After 25 Seasons, One of TV’s Longest-Running Crime Series Is Officially in Jeopardy

Law & Order has remained one of television’s most enduring procedural brands. What began as a single series has since grown into a sprawling multi-show universe, complete with crossover episodes, notable guest appearances, and strong primetime ratings. The most prominent spin-off is widely considered to be Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which debuted in 1999—nine years after the original launched. Although the show has welcomed many fan-favorite cast members over the years, they often return for guest appearances. The core of the series has consistently been Mariska Hargitay. Her performance as Olivia Benson—who rose from detective to captain—has become iconic and will likely endure well beyond the show’s conclusion. The series has also featured longtime regulars like Ice-T and Christopher Meloni, the latter of whom went on to headline his own spin-off, Law & Order: Organized Crime.