Law & Order: OC Boss Teases Holiday SVU Crossover: ‘I Hope We Don’t Ruin Christmas for You for All Time’
Getting Law & Order crossover details out of Organized Crime showrunner Ilene Chaiken is like questioning the most lawyered-up of perps: You’re not likely to get much to go on.
However, when TVLine recently spoke with the procedural’s executive producer, we peppered her with questions about the upcoming Dec. 9 SVU crossover event — and she gave us a potential glimmer of a possible tease… and because we’re as greedy as a pre-Whoville Grinch, we’re taking it!
But let’s back up a second. On Monday, NBC released the crossover episodes’ titles and synopses. That night’s SVU (9/8c) is called “People Vs. Richard Wheatley,” which means what you think it does: Dylan McDermott’s behind-bars baddie is back. “Carisi tries Richard Wheatley for the murder of Kathy Stabler,” the official blurb reads. And, as was hinted at in a promo, “Benson finds herself at odds with a friend when Barba agrees to take the case.”
Then, at 10, the Stabler family’s newest emergency takes center stage. Per the synopsis for the hour, which is titled “The Christmas Episode”: “When Eli goes missing, Stabler asks Benson and the task force to help him find his son. Wheatley considers his future.” Hmm… might those two things be connected in some way?
“It will be a very Law & Order Christmas,” Chaiken says, chuckling at our consternation. So… Claymation and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? “Exactly. And lots and lots of Christmas carols,” she continues, voice sounding slightly more serious as she adds, “I’ll just say: I hope we don’t ruin Christmas for you for all time.”
Not gonna lie: Chaiken’s comment has us a wee bit worried. How much more can Stabler, Benson and their families take?! But worry always feels lighter when it’s shared, so now that we’ve filled you in, we turn it over to you: Hit the comments with your predictions/hopes/fears for the December crossover!
The more they milk this “will they, won’t they” story the farther down the rat hole OC goes. This show can stand on it’s own, it doesn’t need Benson to help carry it.
Completely checked out of SVU this season unless it is a crossover. Benson needs someone to balance her out like Barba did. Agreed that OC doesn’t need SVU or Benson. It’s a great ensemble cast with Meloni as the lead. And the 8 episodes to get invested in the story really works.
I totally and completely agree. You hit the nail on the head. True that. Couldn’t have said it better!
Have a very hairy Christmas, Stabler. Did he shave off his goatee yet?
Yes he did
Stop having Barba defend murderers. Don’t permanently screw up his relationship with Liv and the squad. This is no way to bring this great character back. Stop the crossovers as well.
With Eli gone missing My gut tell me they will leave this part of episode until the near very end And They will Keep us Hanging Until after Winter Break Just like they did in Season 19 When Grandma Sheila Took Noah It drove Me Crazy Wondering In season 19 they were on a longer Winter break than now (before Thanksgiving )
Kudos to the way writers are handling these cross overs. SVU needs a little life breathed back into it; 20+ yrs its understandable. Hope we get Benson & Stabler in the future as a couple. This relationship works for me because unlike Wolfe’s other shows Chicago PD & Fire they won’t be consistently thrown down viewers throats & their relationship wouldn’t eat up the story telling aspects of both shows.
We hope!!
You actually think that? Really. It works? No it doesn’t. Benson/Stabler relationship as romantic partners does NOT need to happen. Leave well enough alone. He’s already has five kids to worry about. Don’t need bring in a sixth. He’s in Organized Crimes. Dealing with criminals who wouldn’t hesitate to hurt Olivia or her or anyone in her squad just to get back at Stabler. So no they shouldn’t get together. They’ve got enough going on in own life.
BARBA defending Wheatley? Well, welcome back to the dark side, Raphael. You couldn’t have anyone worse as a client. What gun would SVU be without danger and a possible cliffhanger! I have been watching since 1999. It only gets better if they play it this way. Just Keep the Olivia and Elliot romance out of it!
YES.
