Law & Order: Special Victims Unit debuted September 20, 1999, and has become a much-watched and much-referenced crime drama over its 20 seasons and counting on the air. The Onion looks back at key moments over the show’s history as it turns 20.
1999:
Producers decide against show’s original name, Sexy, Sad Times In The Big Apple.
2000:
Ice-T determines he can live with irony of playing a cop for huge portion of career.
2001:
In the wake of 9/11, series forced to pull episode guest-starring the Twin Towers.
2003:
Viewers now fully accustomed to winding down stressful day with twisted story about sexual crimes.
2005:
Show celebrates 1,000th sarcastic determination that an abusive parent suspect isn’t exactly father of the year.
2008:
USA network airs a pretty good one.
2009:
Actor Richard Belzer surprises hospitalized children by showing up to sick ward dressed as Munch.
2011:
Co-star Christopher Meloni departs show after drawing gun on producers and informing them a tragic childhood incident gave him a visceral, personal hatred for lowballing contract negotiators.
2014:
Mariska Hargitay directs her first episode after previously doing sound mixing, location scouting, and some light PA work.
2019:
Show’s bumbling investigators finally solve first crime.
