NBC has reasons for not airing theLaw & Ordershows tonight (August 19, 2025). The long-running procedurals both left off on an exciting note.Law & Order’s Jessica Brady may be leavingthe series only a few months after her debut after she realized that a corrupt cop at her old precinct was responsible for murdering his partner. She testified for the prosecution, publicly admitting that she had looked the other way in the past, and thus got a visit from IAB at the end of the fall finale.
The question of how Jessica will get out of this, assuming she’s staying, will keep the audience talking until the next new episode. Meanwhile, the fall finale was one ofLaw & Order: SVU’s best episodes, featuring ADA Sonny Carisi getting held hostage during a robbery. Although Carisi insisted he was fine afterward, it was clear he was struggling, which is an engaging cliffhanger. Thus,it is frustrating that bothLaw & Orderseason 24 andLaw & Order: SVUseason 26 are not releasing new episodes yet.
Why There Are No New Law & Order & Law & Order: SVU Tonight (June 04, 2025)
The Franchise Is Taking A Midseason Break
TheLaw & Orderfranchise is on its midseason hiatus, having aired its fall finales on August 23, 2025, which means it will not air any new episodes until after the New Year. While it is common for scripted series to take an extended break during this time of the year, these shows would likely have been pre-empted even if that weren’t the case, as today is Thanksgiving Day. Ratings can be low on major holidays, as many people are celebrating rather than watching television. Thus, networks traditionally air other programming on days such as Thanksgiving.
10 Best Thanksgiving Episodes Of Network Procedurals, From NCIS To Chicago Fire
TV’s procedurals have had several strong Thanksgiving episodes over the last few years that are worth watching over the holiday weekend.
NBC is airing a Thanksgiving Day football game tonight. It is currently scheduled to show some Christmas specials such asFrosty the Snowmanon December 5, although it is also planning on broadcasting arerun ofLaw & Order: SVUseason 25, episode 1. The network will likelycontinue to mix holiday-themed specials and reruns of old episodes during the extended break,as it has seven weeks to fill before new episodes return.
When Will Law & Order Season 24, Episode 9 & Law & Order: SVU Season 26, Episode 9 Release?
New Episodes Are Scheduled To Begin After The New Year
The midseason hiatus means that no new episodes of both proceduralswill air until 2025. Currently, NBC has schedulednew episodesLaw & OrderorLaw & Order: SVUforJanuary 16, 2025, leaving a seven-week gap between the last new episode and when the next installment of each series in the franchise airs. This long break is frustrating, but it is also an opportunity to catch up on any missed episodes and speculate about what will happen next in each show.
There is not yet any news on when the third show in the franchise,Law & Order: Organized Crime, will have its fifth season premiere on Peacock.
The fall finale cliffhangers make it harder to be patient during this long break. However, they were purposely crafted to keep the audience eager to know what will happen next so that they will tune in when the series finally returns. In the meantime, the midseason break allows the cast and crew to enjoy the holiday season and frees time on NBC’s schedule for holiday-themed specials. Additionally, with only 22 to 25 episodes in a season, NBC would run out of new material before April or May, which is when network shows typically wrap up for the summer.
What To Expect From Law & Order Season 24, Episode 9 & Law & Order: SVU Season 26, Episode 9
The Shows Will Offer New Cases While Resolving Cliffhangers
When theLaw & Orderfranchise returns, it will address the cliffhangers. However, it’s unlikely that either show will devote an entire episode to doing so.Carisi’s hostage situation was one of the most thrilling episodes ofLaw & Order: SVU season 26,but it also was a standalone episode that focused only on his plight; thus, it’s unlikely they will have another single-story episode any time soon. Similarly,Law & Orderwill likely mix Jessica’s plight with another case that the detectives have to work on.
It would be disappointing if the build-up in the previous episode went nowhere and Jessica’s IAB meeting was explained in dialogue instead of the writers developing a story around it.
Law & Orderseason 24left off on an exciting note, but the promo for the midseason premiere partially answers one question: Jessica Brady’s fate. The trailer depicts her questioning a suspect in the interrogation room, so she clearly has not been relieved of her duties. Hopefully,Law & Orderwill address her plight during the season while she continues to work on cases. It would be disappointing if the build-up in the previous episode went nowhere and Jessica’s IAB meeting was explained in dialogue instead of the writers developing a story around it.
“Lost Highway”
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Meanwhile, its sister show in theLaw & Orderfranchise ended on a less dramatic but equally compelling cliffhanger thatset up Carisi’sLaw & Order: SVUmental health storyline. It’s possible that his trauma will impact the way he handles cases moving forward. While the promo for the new episode is short on details, it shows Benson vowing to fight for “real justice” for a victim while Carisi tells her to get him “anything” he can use to convict, bolstering this theory about what happens next.
Law & Order
Cast
Law & Order is a procedural crime drama series that premiered in 1990, featuring New York City police detectives and prosecutors as they investigate and prosecute serious crimes. The show is known for its two-part approach, dividing between the crime-solving efforts of the detectives and the legal proceedings in court.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a television series that premiered in 1999. Set in the criminal justice system of New York City, it follows an elite team of detectives who investigate sexually-based offenses, focusing on their efforts to solve complex cases and seek justice for victims.
