Thursday, December 5, 2024

Tonight “Law & Order SVU” Could Have Its Biggest Audience Ever with the Return of Elliot Stabler and Actor Christopher Meloni

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“Law & Order SVU” returns tonight with its first show since February 25th– and a big big BIG twist. Elliot Stabler is back, too, after 12 years, in the person of Christopher Meloni.

“SVU” is on NBC at 9pm with the first part of a crossover to Meloni’s new “Organized Crime,” which airs at 10pm. Meloni’s co-stars include a marquee name– Dylan McDermott — plus Tamara Taylor and Danielle Moné Truitt.

The publicity for this anticipated reunion between Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson and Meloni’s Stabler is off the hook. “SVU” is in its 22nd season, Back when Meloni was a regular, the ratings were around 10 or 11 million. Last year the season average was a pretty healthy 6.5 million. This season the average has been a little under 4 million.

So Meloni’s appearance, and future crossover and guest spots back and forth on the two shows should give the ratings a much needed pop. After all, the idea is to get “SVU” to its 25th season somehow. Maybe next year we’ll see Paul Sorvino or Benjamin Bratt return to the “Law & Order” fold.

Of course, the big competition tonight is ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” where star Ellen Pompeo has been in coma all season, spending her time at the beach as Meredith. The “Grey’s” ratings have been in a steady decline, and the show could be wrapping up its 17 year run.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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