"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is often shortened to be "Law & Order: SVU." On Wednesday, February 8, 2017, NBC will air its 400th episode. While this is indeed a milestone for the crime drama, in actuality, it is the 400th episode written but it is only the 399th episode to air.
One episode had already been written long before the last presidential election, but it was pulled at the last minute because it was too close to what was going on with President Donald Trump who was a Republican nominee at the time. Executives noticed that it was too similar to Trump's own life that they thought it would be best not to air that particular episode.
That show is still in the vault of "Law & Order: SVU." So, if you have been a fan and have seen only 399 episodes, then your math is exactly right. Executive producer Dick Wolf says that that particular episode might air sometime in the spring.
About 'Law & Order: SVU'
"Law & Order: SVU" is the second longest-running show ever and the second longest-running scripted show currently airing on television. It follows behind "The Simpsons," which holds the record for being the longest-running in both of these categories.
"Law & Order: SVU" is actually a spin-off of “Law & Order,” which debuted in September 1999. It still has a long way to go to catch up to its parent show that aired for 20 seasons and 456 episodes before being canceled in 2010.
"Law & Order: SVU" is going into its 18th season, and will probably catch up to (and even surpass) the original series.
The 400th episode
The episode, titled “Motherly Love,” is directed by Mariska Hargitay who has been playing Olivia Benson for 18 years. She and Ice-T, who plays Finn Tutuola, have been on the show longer than anyone else.
Ice-T came on board in the second season in 2000. Other actors have come and gone, but those two have chased and caught a lot of criminals with their badges and guns. This milestone episode is the fifth one Hargitay has directed. It has a lot of twists that will keep fans glued to their television sets. Every episode is about an instance of sexual abuse, and the 400th episode is no different.
Watch "Law & Order: SVU" on Wednesday at 9 p.m. on NBC.
