While the fate of several of my favorite “young” television shows hangs in the balance, I revel in the fact that some of my other favorites are still going strong. Case in point: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will air its 200th episode tonight. SVU will become just the third current network prime-time drama to reach the century mark twice, joining the original Law & Order and ER in that category.
Though I tend to celebrate birthdays and landmarks with behavior unfit for print, the bigwigs at NBC ring in this Very Special Episode with an A-list guest star: Robin Williams. “Authority” will feature a ripped from the headlines story in which Williams plays an engineer named Merritt Rook who scams a restaurant manager (Scott Adsit, 30 Rock).
When asked about working with the Oscar-winner, SVU star Mariska Hargitay told TV Guide: “I think about some of the guest stars we’ve had, and it really is a milestone working with such a genius. It makes me so proud that he wanted to do our show. Look how far we’ve come!” In addition to current (Hargitay, Diane Neal) and past (Tamara Tunie, Stephanie March, Michelle Hurd and Judith Light) series regulars, the show has a knack for attracting exquisite female guest stars. While fellow AfterEllen.com blogger Ace may disagree with me, I love seeing the fresh faces each week.
Seriously, who can argue with the likes of Lisa Gay Hamilton? Or Cynthia Nixon? How about my personal favorite guest ever on SVU, Marcia Gay Harden? Still no? OK, L Word cast members Marlee Matlin or Pam Grier must do it for you. Well, goodness. OK, I give in. Whose appearance, in all 199 shows, did you love?
