Is There A New Law & Order: SVU Episode Tonight? (November 18, 2021)

"Law & Order: SVU" has been enticing fans of the crime drama genre ever since its debut in 1999. The series has aired over 500 episodes (via IMDb) and has given crime fans a multitude of cases to dive into, some of which were even inspired by real-life headlines (via In Touch Weekly). Set in New York City, the hit series revolves around a team of investigators in the Special Victims Unit who are specifically trained to tackle cases involving sexual assault. The series has made a star of Mariska Hargitay, who plays the tough-as-nails detective, Olivia Benson. Over the years, Hargitay has earned both Emmy and Golden Globe wins for her performance as the character.

The series is currently in its 23rd season and new episodes of it typically air every Thursday night on NBC. Notably, the last time we saw the detectives of the N.Y.P.D.'s Special Victims Unit was in the show's November 11 episode, which follows former detective Dominick Carisi Jr. (Peter Scanavino) as he enlists the help of the unit after a witness shows signs of abuse (via NBC).

As today is Thursday, "Law & Order: SVU" fans are understandably asking: Is a new episode airing tonight?

Unfortunately, fans of "Law & Order: SVU" will probably be left disappointed this week, as no new episode of the show is set to air on Thursday, November 18. Instead, NBC will be airing the Season 23 episode titled "I Thought You Were on My Side." 

The episode in question sees Detectives Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) investigating a sexual assault victim's case that crosses into mob territory — making it all the more dangerous for them. The victim identifies her assailant as a mobster, but even as Benson and Rollins work together with the FBI and the Organized Crime Unit to handle the case, they quickly come to realize that the assailant is well connected throughout the city (via NBC).

Although NBC typically airs new episodes of "Law & Order: SVU" every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, that's not the case tonight, or for the next couple of weeks. According to NBC's schedule, it looks like Thursday Night Football will be playing on Thursday, November 25 instead of "Law & Order: SVU" in order to coincide with the Thanksgiving holiday. Indeed, "Law & Order: SVU" fans will have to wait until Thursday, December 9 (via NBC) to see a new episode of the hit series.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).