Barba and Carisi are two of my favorite SVU characters. The last time Barba returned, I was rooting for Carisi but I was thrilled to have Esparza back and relieved I could still respect Barba and understand him taking the case. I really hope they don’t assassinate his character with this return, but I’m afraid they’re sacrificing him so that the Barba/Benson fans give up before she gets together with Stabler. I’m curious about the shift for Carisi to homicide cases, and whether this is to set the stage for the L&O revival, to reduce potential conflicts of interest as he and Rollins delay disclosing their relationship, or both. The longer the writers procrastinate with the disclosure, it feels less organic and more like they’re just putting off making any choices about Rollisi’s future. I’m pretty terrified for the personal safety of Carisi, Rollins, and her daughters if he’s prosecuting Wheatley, but maybe this is the dramatic moment they’ve been waiting for to have the shift in that relationship come to light?
Is this the only SVU episode until January?
Exactly how is the trial of Richard Wheatley for the murder of Kathy Stabler a Special Victims Unit case, let alone an episode?
I don’t mind crossover shows when the crimes fit, but I can’t see this one. Why can’t Carisi just be one of the characters on OC when the story-line calls for him? Ditto any of them -Belle, Jet, Benson, Stabler et al. I’d rather the various characters appear in multiple shows in a stand-alone stories than the contrived “Cross-Over Event.”
And if TrickyGreyArea is right, Carisi should be showing up in all 3 L&O shows.
Stop with the crossovers already! Putting Benson and Stabler together as a couple will ruin both shows.
I agree 100%. I am so tired of the crossovers between SVU and OC. They are trying so hard to push this ignorant Benson-Stabler relationship that it’s hurting both shows. I actually enjoy both shows until they crossover and then it just kills any momentum they have going.
Stablenson?!
Absolutely. I’ve watched L&O SVU since the beginning 1999. I was kicking as with Benson&Stabler and kicking as without him. Even more so without him. Let’s just the shows be separate and do their own thing and it’ll be just find. As far crossovers everybody don’t need to come just who’s ever involved. Like Carisi not Benson and team.
I’ll only start watching SVU and OC again if I have undisputed evidence that El and Liv are officially together as a couple. The showrunners have angered me once too often with all this sadistic baiting with zero payoffs.
Can’t wait to see that hot man Barba! Mary Hai me a cab and BLISS!💕
Agree that not much will get done BUT just enough to Keep us Hanging & wondering When on winter break just like they did in season 19 winter break where they kept us hanging (Grandma Sheila taking Noah )
The show runner for Organized Crime doesn’t seem to know the dynamics of the Law and Order SVU universe. He history of production involved mostly female LBGTQ productions. The writers must be new as well. I am really getting bored and disappointed with OC. The person who commented about the start of the new crossover beginning with the “Wheatley” trial just doesn’t make sense. If they are going to continue to tease a “romance” that is not going to happen between the characters Benson and Stabler, then stop bringing it up. His mother spoke about it, Agnes bought it up, Richard Wheatley bought it up! Stop bringing it up and leave it alone. I like so many other fans have waited for Christopher Meloni’s return, we are thankful but this show has no bones. The first season was far more interesting than what we have now. I don’t think I’ll keep watching.
Not sure I follow what you mean “(T)he (or, He(r)?) of production involved mostly female LBGTQ productions.”
Ilene Chaiken is the showrunner for OC, and one of the primary writers. Yes, she’s new to L&O, and yes, the biggest work on her resume is The L Word. The other main writer, Matt Olmstead, is also new to L&O. His resume of heterosexual urban police & hospital dramas runs from NYPD Blue to the Chicago Fire/Med/PD. Neither writes for SVU.
Dick Wolf still pens SVU & is the one responsible for giving us this upcoming out-in-left-field OC episode on SVU. And he’s the one writing Barba as a defender of scum. (If Wolf turns Barba into a bad guy, I’ll stop watching. LOVED that character!)
Anyway, I mostly agree with you – just blame the right folks!
Have to say, though, that I preferred Season 2 of OC to Season 1. Tighter story-line, more solid characters, and works without the SVU link.
Her
What did Sargeant Bell say to Elliott at the end of tonight’s show?
Who played Mia?