Unless the ratings for this venerable series completely collapse, it seems highly unlikely that NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will be cancelled this time around. Still, all shows must end sometime. Will the numbers hold up in the show’s milestone 21st season? Will SVU be renewed for season 22? Stay tuned. *Status update below.
An NBC crime drama, Law & Order: SVU stars Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, and Peter Scanavino. Created by Dick Wolf, the police procedural series centers on Lt. Olivia Benson (Hargitay) and her elite squad of New York City Police Department detectives that includes Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola (T), Detective Amanda Rollins (Giddish), and Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi (Scanavino). They investigate crimes including sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.
The ratings are typically the best indication of a show’s likelihood of staying on the air. The higher the ratings (particularly in the 18-49 demo), the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available — usually the next day, around 11:30am EST/8:30am PST. Refresh to see the latest.
4/24 update: You can see the latest night’s ratings in context.
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For comparisons: Season 20 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC averaged a 0.85 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 4.18 million viewers.
Note: These are the final national numbers (unless noted with an “*”). These are different from the fast affiliate numbers which are just estimates of the actual ratings. The final nationals are typically released within 24 hours of the programming or, in the case of weekends and holidays, a couple days later.
What do you think? Do you like the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit TV series on NBC? Should it be cancelled or renewed for a 22nd season?
*2/27/20 update: NBC has renewed Law & Order: SVU for three years — season 22 (2020-21), season 23 (2021-22), and season 24 (2022-23).
Since turning it into the Olivia Benson hour and giving the character qualities she didn’t have in the earlier years I have found myself drifting away and finding it harder to watch. I did watch this show religiously at one time, even reruns, but now I just skip to something else after a few minutes. Her holier than thou, guilty until proven innocent and her snarky attitude are just a bit much for me. If it were cancelled I wouldn’t miss it. It’s a shame because this has been one of the better dramas on television.
I miss Barba, Munch, Amaro and Cragen. They all added to the success of the show. They got
Rid of Dobbs. All these characters have added so much to the show. We hardly see Fin anymore and now Carsi
Seems to be in the background. It’s all Benson Benson Benson. If they continue the show, they should rename it …..Benson
AGREED!!!!!! Cancel it, it’s time
I’m with you on this, Bob. One of the reasons why I stopped watching some time ago was because the writing became mediocre at best, the storylines had gotten so repetitive that it started feeling like a horrible nightmare that stretches from one episode into the next. Frankly, aside from Chicago Fire, Dick Wolf shows are the quintessential excursions in lazy writing.
It’s time to cancel law and order svu and keep better shows like good girls on instead!
Yes the show should be renewed
This show saved my life and it will continue to save others
We have 3 generations living in my house, and all of us love SVU!
Ive been an avid svu fan from the get go; my personal opinions; for whatever theyre worth in the show’s growing pains; stucky was a weird character with an almost weirder write off- the ‘jar jar binks’ [without the racisist undertones that have plagued other episodes/seasons, and kinda continue]. of the series that took a lot of time to recover from. Also, as a more informed and proactive demographic, the story lines are often ‘cheesy’ and repetitive. The police arent the good guys, and watching them cut corners, rough up minorities, and throw their weight around without consequences really doesnt… Read more »
SVU is one if the best shows out there. I have seen just about every episode. It deals with topics that are taboo to talk about even though they are a normal in society today. Please keep this show going! It really helps people that have been victims.
Renew. Great show. I re-watch episodes.
The ratings are a complete and total embarrassment. Bringing back the guy who was the father of Amanada’s daughter(who just did Gotham for 5 seasons) was the right move. What they did was the wrong move. The did the politically correct move, which Comcast is famous for, being the alt left network that they are. I’m sure this post won’t be up for long.
1. Olivia
2. Ice t
3. rollins and stabler
4.Munch
5. Amaro
6. cassidy
I have seen like every episode between CBS usa and ion havent started the new season yet but going to soon.
Stephen, they have started the new SVU episodes, they show on NBC.
I LIKE LAW & ORDER SPECIAL VICTIMES UNIT. there REALLY IAN’T MUCH TO WATCH ON TV ANYTMORE. Please keep this show on.
It is one of the few honest shows still playing. I enjoy the crossover shows with Chicago PD.
Poorly done episode. Nothing exciting ahout rehashing last years news. Need at least one new face in the cast as well.
I truly feel svu season 22 should be renewed love the show and Olivia is my greatest hero on the show she makes the show feel so real and the way she cares about the victims is wonderful and how she fights for what is right for the victims!!! Please renew the 22nd season❤
Love it can’t get enough of Olivia and squad. I do very much miss DEA Barba he was the best.