Tribeca".

reply

Or maybe it's like the 555-xxxx phone numbers - it's convenient for everyone to use with no worry about using a real phone number.

reply

maybe it's like the 555-xxxx phone numbers


It's almost exactly like 555. It's a way to mention a college or set a scene on a college campus without having to get permission to use the name of a real school.

"Forget reality, give me a picture"-Remington Steele

reply

It's a legal thing and a money-saving thing.

"Hudson University" and other fictitious names, such as Morley Cigarettes and Oceanic airlines than has been used by multiple TV shows and films, has already been legally vetted by intellectual property lawyers and entertainment lawyers....

...and since they have already been vetted, there is no need for the production company to hire a bunch more lawyers to vet a new made-up fictitious name (to verify that the thought-to-be-fictitious name really is fictitious, or isn't too similar to a real place or brand).

That's why Oceanic Airlines has been used in several TV shows and films, and why Morley cigarettes shows up in more than a few TV shows and films.

Similarly, Hollywood and the telephone companies have worked together to set aside 100 phone numbers (555-0100 through 555-0199) for use in TV and films, so the TV show or movie does not get sued over advertising a real person's number to the world through mass media.

reply