Law & Order: SVU's Creator Had One Major Concern Before The Show Premiered

The "Law & Order: SVU" creatives put a lot of thought into how they wanted to approach the stories on the "Law & Order" spin-off before its premiere in 1999. Executive Producer Ted Kotcheff wanted "SVU," which deals with sex crimes, to have its own identity. "Out of ego, I wanted my show to be different," he said in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Unofficial Companion." He continued, "I didn't want to be a step-child. I felt that for 'SVU' you can't be detached. These are difficult emotions, dealing with children and people who are such a puzzle."

"Law & Order" franchise creator Dick Wolf was hesitant to this approach. "Dick asked, 'Is there any way you can lighten this dark material?' But, as a cinephile, I wanted to head towards film noir. So it was push-me/pull-you, and out of that comes something new."

That "something new" ended up making "Law & Order: SVU" into the most successful spin-off to come out of the "Law & Order" universe. Lead Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson, is also aware of its impact. "Our show made people talk about sexual assault. Our show changed the culture," she told Variety. "And that is the power of television — it creates community, which creates healing," she continued, adding, "Which is what I've wanted to do my whole life."

Dick Wolf and Ted Kotcheff may have initially disagreed about the tone of the storylines that would play out on "Law & Order: SVU," but it's clearly been impactful to audiences. "I think it's opened the door into a multitude of conversations over the years," Wolf said during a Paley Center for Media panel in 2018 (via Deadline). "If you look at the #MeToo movement, she (pointing to series star Mariska Hargitay) founded it a long time ago," he added.

The show, known for its intense storylines, even inspired Hargitay to start her Joyful Heart Foundation, which supports victims of sexual assault. "I needed a way to respond to the material that I was immersed in, both on-camera and off," she told Katie Couric Media. "Not only was I dealing with the subject matter [of sexual assault] every day, but then people were disclosing their stories of abuse to me [in real life]. I couldn't stay on the show without having a response to the statistics." She also felt empowered for the chance to tell these stories.

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).