Meloni Set for SVU 600th Episode Return
Meloni Set for SVU 600th Episode Return
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Key Points
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SVU had aired 594 episodes before Season 28, making the 600th installment the sixth episode of the new season; if the opening weeks proceed without repeats, it is expected to air November 12, though NBC has not confirmed that date.
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Showrunner Michele Fazekas said she wanted Meloni to appear in more Season 27 episodes, but his schedule prevented it. She added that Stabler’s return must serve the story: “I want to use him as much as he can, but also, I don't want to stunt it, or do it for no reason. It has to mean something.”
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After Organized Crime was canceled, Meloni posted an emotional message to fans, calling his time playing Stabler “a great ride” and saying of the Law & Order audience, “You gave me a life.”
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SVU premiered in 1999 and is described as one of the longest-running primetime live-action series in television history, with Hargitay having played Olivia Benson since the beginning.
Christopher Meloni is returning to Law & Order: SVU for the show's milestone 600th episode in Season 28, reuniting his character Elliot Stabler with Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson. The comeback marks Meloni's first substantial appearance since a brief Season 27 cameo and comes after NBC canceled his spinoff series Law & Order: Organized Crime.
Hargitay, who has played Benson since the show premiered in 1999, will also direct the episode. The 600th installment is expected to air around November 12, making it roughly the sixth episode of Season 28, though NBC has not officially confirmed the date. SVU returns October 8.
A Reunion 25 Years in the Making
Stabler and Benson's bond has defined SVU since the show's 1999 debut. The characters worked side by side as detectives for years before Stabler left the force. Hargitay has revealed that she and Meloni filmed multiple takes of a Season 24 scene where the characters nearly kissed, including versions that went further. The actual kiss was cut from the final episode.
Why Meloni Couldn't Return Until Now
Showrunner Michele Fazekas wanted Meloni in more Season 27 episodes but his schedule prevented it. Fazekas explained that Stabler's return must serve the story. "I want to use him as much as he can, but also, I don't want to stunt it, or do it for no reason. It has to mean something," she said.
Organized Crime's Cancellation Opens the Door
Law & Order: Organized Crime came to an end after NBC canceled the spinoff. Meloni posted an emotional message to fans, reflecting on his 25 years playing Stabler. He called the experience "a great ride" and thanked the audience, saying "You gave me a life."
SVU Remains Television's Longest-Running Drama
Law & Order: SVU has aired 594 episodes before Season 28 began, making it one of the longest-running primetime live-action series in TV history. The 600th episode milestone reflects 25 years of the show's success. Hargitay has been at the center of that run since day one, anchoring the show through major cast changes and spinoffs.
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