Longtime ‘Order’ cut short

Dick Wolf’s dream died Friday.

NBC gave the ax to “Law & Order,” ending producer Wolf’s long-held goal of surpassing “Gunsmoke” as TV’s longest-running drama.

The two series are tied at 20 seasons each.

At the same time, NBC announced another new drama in the “Law & Order” franchise called “LOLA” (“Law & Order: Los Angeles”), which will premiere this fall.

The network will also renew “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” for a 12th season.

“Law & Order” stars an ensemble cast currently consisting of Jeremy Sisto, Anthony Anderson, Linus Roache, Alana De La Garza, Sam Waterston and S. Epatha Merkerson.

The season finale airs May 24.

Hospital chatter

In the daytime talk show sick bay report, Barbara Walters is recovering from successful surgery to repair a faulty heart valve. Walters, 80, will take the summer off from “The View” to recuperate.

And Regis Philbin is scheduled to have a blood clot in his calf removed Tuesday – but the 78-year-old “Live! With Regis and Kelly” co-host expects to be back at work the next day.

Bret talks comeback

Rocker Bret Michaels announced Friday he will return to the stage starting May 28, a little more than a month after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

Michaels also hopes to return to the competition on NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice.”

The birthday bunch

Counterculture icon Wavy Gravy is 74. Singer Trini Lopez is 73. Actress-singer Lainie Kazan is 70. Country singer K.T. Oslin is 68. Musician Brian Eno is 62. Actor Chazz Palminteri is 58. Actor Lee Horsley is 55. Actor David Charvet (“Baywatch,” “Melrose Place”) is 38. Actor David Krumholtz (“Numb3rs”) is 32. Actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler (“The Sopranos”) is 29.