Mariska Hargitay reprises her role as Detective Olivia Benson (Will Hart/NBC)

You glance at the clock as it strikes 9:03 on a Wednesday night. You race to the television hoping you’ll make it in time and enter the channel number for NBC. But you’re too late – the crime has already been committed and the [catchy] theme song is playing. Now you have to make the crucial decision to stick around and try to piece together the case, or just say better luck next week.

After tonight’s season 12 premiere of “Law & Order: SVU” you’ll be kicking yourself if you choose the second option. You’ll be ready and waiting in front of the television by 8:55pm (just to be safe) for the show to begin. The series has outlived its predecessor “Law & Order” and is welcoming a Los Angeles counterpart next week. This season premiere was started off on the right foot with the return of Detectives Stabler and Benson, and not one but TWO episodes filled with explosions, imposters, and heart-breaking performances.

Besides welcoming several celebs, such as Joan Cusack in the opening episode and Paula Patton in episodes a few weeks down the road, several juicy questions will hopefully be answered this season. Will Detective Benson get that boyfriend or baby that actress Mariska Hargitay has been asking for? Will Elliot’s temper cause any problems? How many Assistant District Attorneys will they go through this season?

This is looking to be a very promising season for the members of the Special Victims Unit. Let’s hope Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni keep signing those contract extensions.

Reach Reporter Kellie Graham here.