Mariska Hargitay fans are getting a special dose of Olivia Benson before one of the biggest nights of her career. NBC will air a three-hour “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” block on Thursday, September 10, featuring three acclaimed episodes centered on Hargitay’s longtime character, the network shared in an official press release on Monday, August 10.
The programming event comes just four days before Hargitay makes her debut as host of the 78th Emmy Awards.
NBCThe special arrives during a milestone year for Hargitay, who has played Olivia Benson since “SVU” premiered in 1999. The drama is preparing for its 28th season and is expected to surpass 600 episodes later this year.
Which ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Episodes Will NBC Re-Air?
NBCNBC is going back into the “SVU” vault for three episodes closely tied to Hargitay’s Emmy history.
- 8 p.m. — “Charisma”: Originally aired November 16, 2004. The episode earned Hargitay an Emmy nomination. 9 p.m. — “911”: Originally aired October 4, 2005. The episode earned Hargitay the Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series in 2006.
- 10 p.m. — “Undercover”: Originally aired April 15, 2008. The episode also earned Hargitay an Emmy nomination.
The episodes offer fans another look at some of Benson’s most intense cases before Hargitay steps into an entirely different role on Emmy night.
Mariska Hargitay Will Host the 2026 Emmy Awards
NBCHargitay will host the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday, September 14, at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles.
The ceremony will air live on NBC at 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PT and will also stream on Peacock. It marks Hargitay’s first time hosting television’s biggest awards night.
“Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career. It’s my great honor to host the 78th Emmy Awards — in the 100th birthday year of my beloved NBC — and celebrate this extraordinary community of storytellers,” Hargitay announced in an official statement when her hosting role was announced.
She continued, “Whether it’s an actor or a director, a costumer or a sound designer, we are all so privileged to take part in creating television that unites us. Regardless of how, where or when we watch, we are together in our laughter, our tears, our love of stories — and our delighted anticipation to see what happens next.”
Mariska Hargitay Earned 2 More Emmy Nominations This Year
Hargitay is not only hosting the ceremony. She is also a nominee. Her deeply personal documentary “My Mom Jayne,” about her late mother, Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield, received three nominations this year.
Hargitay herself is nominated for outstanding directing for a documentary/nonfiction program and as a producer in the outstanding documentary or nonfiction special category.
The project marked another major step behind the camera for Hargitay, who has spent years directing and producing in addition to starring on “SVU.”
Her Emmy history stretches back decades. She won outstanding lead actress in a drama series in 2006 for Olivia Benson and has received numerous nominations for the role over the years.
‘Law & Order: SVU’ Returns for Season 28 This Fall
NBCHargitay is also preparing to put Benson’s badge back on. Season 28 of “Law & Order: SVU” is scheduled to premiere Thursday, October 8, at 9 p.m. on NBC.
The series continues to follow Benson and the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit as they investigate cases involving sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.
Ice-T returns alongside Hargitay as Sgt. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola, with Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, Kevin Kane and Aimé Donna Kelly also part of the cast, as per NBC.
For Hargitay, the coming weeks will put nearly every corner of her career in the spotlight, from the episodes that helped establish Olivia Benson as a television icon to her newest work behind the camera and her first night steering the Emmys.
