SVU First Look: Sam Waterston Brings Jack McCoy Back to the Courtroom, Faces Off With Mariska Hargitay
Law & Order: SVU shoots on the same Manhattan soundstage where the original Law & Order used to film. So when L&O mainstay Sam Waterston recently showed up to shoot another return to the franchise, the visit included his first time setting foot in the very courtroom where Jack McCoy won justice for countless victims of unspeakable crimes.
From the looks of these exclusive photos, it was a happy homecoming.
As previously reported, the series announced Waterston’s reprisal of the Law and Order prosecutor in late 2017. The actor played District Attorney’s office denizen McCoy for 16 seasons on the Dick Wolf-created original series and appeared in three SVU episodes; Season 11’s “Torch” marked his last visit.
Waterston will guest-star in the Wednesday, Feb. 7, episode (NBC, 9/8c), titled “The Undiscovered Country.” Here’s the official synopsis: “When an infant goes missing, the SVU finds themselves taking sides in a family’s right-to-die court case. Meanwhile, Barba’s interference in the case puts the entire DA’s office in jeopardy.”
In these shots obtained by TVLine, series star Mariska Hargitay welcomes Waterston to the set, where they goof around a little behind the scenes before putting their chung!chung! faces on as cameras roll.
Here’s a bonus shot of the pair having absolutely no fun whatsoever during a break in filming:
Are you planning to watch Waterston’s return to SVU? Scroll through the photos at the top of the post and below, then hit the comments and let us know!
You bet I’ll be watching. L&O and L&O: SVU are 2 of my all-time favorite TV programs. Sam Waterston was the best DA the program has seen….ever!
Totally agree with Karen. I will be watching for sure.
agree!!!
Jack McCoy is probably my #1 favorite TV character of all time!
me too, he is like old scottish.
fine actor.
definitely WILL watch
I sure will watch as I do every week. Love Marissa and welcome back Sam
Yes most definitely. I love Sam Waterston. I wish L and O was still own.
I have loved every incarnation of the franchise. I don’t think Mr. Waterston ever received proper recognition for his great work. The powers that be would be wise to bring him back as a recurring character. There has never been a bad character or actor on any of the LAW AND ORDER franchises. While they are at it, bring back Chris Meloni and Jeremy Sisto.
Lawrence
Never received proper recognition??
Jack McCoy was THE reason L&O lasted 20 years!
Even when Jack was elected as the top DA the show had him in many more scenes than previous DAs!
Dick Wolf said that Waterston WAS L&O!
By “proper recognition”, I meant in terms of awards. Besides, if you want more unsung heroes, don’t forget Jerry Orbach, Chris Noth, and the wonderful S. Epatha……(I know I would misspell that great lady’s last name.)
I totally agree! Sam Waterston was wonderful as Jack McCoy and I really miss him and the original L&O, even though I could watch it at almost any time on all the reruns on all the channels. I think i would be a superb idea to have him reprise his role on this spinoff.
I miss Law and Order and watch the reruns all the time. I wish they would bring that back.
Ahh Sam Waterston!
Fell in love with him when he played Nick Carraway in the Great Gatsby (1974)opposite Robert Redford and Mia Farrow.
Young naive character!
Jack McCoy!
Newsroom may have starred Jeff Daniels but it turned out that the entire series revolved around the integrity of Sam’s character and his machinations behind all the decisions made!
Abraham Lincoln, another lawyer that he played!
I love this guy! Ubiquitous throughout every TV series filmed in New York !!
Have to figure how to watch on Roku!
Can’t wait to see this, thanks for the photos!
Cant wait!
Because of Benson’s sullen attitude, I rarely watch SVU which used to be one of my favourites. Her down-beat character takes all of the joy out of the show. I’ll watch on the 7th to see McCoy.
The husband keeps asking, why don’t they give her a lieutenant? He’s right, in the show is missing that character to balance things out.
I got to meet Sam, along with Jerry Orbach and Jesse Martin, when they were filming a location shot together in my neighborhood. It was a rarity for the three of them to be together on location instead of on a sound stage. They were all absolutely wonderful.
Oh, lucky lucky YOU !
I’m a huge fan of Law and Order and was disappointed when it ended. I can’t wait to see Jack McCoy back in the courtroom.
Happy to see it
I absolutely will be watching or recording if I know I will not going to be home at the time.
Another article on here talks about all the reboots happening.
I’d like to see L & O return. I heard NBC was planning to reboot it. What happened?
The last coupe of seasons the show started getting good again.
Agreed — the final cast (S. Epatha Merkerson, Anthony Anderson and Jeremy Sisto as the police, Sam Waterston, Linus Roache, and Alana de la Garza in the courtrooms) had really gelled into a great ensemble when NBC pulled the plug. Instead of LAW & ORDER breaking the GUNSMOKE record by going to a 21st season, we got the ill-fated LAW & ORDER: LOS ANGELES.
.
Granted, L&O:LA gave us Megan Boone, but still … not a good trade-off.
That would be Dick Wolf’s fault. He and NBC couldn’t come to an agreement on another season of L & O.
Yes. I watch L & O: SVU every week. I will for sure be watching this one. Such a great cast. Awesome to have Jack return. Now if we could just get Mr. Meloni back.
I really miss the original. I especially enjoyed the seasons with Linus Roache working with Sam Waterston.
Oh, me too!
You BETTER BELIEVE that I will be watching SVU when Sam Waterston comes on!! He was my favorite character on the flagship Law & Order show. Put him. Olivia together,it will be AWESOME!!!
There will NEVER BE a DA like Sam Waterston. Have watched him since the beginning of the L&O series. As for Mariska , she and Eliot are my favorite detectives. Love their chemistry. I do wish L&O would go back to the original cast (and yes, I know some of them are now deceased). Dick Wolfe give us the BEST IN TV DRAMA with each series that he produces. KUDOS TO THE L&O TEAM.
I’ve always enjoyed the L&O & L&O-SVU episodes, but my favorite is the original L&O CI w/Goren & Emes…especially the episodes with Olivia D’Abo.
You are right… Goren sparring and matching wits with Nicole were classics.
Loved L&O:CI!!!! Loved the original L&O as well. Logan, McCoy, Briscoe, and Kincaid.
Criminal Intent was always my favorite. Vincent D was brilliant. Loved his tete-a-tetes with Olivia D’Abo. (Though that story really had a disappointing ending.) I think their mutual tortured souls were what made it so great, made wonderful with their talents. I think I love C.I. the most because it was about unraveling the mystery. (I liked the show “Motive” out of Canada for the same reason.)
Love, love, love L&A and always the best with Sam W. SO EXCITED!
I’m thrilled that Jack McCoy will be on SVU. Hoping he’ll be in many more episodes.
I’m elated. I’ve loved jack McCoy since his first episode.
Thanks to everyone who made this happen
And bring him back again!
Very excited to see this episode. As others have noted, I would love to see L&O come back with Jack!
So happy about this, I have really missed him, I watch every re-run that he’s in, set up my DVR, each week, These two are the best,
Can hardly wait‼️😃