NBC’s Law and Order: SVU tackles cable news network’s sexual harassment scandal

“Law and Order: SVU” is taking another cable news network’s sexual harassment scandal as its upcoming case of the week. The Roger Ailes-inspired episode focuses on a network boss that is accused of rape by one news anchor.

Christopher McDonald will play the network boss while his accuser will be portrayed by “Friends” actress Bonnie Somerville. Mark Moses is Somerville's character's co-anchor.

In episode titled "The Newsroom" Lt Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and ADA Rafael Barba (Raúl Esparza) ask witnesses to put their jobs on the line after a news anchor revealed on air that she was raped by her boss.

Last year, former “Fox & Friends” co-host and news anchor Gretchen Carlson sued her former boss Roger Ailes and the network on claim that she was fired from her post after rejecting sexual advances from the former. Ailes denied the allegations and accused Carlson of filing the lawsuit in retaliation for not renewing her contract.

More allegation of sexual advances emerged against Ailes which forced him to down from his post. Australian tycoon Rupert Murdoch took over as acting CEO. Carlson eventually settled out of court.

The SVU’s Ailes-inspired episode comes amid new allegations of sexual harassment against one of Fox News’ longtime anchors. The network was reportedly paid out around $13 million in settlements to women who accuse Bill O'Reilly.

Former “O'Reilly Factor” guest Wendy Walsh is one of the women who accused the anchor of sexual advances. Walsh called for an independent investigation while some advertisers of “O'Reilly Factor” are reportedly pulling out their advertisements from the show, the Hollywood Reporter noted.

SVU is not the only project that was inspired by the Ailes story. The former Fox News chief will be the subject of a new movie from “The Big Short” screenwriter Charles Randolph. Cable network Showtime also has bought the rights to air a miniseries titled “Secure and Hold: The Last Days of Roger Ailes.”

“Law and Order: SVU” has been known for its ripped-from-the-headlines stories. The NBC’s longest-running procedural drama also has a Donald Trump-inspired episode but it hasn’t been aired yet.

The episode is about a Trump-esque presidential candidate caught up in an alleged sexual assault scandal. It was originally scheduled to air in October 2016 and has faced delay multiple times.

ABC’s new courtroom drama, “The Good Fight,” picked up the shelves SVU episode. “The Good Fight” story, however, tackled the NBC’s decision of not airing the Trump-inspired episode.

Don’t miss “Law and Order: SVU” season 18 episode 16 on April 26 at 9/8c on NBC in the US. The series also airs every Thursday at 9:30 P.M. in Channel Ten in Australia.