Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni sat together courtside at a New York Knicks game just days before their “Law & Order” characters have their long-awaited on-screen reunion.
The former “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” co-stars were all smiles in a photo shared by the Knicks on X. In the pic, Hargitay’s hand is clasped firmly over Meloni’s hand.
The Knicks fittingly captioned the shot, “DUN DUN,” in reference to the signature beats heard in the franchise’s theme songs.
Meloni also shared a selfie of himself, his wife, Sherman Williams, Hargitay and her son, August, from their night out at the Garden to Instagram on April 12, part of a carousel of photos of recent moments.
“Been busy,” he captioned the pics, in part.
Hargitay and Meloni have been playing Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler since “SVU” premiered in September 1999.
Now in its 26th season, Benson has moved up to the rank of captain and adopted a son, Noah.
Stabler, who was written off the show after Season 12 when Meloni departed the series, now stars in the spinoff “Law & Order: Organized Crime.” Season Five of “Organized Crime” is set to premiere April 17.
Fans have long held onto hope for Hargitay and Meloni’s characters to develop a partnership off the field. So far, their close friendship has included a love confession and a near-kiss, but their characters have yet to take the plunge into a romance.
Still, fans aren’t giving up, and their night out at the Knicks game has only added fuel to the ever-burning fire, especially after the actors were spotted reuniting on the set of “SVU” on March 19.
“This is literally all I needed to make my day better,” one X user said in response to the Knicks’ post.
“I know thatโs right Liv! Kathy is gone, ainโt nothing holding him back now,” another responded, referring to Stabler’s former wife of more than 30 years, who died in Season 22 of “SVU,” just before the “Organized Crime” premiere.
Benson and Stabler haven’t appeared on screen together in two years. But that’s about to change, with the “Law & Order” crossover event airing Thursday, April 17. Hargitay is set to make an appearance on the flagship “Law & Order,” followed by a new episode of “SVU” at 9 p.m. ET. The promo for the episode teases a potentially violent appearance from Stabler.
Following “SVU,” NBC will air the Season Five premiere of “Organized Crime.” The rest of Season Five will air weekly on Peacock, including Episode Two, also set to drop April 17, which is set to feature Benson. (Peacock and TODAY.com share a parent company, NBCUniversal.)
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