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NBC Renews ‘Law & Order: SVU’ for Season 21

Scripted Drama to Surpass Parent Series 'Law & Order' and Western 'Gunsmoke' in Longevity

“Law & Order: SVU” is poised to make the record books as the longest running scripted drama in the history of television following the renewal by NBC for a 21st season. Historically, this will put “SVU” ahead of both its parent series, “Law & Order,” and western “Gunsmoke,” which are tied at 20 seasons each.
 
Debuting on Sept. 20, 1999, “Law & Order: SVU” will reach 456 episodes at season end (which is still 179 short of the 635 episodes for “Gunsmoke”). 

NBC has also greenlit Dick Wolf’s Wednesday night Chicago-set trio — “Chicago Med,” “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago PD” — for the 2019-20 TV season.