Alec Baldwin guest-stars on “SVU” in Mariska Hargitay’s directorial debut

Alec Baldwin is not completely getting out of the public eye, as he is guest-starring on tonight’s episode of Law & Order: SVU, which also marks the directorial debut for series star Mariska Hargitay.

Law & Order SVU Mariska Hargitay Alec Baldwin

In the episode, called “Criminal Stories,” Alec Baldwin plays a renowned New York columnist named Jimmy MacArthur. MacArthur is given full access to Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and the squad for an inside look at the city’s Special Victims Unit.

When the rape case of a young Muslim woman (guest star Summer Bishil) escalates to a hate crime, MacArthur stays one step ahead of the investigation and declares the entire crime a hoax. With the victim under a fierce public scrutiny, Benson struggles to keep the case on solid ground and fears a rapist will go free.

A bit of irony for press-despising Alec Baldwin to be playing an influential columnist? Perhaps, but could be interesting.

The episode also stars regulars Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro), Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins) and Raúl Esparza (ADA Rafael Barba).

Also guest-starring are Tamara Tunie (M.E. Melinda Warner), Delaney Williams (Counselor John Buchanan), Leslie Odom Jr. (Reverend Curtis Scott), Josh Pais (Hank Abraham), Nick Mennell (Elias Kemp Jr.) and Katie Couric (as herself).

Law & Order: SVU — “Criminal Stories” premieres March 19 at 9pm ET on NBC.

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Mariska Hargitay directing Alec Baldwin in the “Criminal Stories” episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Michael Parmelee/NBC