Actor Christopher Meloni (Image via Getty)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered in 1999 and introduced viewers to Detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler in the episode titled “Payback.”

The episode marked the first appearance of Christopher Meloni as Stabler and Mariska Hargitay as Benson.

Nearly three decades later, both actors can still recall details from their first scene together. During a 2022 interview connected to the Law & Order franchise, Meloni spoke about the opening moments of the pilot and the dialogue that stood out to him.

The premiere followed the investigation of a murdered New York City cab driver. Benson and Stabler were introduced as partners responding to a crime scene during heavy rain.

At first, the detectives questioned why the Special Victims Unit had been called. That changed once details of the crime were explained by a responding officer.

The exchange set the tone for the series and defined how the two characters worked together from the start.

The scene has remained a reference point for fans and cast members. Meloni’s recollection of the dialogue shows how clearly the opening moments of the series were established.

The episode remains the foundation for a show that has continued through multiple seasons and cast changes while keeping Benson at its center.

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Chris Meloni on the line he remembers from the pilot of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

During the 2022 interview (via NBC), Christopher Meloni said he could remember his first line on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and much of the scene that followed.

He confirmed that his opening dialogue involved introducing himself and Benson to officers already at the scene. Meloni then focused on one specific exchange that stayed with him.

“I remember the best line of that scene, which was, ‘Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar,’ something like that,” Meloni said. He continued by explaining the officer’s response: “Yeah. Well, that guy’s cigar is missing.”

According to Meloni, the moment ended with him and Hargitay exchanging a look once they understood the nature of the crime.

In the episode, Stabler asks the officers why SVU was requested. The officer explains, “Whoever did this sliced off his cigar and took it with him.”

The response clarifies the situation and confirms why the case falls under SVU’s jurisdiction. Benson then looks at the scene and says, “Works for me.”

The exchange establishes the working dynamic between Benson and Stabler. The dialogue is brief and factual, and it moves the investigation forward. Meloni’s recollection shows how closely the original script remains tied to the identity of the show.

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Mariska Hargitay on meeting Meloni and the early Law & Order: Special Victims Unit seasons

Mariska Hargitay has also spoken publicly about the early days of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and her first meeting with Christopher Meloni.

In a January 2025 interview with TODAY, she explained that she felt confident about their on-screen partnership from the start.

“In the room, when he walked in, I sort of sized him up, and I said, ‘That’s the guy,’” Hargitay said.

She repeated the phrase and added that the decision felt clear to her at the time. According to Hargitay, Meloni shared a similar feeling, and their connection felt natural once filming began.

The early pairing of Benson and Stabler became central to the series. Their introduction in “Payback” placed them directly into a complex investigation and showed how they communicated under pressure.

The pilot did not spend time explaining their history. Instead, it presented them as established partners working a case.

As the series continues into later seasons, including Season 27, Benson remains in command of the Manhattan SVU. References to the pilot and early partnership with Stabler continue to appear in interviews and storylines.

These reflections provide context for how the show began and how its core characters were first defined.