‘Law & Order: SVU’ season 16 spoilers: Hoda Kotb set to guest star as…

“Law & Order: SVU” is known for snagging some big-name guest stars, and they have just secured one who you may have heard of already within the NBC family: Hoda Kotb. Who is she going to be playing? Well, let’s just say that this is a role that you have most likely seen her in quite a few times already over the years.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Hoda will be playing herself in an episode entitled “Producer’s Backend,” which revolves around a young Hollywood starlet Tensely (Stevie Lynn Jones, “Crisis”) who routinely finds herself in some sort of trouble. Over time, Benson and the rest of the Special Victims Unit find out via evidence that there may be a very tragic reason for some of her unfortunate behavior. This episode will also feature a spot by “Smash” alum and Broadway favorite Brian D’Arcy James.

This episode will air in October, most likely after the one that features “The Fosters” actress Teri Polo in a story about what happens to an athlete, and a sports brand endorsing him, when rape allegations start to pop up.

Hoda is far from the first NBC personality to appear on the long-running crime show, and more than likely, she will not be the last. The reason why so many of these personalities are courted is simple: The network really wants to ensure that they can get their own promotional flavor out there, while for “SVU” it makes sense to further establish the realism of the world. It’s basically a win-win situation when it comes down to it.

Photo: NBC