Is there ever a time when some Law & Order episode isn’t playing?

It’s almost like comfort food, TVstyle.

Can’t sleep? There will be a Law & Order on at 2 a.m.

Bored on a raining Sunday afternoon? How about a SVU marathon?

It’s a formula show, but one that still can surprise the viewer with its twists. A parade of top-noth actors, many of whom have solid stage careers, keeps the casts superior.

Just when I think I’ve seen every Law & Order episode, a new one pops up. After all, the original has been running for 19 years. I am sure I have missed at least one.

While I love character-intensive series — both TV and printed — I think one of the reasons that the Law & Orders survive is that we don’t have to get involved with the characters.

The revolving door of the original Law & Order has seen to that, giving us just a smattering of who those characters are. We know more about the histories of the Special Victims Unit detectives.

Here, plot is paramont.

My favorite Law & Order is Criminal Intent on the USA Network. For me, it’s the unpredictabilty of the plots and that the lead characters have depth that we may never know fully.

I’ve always been a big fan of Vincent D’Onofrio. I consider him one of those actors who challenge the audience, making the viewers meet him half way.

Chris Noth, who is now off Criminal Intent, and Jeff Goldblum also bring a different dimension to this version of Law & Order.

The women on Criminal Intent deserve special attention. Kathryn Erbe and Julianne Nicholson are as tough and vulnerable as their male counterparts. These two skilled actresses — Erbe comes out of the Chicago Steppenwolf theater company — enhance Criminal Intent.

Do you have a favorite Law & Order series? And why do you think this series — in each of its versions — survives?

Photos: Vincent D’Onofrio, top; Kathryn Erbe. USA photos