Olivia Benson and friends just got some major news via NBC. (No, it has nothing to do with a perpetrator she’s just dying to convict.)
The broadcasting network announced via Twitter yesterday that Law and Order: Special Victims Unit has officially been picked up for three more seasons. There are currently a staggering 21 seasons of the show, so it looks like we’re going all the way to 24 (and likely beyond).
The hit NBC series first premiered on September 20, 1999 and has since enjoyed 472 episodes. That’s a lot and it shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, with its 21st season, the show is officially the longest-running primetime live-action series in history. Mariska Hargitay, who plays Lieutenant Olivia Benson, also just became the longest-running character in a primetime live-action series. Gunsmoke’s James Arness and Milburn Stone and Frasier’s Kelsey Grammer previously held the record. Hargitay has yet to up her contract for SVU, but it’s expected that she will.
But Law and Order: SVU isn’t the only Dick Wolf-created show that’s celebrating today. NBC also picked up the iconic producer’s Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire and Chicago Med for three more seasons. Chicago Med is currently on its fifth season, Chicago Fire is on its eighth and Chicago P.D. is on its seventh, so they’ll be extended at least to their respective eighth, 11th and tenth seasons.
All we can say is, DUN DUN.
