List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes
Encyclopedia
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
, the first-spin off of Law & Order
, focuses on crimes of sexual nature. While the victim is often murdered, this is not always the case, and victims often play prominent roles in episodes. The series frequently uses stories that are "ripped from the headlines" or based on real crimes. Such episodes take a real crime and fictionalize it by changing the details. The series premiered on September 20, 1999 on NBC
and has completed twelve seasons so far. SVU started its thirteenth season on September 21, 2011 on NBC.
Most episode titles of Law & Order: SVU between seasons one and twelve are a single word or initialism. Since season thirteen, every episode has had a two-word title with thirteen letters.
, 281 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit have aired.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
, the first-spin off of Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
, focuses on crimes of sexual nature. While the victim is often murdered, this is not always the case, and victims often play prominent roles in episodes. The series frequently uses stories that are "ripped from the headlines" or based on real crimes. Such episodes take a real crime and fictionalize it by changing the details. The series premiered on September 20, 1999 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and has completed twelve seasons so far. SVU started its thirteenth season on September 21, 2011 on NBC.
Most episode titles of Law & Order: SVU between seasons one and twelve are a single word or initialism. Since season thirteen, every episode has had a two-word title with thirteen letters.
, 281 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit have aired.
Series overview
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | DVD Release | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |||
| 1 | 22 | ||||||
| 2 | 21 | ||||||
| 3 | 23 | ||||||
| 4 | 25 | ||||||
| 5 | 25 | ||||||
| 6 | 23 | ||||||
| 7 | 22 | ||||||
| 8 | 22 | ||||||
| 9 | 19 | ||||||
| 10 | 22 | ||||||
| 11 | 24 | ||||||
| 12 | 24 | ||||||
| 13 | 22 | Spring 2012 | |||||
Season 1: 1999–2000
- Dean WintersDean WintersDean Winters is an American actor, who has portrayed Ryan O'Reily on HBO's Oz, Johnny Gavin on FX Network's Rescue Me, and Dennis Duffy on NBC's 30 Rock...
leaves the cast after the episode "Disrobed". - Robert PalmRobert PalmRobert Palm is an American writer and producer for television; more popularly known as the first executive producer of the currently running NBC drama, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and a consulting producer on the currently running CBS drama, NCIS.- Filmography :- External links :...
leaves the show as executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
.
Season 2: 2000–2001
- Stephanie MarchStephanie MarchStephanie Caroline March is an American actress, best known for her current portrayal of Alexandra Cabot on the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Early life:...
(Alexandra Cabot) & Ice-TICE-T* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
(Fin TutuolaFin TutuolaDet. Odafin "Fin" Tutuola is a fictional character and protagonist on the TV drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, played by Ice-T.The character's name is taken from the book The Palm Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola, a member of the Yoruba people of Nigeria...
) join the cast. - Michelle HurdMichelle HurdMichelle Hurd is an American stage, film, and television actress. She is married to actor Garret Dillahunt.-Early life:...
(Monique JeffriesMonique JeffriesDet. Monique Jeffries is a fictional character played by Michelle Hurd in the American crime drama television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC. A regular cast member during the first two seasons, Jeffries is a tough and street-wise detective with the New York Police Department's...
) leaves the cast - Neal BaerNeal BaerNeal Baer, MD is an American pediatrician and television writer and producer. He is best known for his work on the television shows ER and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Education:...
begins taking over as executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
Season 3: 2001–2002
Season 4: 2002–2003
- B. D. Wong (George HuangGeorge Huang (Law & Order)Special Agent George Huang, M.D. is a fictional character on the TV drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He is portrayed by B. D. Wong.-Character overview:...
) officially joins the cast.
Season 5: 2003–2004
- Stephanie MarchStephanie MarchStephanie Caroline March is an American actress, best known for her current portrayal of Alexandra Cabot on the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Early life:...
(Alexandra Cabot) leaves the cast after the episode "Loss". Her character is "killed off" and put into the Witness Protection Program. March (Cabot) is replaced by Diane NealDiane NealDiane Neal is an American actress widely known for her role as Casey Novak on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Biography:...
as ADA Casey NovakCasey NovakCasey Novak is a fictional character on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Diane Neal. She is the only female assistant district attorney to have appeared in five complete seasons in any Law & Order series and the longest-running ADA in the entire franchise.-Character:Casey Novak is a...
in the episode "Serendipity".
Season 6: 2004–2005
Season 7: 2005–2006
- Tamara TunieTamara TunieTamara Renee Tunie is an American actress. She is best known for her portrayal of attorney Jessica Griffin on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, and medical examiner Melinda Warner on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit...
(M.E. Melinda WarnerMelinda WarnerDr. Melinda Warner is a fictional character on the show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, played by Tamara Tunie. Tunie was originally a recurring cast member until she was added to the main credits in season 7. She became a recurring cast member again in season 13.-Character overview:As the...
) officially joins the cast.
Season 8: 2006–2007
Season 9: 2007–2008
- Adam BeachAdam BeachAdam Ruebin Beach is a Canadian Saulteaux actor.He is best known for his roles as Tommy on Walker, Texas Ranger, Kickin' Wing in Joe Dirt, Marine Private First Class Ira Hayes in Flags of Our Fathers, Private Ben Yazzie in Windtalkers, Dr...
(Det. Chester Lake) joins the cast, then leaves with Diane NealDiane NealDiane Neal is an American actress widely known for her role as Casey Novak on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Biography:...
