"Mariska Hargitay"

1999 · 27 Seasons · NBC · Crime, Drama, Procedural

Law & Order: SVU has earned its place as the longest-running live-action primetime series in American television through Mariska Hargitay's powerhouse performance and a willingness to tackle subject matter most shows avoid entirely. The quality has fluctuated across 27 seasons, with the middle years representing a creative peak that later seasons have struggled to match. But even at its most formulaic, SVU connects with audiences because it treats its victims with a seriousness and empathy that remains rare on network television.