No new episodes of "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" season 18 are expected to air this year. The show will return next year instead, although the schedule is a bit tricky to follow.
NBC has, for the third time, delayed the long-running show's episode that was inspired by president-elect Donald Trump. It was supposed to air the week after the presidential elections, but the network did a last-minute shuffle.
The controversial "Law and Order: SVU" season 18 episode is titled "Unstoppable," and it was originally set as the second episode of the season. It was scheduled to air on Oct. 16, but it was then moved to Oct. 26 before it was ultimately set for airing on Nov. 16, which is no longer happening.
It follows a presidential candidate (played by Gary Cole) whose run for the office hits a snag when several women came forward accusing the politician of sexual harassment and assault.
The "Law and Order: SVU" season 18 installment was first announced when Trump was attached to a leaked recording where he made degrading comments about women. He was also accused of sexual assault during his campaign.
The Trump-inspired "Law and Order: SVU" season 18 episode was pushed back to January next year, although some fear that it might once again be pulled with the inauguration happening on the same month.
It looks like NBC will not air new "Law and Order: SVU" season 18 episodes following the schedule change, and the show will resume next year instead.
If "Unstoppable" will not serve as the midseason premiere, it could be the episode that is titled "Great Expectations." The synopsis for it reads: "The SVU investigates the players of a top youth hockey team after a vicious locker room hazing."
Since "Law and Order: SVU" is known for featuring stories ripped from headlines, this season 18 installment might have something to do with the men's hockey team at the University of Vermont, whose members were suspended after an alleged hazing incident.
