On September 13, 1990, TV viewers heard the iconic “dun dun” sound for the first time when Law & Order made its debut on NBC. Thirty five years later, almost to the day, stars from the three current Law & Order series took to the 2025 Emmy Awards stage to celebrate Dick Wolf’s venerable crime drama franchise. The group included Law & Order: Special Victims Unit‘s Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T, Hargitay’s former SVU co-lead who now headlines L&O: Organized Crime, Christopher Meloni, and Law & Order‘s S. Epatha Merkerson from its original run and Tony Goldwyn from its current incarnation.
“We are the Law & Order dream team,” Meloni said. “Icons, veteran survivors of so many rooftop chase scenes.”
Said Merkerson, “And we are all hear with one clear mission.”
Added Goldwyn, “To remind you that Mariska Hargitay has literally solved more fictional crimes that most actual precincts.”
Merkerson also reminded everyone that Hargitay has been on SVU for 27 years.
“That’s longer than some of you have been in therapy because of SVU,” she said.
More praise for Hargitay and her intrepid Det. Olivia Benson character followed, prompting the SVU star to intervene.
“All right, that’s enough. I love you all but this is not the Mariska lifetime achievement roast,” Hargitay said before introducing the final category of the night, Outstanding Drama Series.
You can watch the video below.
Over the years, Law & Other has spawned six spinoff series.
The mothership is headed into its 25th season; the series took a 12-year break after its shocking 2010 cancellation until NBC revived it in 2022. It has received 11 Outstanding Drama Series Emmy nominations, winning in 1997. Emmy winner Merkerson starred in 17 of Law & Order‘s initial 20 seasons; she is the series’ second longest-serving cast member behind Sam Waterston.
Goldwyn is one of Law & Order’s most recent cast members. He joined the revival as the new District Attorney, taking over after Waterston’s iconic Jack McCoy retired.
Law & Order: SVU, which holds the record for the longest-running primetime drama series, is headed into Season 27. Hartigay has garnered eight Emmy nominations for her portrayal of Benson, winning in 2006. She is the only remaining original cast member; Ice-T has been on the show since Season 2.
SVU spinoff Law & Order: Organized Crime is coming off its fifth season and first on Peacock after four seasons on NBC.
All-new seasons of Law & Order and SVU and a broadcast run of Organized Crime‘s fifth season premiere Sept. 25 on NBC.
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