<\/p>\n
When you talk about long-running franchises that are showing no signs of slowing down,\u00a0Law & Order<\/em><\/a> has to be at the top, with the original series\u2019 35th anniversary honored at the 2025 Emmys<\/a> with SVU<\/em><\/a>\u2018s\u00a0Mariska Hargitay<\/a>,\u00a0Organized Crime<\/em><\/a>\u2018s Christopher Meloni<\/a>, Tony Goldwyn<\/a>, and more on hand.<\/p>\n Joining Hargitay, Meloni, and Goldwyn on stage were Ice T<\/a> and\u00a0S. Epatha Merkerson<\/a>, and they all paid homage to Hargitay\u2019s prolificacy in the leading role for the show.<\/p>\n After the iconic dun-dun\u00a0Law & Order<\/em> music ushered them in, Ice T said, \u201cThat\u2019s the sound my phone makes when Mariska calls me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are your\u00a0Law & Order\u00a0<\/em>dream team, icons, veterans, survivors of so many rooftop chasings.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we\u2019re all here tonight with one clear mission,\u201d Merkerson said, with Goldwyn adding, \u201cTo remind you that Mariska Hargitay has solved more fictional crimes than most precincts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s been on SVU<\/em> for 27 years,\u201d Merkerson continued. \u201c<\/span>That\u2019s longer than some of you have been in therapy because<\/em> of SVU<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd don\u2019t let the compassion fool you. Olivia Benson will hug a victim and then knock out a perp before lunch,\u201d Meloni added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Harigtay then noted they were on hand to deliver the final award of the night, for Outstanding Drama Series to The Pitt<\/em>, noting, \u201cThis isn\u2019t the Mariska lifetime achievement roast.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWait a minute,\u201d Ice T said, feigning surprise. \u201cThis isn\u2019t the Marsika lifetime achievement roast?\u201d<\/p>\n On the red carpet prior to the award show, Ice T talked about the longevity of\u00a0SVU<\/em>. \u201cI went on this show to do four episodes. Four episodes, and now it\u2019s Season 27 and counting. And I think the show will go as long as Mariska wants to continue to do the show,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s got a hook in the fans. The fans love us. I think because SVU<\/em> is not only entertainment, it\u2019s therapy to a lot of people. We\u2019re dealing with real issues and our fan base, the victims are still alive. And so a lot of people watch our show and they see maybe justice that they didn\u2019t see in their life. So it\u2019s a different type of entertainment and therapy type show and we\u2019re glad people enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n Also on the red carpet, Tony Goldwyn shared why fans are still tuning in to the franchise. \u201cI think it\u2019s a combination of three things. I think Dick Wolf<\/a> came up with this brilliant idea of having a cop show and a law show blended into one. The writing, number two, they care so much about the writing, so the writing is always smart and thoughtful and current. And then they have all these great actors,\u201d he said. \u2018The casts are so great, There\u2019s amazing guest actors that come on. That combination just keeps the quality up and it\u2019s been able to not only survive, but prevail.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Back in 2022, Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni teased fans with an almost kiss<\/a> while presenting at the Emmys. Their characters, Captain Olivia Benson and Detective Elliot Stabler, have almost kissed as well onscreen, and that (very long) slow burn continues, though\u00a0SVU<\/em> Season 27 set photos<\/a> do seem to tease\u00a0something<\/em> happening.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Law & Order<\/em> franchise will once again be taking over Thursday nights this fall, starting on Thursday, September 25. First up is the\u00a0Law & Order<\/em> Season 25 premiere, followed by\u00a0SVU<\/em>\u2018s Season 27 premiere. Then,\u00a0Organized Crime<\/em> Season 5, which has already been released on Peacock, will air.<\/p>\n