What is Law & Order: Special Victims Unit?
A: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American crime drama television
series.
Who created it?
A: Dick Wolf's own production company, Wolf Entertainment, for NBC.
The first spin-off of Law & Order, it starred who as
Detective Elliot Stabler?
A: Christopher Meloni.
Meloni left the series in 2011 after how many seasons?
A: 12.
After the premiere of its 21st season in September
2019, the series became TV’s what?
A: The longest-running primetime U.S. live-action series in the history of
television.
It is the only live-action primetime series that
debuted in the 1990s and is still what?
A: Producing new episodes.
As of October 21, 2021, Law & Order: Special Victims
Unit has aired how many original episodes?
A: 500.
In terms of all-time episode count for a primetime
scripted series, SVU now ranks fourth behind what?
A: The Simpsons (with 728 episodes), Gunsmoke (with 635 episodes), and
Lassie (with 591 episodes).
In February 2020, the series was renewed through its
what?
A: 24th season.
The 24th season is set to premiere when?
A: On September 22, 2022.
The series has received 91 award nominations, winning
how many awards?
A: 33.
Mariska Hargitay was the first regular cast member on
any Law & Order series to win what?
A: An Emmy Award when she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead
Actress in a Drama Series in 2006.
Its stories also touch on the political and societal
issues associated with what?
A: Gender identity, sexual preferences, and equality rights.
While the victim is often murdered, this is not always
the case, and victims frequently play what?
A: Prominent roles in episodes.
The series often uses stories that are "ripped from the
headlines" or what?
A: Based on real crimes.
Originally, the show focused around the detective
pairing of whom?
A: Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson.
Stabler is a seasoned veteran of the unit who has seen
it all and tries his best to protect his family from what?
A: The horrors he has seen in his career.
Benson's difficult past as the child of a rape victim
is the reason, she what?
A: Joined the unit.
Backing them up are Detective John Munch and whom?
A: His first partner, Brian Cassidy.
Munch is a transfer from Baltimore's homicide unit, who
brings what?
A: His acerbic wit, conspiracy theories, and street-honed investigative
skills; Cassidy is young and eager to learn from his fellow detectives.
These two detective teams received support from what
Detectives?
A: Monique Jeffries and Ken Briscoe.
After thirteen episodes, Cassidy gets transferred to
the narcotics division because of what?
A: His inability to work well on the cases and the fact that they reminded
him too much of his childhood abuse.
As a result, Jeffries gets partnered up with whom?
A: Munch for the remainder of season one and Briscoe was phased out.
In the beginning of season two, Jeffries leaves the
unit following an incident with the Morris Commission and Munch get
permanently partnered up with whom?
A: Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola, whose unique yet sometimes vulgar sense
of humor and investigative experience make him a formidable match for Munch.
Brooklyn SVU Detective Chester Lake would assist on
several Manhattan cases during the what season?
A: The eighth.
Lake would then depart at the season's end after being
arrested for doing what?
A: For murdering a crooked cop who had gotten away with rape.
These detectives were supervised by veteran Captain
Donald Cragen, who oversaw the team for seasons 1–15 and was previously the
commanding officer of what?
A: The homicide precinct in New York.
Also assisting the Special Victims Unit, is FBI Special
Agent Dr. George Huang who helps do what?
A: He helps keep the officers sane in a field that could drive ordinary
people mad.
He also serves as the squad's what?
A: Resident criminal profiler, his insights into the criminal mind have
often helped the officers to crack the toughest perps.
The team also works with Medical Examiner Dr. Melinda
Warner, who has become what?
A: An integral part of the unit, and her personal skills have contributed to
the unit's high success rate in closing cases.