(ADA Casey NovakCasey NovakCasey Novak is a fictional character on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Diane Neal. She is the only female assistant district attorney to have appeared in five complete seasons in any Law & Order series and the longest-running ADA in the entire franchise.-Character:Casey Novak is a...
) at the end.
Season 10: 2008–2009
- Michaela McManusMichaela McManusMichaela McManus is an American actress, best known for her portrayals of Lindsey Strauss on the television series One Tree Hill and A.D.A...
(ADA Kim Greylek) joins the cast through the episode "Lead" where Stephanie MarchStephanie MarchStephanie Caroline March is an American actress, best known for her current portrayal of Alexandra Cabot on the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Early life:...
rejoins the cast as ADA Alexandra Cabot.
Season 11: 2009–2010
- Christine LahtiChristine LahtiChristine Lahti is an American actress and film director. Lahti has had a successful career in television and film. Throughout her career she has garnered 2 Golden Globe Awards from 8 Nominations, An Emmy Award from 6 Nominations and 2 Academy Award nominations...
had a five episode arc as Executive ADA Sonya Paxton; from the season premiere episode "Unstable" to "Hammered" and the eighth episode, "Turmoil". - Stephanie MarchStephanie MarchStephanie Caroline March is an American actress, best known for her current portrayal of Alexandra Cabot on the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Early life:...
resumes her role as ADA Cabot starting with the episode "Hardwired" to the episode "Witness". - Sharon StoneSharon StoneSharon Vonne Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct...
had a four episode arc as ADA Jo Marlowe from the episode "Torch" to the season finale episode "Shattered".
Season 12: 2010–2011
- Melissa SagemillerMelissa SagemillerMelissa Sagemiller is an American television and film actress.-Early life and education:Sagemiller was born in Washington, D.C. to a political activist mother and a professional American football player father, who played in the NFL for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. She attended...
has a continuous episode arc as ADA Gillian Hardwicke starting with the episode "Branded". - Diane NealDiane NealDiane Neal is an American actress widely known for her role as Casey Novak on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Biography:...
returns to reprise her role as ADA Casey NovakCasey NovakCasey Novak is a fictional character on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Diane Neal. She is the only female assistant district attorney to have appeared in five complete seasons in any Law & Order series and the longest-running ADA in the entire franchise.-Character:Casey Novak is a...
for one episode ("Reparations"). Her character was a regular on SVU from seasons 5–9. - Neal BaerNeal BaerNeal Baer, MD is an American pediatrician and television writer and producer. He is best known for his work on the television shows ER and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Education:...
leaves the show as executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
at the end of the season. - Christopher MeloniChristopher MeloniChristopher Peter Meloni is an American actor. He is best known for his television roles as NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and as inmate Chris Keller on the HBO prison drama Oz.-Early life:Meloni was born the youngest of three children in...
(Det. Elliot StablerElliot StablerDet. Elliot "El" Stabler is a fictional character on the TV crime drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Christopher Meloni. He was the partner of Olivia Benson before retiring, following a shooting.-Character overview:...
) and B.D. WongB.D. WongBradley Darryl "BD" Wong is an American actor, best-known for his roles as Dr. George Huang on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as Father Ray Mukada on HBO's Oz, Henry Wu in the movie Jurassic Park, and for his starring role as Song Liling in the Broadway production of M...
(George HuangGeorge Huang (Law & Order)Special Agent George Huang, M.D. is a fictional character on the TV drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He is portrayed by B. D. Wong.-Character overview:...
) leave the cast after the season finale ("SmokedSmoked (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)"Smoked" is the 24th episode and season finale of the twelfth season of the NBC legal drama, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and the 272nd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 18, 2011...
").
Season 13: 2011–2012
- Tamara TunieTamara TunieTamara Renee Tunie is an American actress. She is best known for her portrayal of attorney Jessica Griffin on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, and medical examiner Melinda Warner on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit...
(M.E. Melinda WarnerMelinda WarnerDr. Melinda Warner is a fictional character on the show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, played by Tamara Tunie. Tunie was originally a recurring cast member until she was added to the main credits in season 7. She became a recurring cast member again in season 13.-Character overview:As the...
) is moved from the Main cast to a guest starring role. - Stephanie MarchStephanie MarchStephanie Caroline March is an American actress, best known for her current portrayal of Alexandra Cabot on the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Early life:...
(ADA Alexandra Cabot) and Diane NealDiane NealDiane Neal is an American actress widely known for her role as Casey Novak on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Biography:...
(ADA Casey NovakCasey NovakCasey Novak is a fictional character on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Diane Neal. She is the only female assistant district attorney to have appeared in five complete seasons in any Law & Order series and the longest-running ADA in the entire franchise.-Character:Casey Novak is a...
) each guest star in an "undetermined number of episodes". - Kelli GiddishKelli GiddishKelli Giddish is an American actress. She is known for her role as Diana Henry on the ABC's daytime drama All My Children . She is also known for her leading roles in the short-lived TV series Past Life and Chase...
(Det. Amanda Rollins) and Danny PinoDanny PinoDaniel G. "Danny" Pino is an Cuban American actor. 2002 saw him appear in London's West End in the theatre play called Up for Grabs with Madonna. In May 2003, Pino played Desi Arnaz in a CBS special on the life of Lucille Ball, Lucy: The Lucille Ball Story. Pino was born in Miami, Florida...
(Det. Nick Amaro) join the cast.
External links
- Episodes at the official site of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- The NBC Law & Order SVU Production Blog
- Episodes at The Futon Critic
- Episodes on TVGuide.com
- Episode list at TV.comTV.comTV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit DVD releases at TVShowsOnDVD.com