Law & Order: SVU and NBC have made television history with the renewal of the series for a groundbreaking 21st season. This milestone makes SVU the longest-running primetime live-action series in TV history, surpassing Gunsmoke, which aired for 20 seasons from 1955-1975, and the original Law & Order series, which ran from 1990-2010.
Mariska Hargitay, who has been with the show since its inception, will return as the dedicated and compassionate Lt. Olivia Benson. Hargitay, also an executive producer and director for the series, expressed her pride and gratitude in a statement: “I’m deeply proud to be a part of this groundbreaking show and humbled to make television history today. 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.”
Paul Telegdy and George Cheeks, co-chairmen of NBC Entertainment, announced the renewal, commending the show’s cast and crew. “We tip our cap to Dick Wolf, Mariska Hargitay, and the amazing cast and crew of SVU, who now all go into the record book,” they said in a joint statement. “This incredible run is an example of what happens when producers, writers, and actors come together and create a show that, year after year, speaks to its audience in a powerful way. We couldn’t be more proud of this remarkable achievement.”
The current cast includes Hargitay as Lt. Olivia Benson, Ice-T as Sgt. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola, Kelli Giddish as Det. Amanda Rollins, Peter Scanavino as Det. Sonny Carisi, and Philip Winchester as Asst. District Attorney Peter Stone.
Series creator and executive producer Dick Wolf praised Hargitay’s contributions both on and off the screen: “As SVU moves into its third decade, Mariska has become an iconic figure as a star, advocate, and crusader for women. She is an enduring champion of the movement to end sexual violence, and dozens of episodes have dealt with the very same issues that have shifted into the spotlight in this country in the past two years. Mariska is a delight as #1 on the call sheet and, to me, a true friend.”
Hargitay’s accolades include eight Emmy nominations, with a win in 2006, and a Golden Globe award in 2005. Inspired by her role, she founded The Joyful Heart Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The foundation is currently focused on ending the backlog of untested rape kits, a mission highlighted in Hargitay’s documentary I Am Evidence.
Law & Order: SVU airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on NBC and averages a 1.9 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, with 7.6 million viewers overall when DVR viewership is included. The show is broadcast in over 250 territories worldwide.
The renewal announcement did not specify if the upcoming season would be the last. Hargitay has previously hinted at her ideal ending for Benson, known only to series creator Dick Wolf, but she is not ready to step away just yet. “I’ve really given myself sort of the respect or honor to take it year by year,” Hargitay told E! News ahead of the season 20 premiere. “I’m just trying to go a little bit deeper every day, and I’m not done yet, because there’s still so much to mine.”
So rest easy, SVU fans—Benson remains on the case for another year.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)