(Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
It becomes the longest-running primetime live-action series in U.S. history (surpassing Gunsmoke and the original Law & Order). It’s worth noting that Gunsmoke still holds the record when it comes to total episodes. Gunsmoke ran for 635 episodes and SVU will likely “only” have 480 installments by the end of season 21.
A Dick Wolf NBC legal drama, Law & Order: SVU stars Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, and Philip Winchester. The police procedural centers on Lt. Benson (Hargitay) and her elite squad of New York City Police Department detectives who investigate crimes including sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.
The 20th season of Law & Order: SVU is averaging a 0.89 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 4.30 million viewers. Compared to season 19, that’s down by 29% and 28%, respectively. Compared to NBC’s other scripted series, the show is a middle-of-the-road performer. The series currently airs on Thursday nights at 10 PM.
“I’m deeply proud to be a part of this groundbreaking show, and humbled to make television history today,” said Hargitay. “The longevity and continued success of SVU is a testament not only to the show’s powerful storytelling and ability to connect with viewers, but to its necessity. We have told important stories for 20 years, and we will continue to tell them.”
As part of the announcement, NBC released images from SVU’s first season.
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson — Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC
Pictured: (l-r) Dean Winters as Detective Brian Cassidy, Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen, Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson, Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler, Michelle Hurd as Detective Monique Jefferies, Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch — Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC
What do you think? Do you still like the Law & Order: SVU TV show? Will you be watching season 21 on NBC? Do you miss any members of the original cast?
I LOVE it!! Excellent show! Time for Benson to be in a great healthy relationship. Can Brian be the one after all the challenges gone through?
Bring Elliot back just less pride more humility. And why did Peter and Benson not get together?
I love SUB, I will keep watching as long as they keep producing it. I miss Cassidy, Craven, and Belzer.
Exited for the next season… would like
MELONI to or back.
excited. not exited thx
I love the show from the first year until today. Keeep them gong till Mariska retires.
I love this SVU !!!!! I have watched it since the day it started. Please release another season.
I LOVE Law and Order SVU! Been watching for 20 years! Love the whole cast. Olivia my favorite as she adds the special human side of woman of power, juggling Mom and relationships as well. All great! Kelli, Ice T, while cast! Great interesting realistic story libes!
I love all law and order series but SUV is my favorite I’ve been watching from beginning to the end. It covers a lot conservative stories and I just love the cast.
i love this show and I watch it every week and Mariska (Olivia Benson) is my favorite person in the show and I am very very exited to see season 21 fall of 2019
I think a lot of shows wouldn’t have survived as many character changes (I believe that is what ended Criminal Minds) but SVU made it look easy! And I just gotta say, Mariska Hargitay is such a beautiful woman! 20 years on this show and she still looks just incredible! So glad SVU got the historic 21 season renewal!
I love law and order svu and I will be watching the new season when it comes on I have watched all the episodes multiple times and it never gets boring
A season 21 renewal for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”? I never thought I’d see something like this, especially with NBC having a strong drama division (with the “Chicago” shows, “This Is Us”, “The Blacklist”, etc.), and the ratings for “SVU”‘s current season being down from the previous season. It’s a shame that the original “Law & Order” was axed before it could become the longest-running live-action scripted series on U.S. broadcast TV, but if “The Simpsons” (over at FOX) isn’t willing to end as a first-run series to make room for new shows, neither should “Law & Order:… Read more »
I hate that they no longer show court trials. I thought that was a major part of the show. Sad to say that they may have lost a viewer for that specidic reason.
Love, love LOVE “SVU”. Keep it going for many years to come.
I hate this show. Always have, always will. Wish it would be cancelled, forever.
Good thing for me that a LOT of people don’t share your view! In addition to being a series which has drawn in quite an audience the past 20 years, it also continues to highlight, educate, and keep on our radars some important social and systemic ills. For whatever reason, this show seems to get under your skin. What got under my skin just enough to respond? Part of our nation’s divide seems to come from an attitude that just because something doesn’t agree with us, if we had our way, we’d deny other people access to that thing. Your… Read more »
I hope they never cancel the show. I’ve been watching it since it began.