Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is the longest-running primetime live-action series on American television. Mariska Hargitay is the first regular cast member to win an Emmy Award when she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2006. The 23rd season premiered on September 23, 2021, during which the show aired its milestone 500th episode.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit delves into the dark side of the New York underworld. The series often uses stories that are "ripped from the headlines" or based on real crimes. Its stories touch on the political and societal issues associated with gender identity, sexual preferences, and equality rights.