"Law & Order: SVU" season 18 might have to scrap one of its episodes after America voted to put Donald Trump in the White House. The episode was scheduled to air on Oct. 26 but it has been pushed back several times. The episode might air in 2017 as speculated by some media outlets, but there is also a chance that NBC will decide not to air the episode now that Trump is the next president of the United States.
"Law & Order: SVU" Season 18 Spoilers
Trump's election as president came as a surprise and there have been a lot of reactions about it especially in the entertainment industry. Given the controversy surrounding the President-elect, NBC pushed back an episode on "Law & Order: SVU" season 18. The said episode is rumored to have undergone much scrutiny since it features a character which is closely similar to Trump that will be played by the guest star, Gary Cole.
The episode which is entitled "Unstoppable" is all about a politician who is running for the election. However, his campaign is met with much controversy. During his campaign period, several women came forward accusing him of serious allegations. The said episode was purportedly inspired by Trump's comments to Billy Bush in the "Access Hollywood" bus back in 2005.
"Law & Order: SVU" Season 18 On Hiatus
It's worth noting that this has been the third time that the episode was pushed back. Originally scheduled to air on Oct. 12, it was postponed and moved to Oct. 26 but it was subsequently moved to Nov. 16. Now, NBC pulled it off air and the airing date is still to be determined.
While some speculate that it will be back on air on Jan. 4, 2017, the network might push it back further given that the date is close to Trump's inauguration as president. Due to NBC's decision to delay the episode, there are no new "Law & Order: SVU" episodes scheduled to air for the rest of the year.
In lieu of the series, episodes of "Chicago PD" will air on Nov.16. The decision to air back to back episodes of "Chicago PD" is due to the fact that the series will soon have a crossover with other Chicago shows.
NBC And Trump's Controversy
Why would NBC cancel an episode's airing for Trump? Trump's journey to the White House has been a tumultuous one. Among the biggest issues he faced was the leaked recording detailing lewd statements about females. Trump tried to wiggle out of the scandal but to no avail.
Trump tried to defend himself reasoning that what took place was just "locker room talk." However, the presidential candidate was still under close scrutiny due to his statements. The scandal was such a big issue that "Today" show Billy Busy was sacked by NBC due to his involvement in the case.
"Law & Order: SVU" season 18 airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
