NBC is returning to Law & Order: SVU. The network has renewed the veteran procedural for a 16th season.
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The Wednesday drama was left out of NBC's Dick Wolf renewals in March as star Mariska Hargitay had not yet inked a new deal to return. The series will be back for a 16th season after bidding farewell to co-stars Dan Florek and Richard Belzer as the aging procedural looks to keep things fresh and likely trim costs. In its 15th season, SVU is averaging a 1.8 in the adults under 50 demo, down slightly year-over-year but jumping 56 percent after seven days of delayed viewing to a 2.8. The series remains the lone survivor in the venerable Law & Order franchise, though the previously renewed Chicago Fire has surpassed it in the key demo and total viewers. With the renewal, Wolf will continue to have three series on the air: SVU, Chicago Fire and its spinoff, Chicago PD. The renewal for SVU also comes shortly after Fox opted to cancel freshman comedy Surviving Jack, starring SVU alum Chris Meloni in his first series role since he exited the NBC drama.
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The SVU renewal joins previously announced drama pickups for dramas Grimm, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD and The Blacklist. They'll be joined on the schedule by new dramas Allegiance, State of Affairs and Odyssey as well as limited fare Emerald City and The Slap.
