and chicago fire comes from law and order creator dick wolf about the exploits of firefighters and para medics. >> there's great action in fires and rescues but most of the drama is going to happen you know, between these characters in the fire house. >> reporter: along with the new series nbc is launching, they also announced the biggest hit will be back in the fall "the voice." there will be fall and spring editions of the voice next season, possibly with the same four judges in each. >> we have deals with all four for the fall and spring and we have to see how the schedules shake out. >> reporter: viewers will decide now nbc's new fall lineup shakes out. mark barger. nbc news. >>> nbc's long running comedy "30 rock" and "the office" are coming back in the fall. no decision on whether it is the final season for either of those. a super hero block buster is expected to reach the $1 billion mark today. "the avengers" is number one for the second straight weekend. it set a record its first weekend and then became first film in hollywood history to bring in more than $100 million on its s

a chicago fire comes from a "law and order" creator dick wolf. >> there is great action in these rescues, but most of the drama can happen between these characters in the fire house provides a long with the new series, the network announced that its biggest hit welcome back in the fall -- the voice. and there will be fall and spring editions next season, possibly with the same four judges. >> we have deals with all four of them for the fall and spring. and we just have to see how their schedules shake out. >> viewers will decide how the new fall lineup shakes out. >> for area mothers this was a day to be the way we like it -- front and center. at this church today, the mothers were given a special gift. mother's day becomes a mother days weekend. weather could not be better for a stroll. perfect weather for maryland homeowners to learn more about renewable energy. dozens attended the expo at the fair grounds today. and included interactive demonstrations from the maryland based company on the economic environment benefits of renewable energy. >> we help folks put solar on their roofs. wh

and that is what dick wolfe was pushing. they made the pilot for cbs. they hated it. he was going to lose the rights, lose the actors, lose everything, and we sat in the screening room and looked at the pilot and said, "better than anything we have." it felt real, and it was a fascinating notion, and today, it is kind of bizarre. why would that be so innovative, crime and punishment? and no one has ever approached from the cop investigations through the legal process, no one had ever done that with an hour format and had an episodic conclusion and satisfaction. a beginning, a middle, and and and, and we said yes, and it went on. it was a slow starter. interestingly, more audiences watched, the more they went, "oh, i get it. i get what this is. it is not just detectives. it is not just cops. here is how it works." and dick came in, and we were a number of years into the show, and he says, "i am going to pitch a new show. it is called "sex crimes." and i am, "ok, you have my attention." and he laid out what -- what would eventually be "law and order svu." i think that b

[laughter] dick wolf is the inventer of the franchise of "law and order," or whoever created the original perry mason show. trials are naturals for telling stories. whether it's in novel form, ask john grisham, or in, you know, movie form or in nonfiction. why are novels, excuse me, why are trials such an attractive form for the reader? i don't know i'm not sure for the reader, i'll tell you why they're an attractive form for the author o. because, in the first place, trials have dialogue, and this is something that you don't find a lot of in nonfiction. and this is one of the appeals of novel bees. people talk to each other back and forth. it's rare that you find a work of nonfiction where you get much in the way of dialogue unless it's writing about a trial. because in a trial you get dying log and, furthermore, unlike the ordinary conversation of you and me where you wander around the topic and do this and that and start over and all this, in trials the conversation, the dialogue always has a point. and there's a built-in conflict, a protagonist and an antagonist, and there's a resolut

wolf for what he said. mr. dicks: i agree with him, i think it's a violation of our oath of office to do as he suggested. i hope we vote this down. the chair: the gentleman yields back. for what purpose does the gentleman from new york rise? >> to strike the last word. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. >> i rise to a pose -- to oppose the amendment. mr. engel: when you have an across-the-board cut, it sounds good. we've been many months putting this bill together but what's interesting is that every time you speak about an across-the-board cut, people get excited and say, that sounds good but these days those cuts don't hold the same strength they used to hold in the past because in the past, there were times, and i was part of it and so were many people on that side, when we felt we had to go some accounts. mr. serrano: so one could argue that a 1% or 2% or whatever% cut taking place made sense. but it's interesting to note now, and i wonder how many people would present these amendments know,

i want to especially commend chairman wolf, ranking member fattah, and the members of the subcommittee and my colleague and ranking member, norm dicks, and all of the staff who've had hard work invested in this bill. . the committee has held more than 100 hearings and briefings since january which helps us determine the best use of limited tax dollars that we must spread out over a great number of vital federal programs, services, and agencies. the commerce, justice, and soyens appropriations bill -- science appropriations bill is in line with the house passed budget resolution, totals $51.1 billion, which is $1.6 billion below current level, and below the prestimulus, prebailout level of 2008. within this total the committee prioritized programs and services that, one, protect our people from threats at home, aboard, and cyberspace. two, that maintain the competitiveness with american spri and -- industry and businesses. ' three, that encourage scientific research that has kept america at the forefront of the world in innovation. some of these critical investments include $8.3 billion for the f.b.i.. $468 million for the internatio