iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More

'Law And Order: SVU': Harry Connick Jr. Talks David And Olivia Romance, Plus Exclusive Video

Harry Connick Jr Svu

First Posted: 02/22/2012 4:12 pm Updated: 02/22/2012 4:53 pm

After 13 seasons, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" finally gave Det. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) a serious love interest when Executive Assistant District Attorney David Haden (Harry Connick Jr.) entered the picture. Fans who have been anxiously waiting for more Olivia/David action won't want to miss Wednesday night's all-new episode, which we have exclusive video of below.

In the episode, entitled "Hunting Ground," Olivia and David's romantic weekend is interrupted when an underage prostitute goes missing.

As the SVU detectives dig into her disappearance, they find a pattern of several missing escorts who all posted ads on a popular newspaper's website. For Oliva and David budding relationship, however, this means that the line between their personal and professional lives starts to blur, causing a bit of frustration for the two, as the squad races to find the missing girl before it's too late.

HuffPost TV caught up with Connick Jr. on the set of the long-running NBC procedural to talk about the personal connection that inspired him to take the role, David and Olivia's blossoming romance and how even he saw the chemistry between Elliot (Christopher Meloni) and Olivia.

"Law and Order: SVU" airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST on NBC. Check out exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the "SVU" set -- including a very sweet kiss between Olivia and David.

For fans that feel like they don't know much about your character, how would you describe David?

David is very determined at his job, and he's very ethical. He's a hard-worker who believes very strongly in upholding the law and doing what he's supposed to do, which is one of the reasons that I believe he's attracted to Det. Benson. Obviously, she's beautiful and charming, but she's a bit of a mystery to him. He knows that it's going to take a bit of work, but I think he's willing to do the work to get to know her. He's a genuine guy. If he was anything other than that, I would be blind-sided by it because up to this point, he really cares for her. He senses that something has been troubling her, and we had a scene where he was like, "Look, I know something is bothering you, but I want you to know that I'm not going anywhere. It's alright, whatever it is. I can handle it."

This upcoming episode is going to see David and Olivia both juggling their personal and professional lives. Is that going to cause some friction?

For David, love trumps the business. He approaches Olivia and says, "If we want this to work, we have to make a decision. We have to stay away from each other in the work field." And he's making the decision to do that. Their relationship is more important to him than what they both do for a living, and they're both ethical about their jobs.

You're only signed on to do four episodes, so where are things headed for Olivia and David in that short time?

I don't know. I'm going to be just as surprised as everyone else. [Laughs] I think Mariska probably has a better idea than I do, but it's nice, you know? I liked being surprised because that's how these things happen in real ife.

What do you want to happen?

I would like, just as a fan of the show, for her not to get hurt. She's been through so much trauma in her life already, so I would rather, if I had my choice, not be a person who would contribute to any more pain for her. But as an actor, I'm playing a part and it is what it is.

You would also be the most hated person on TV if you break her heart.

Oh, for sure! But sometimes that's the way it is when you play a guy who's not very admired. That's just apart of being an actor. People get so personally invested with these characters that they sometimes translate that to your real personal life. That can be tough, especially when you're not expecting that kind of backlash.

I know that you're a talented singer in real life, so will David serenade Olivia any time soon?

[Laughs] I don't think that's going to happen. Oh man, one of the fun things about playing a guy like David is that he's not a singer. I just finished a show, doing eight shows a week, and sing a lot, so it's nice to play a guy who can't carry a tune. Maybe Olivia will serenade him! That's a nice alternative.

If they did ask you to come back for more than four episodes, would that be an option that you would consider?

Oh, sure! I'm having a great time. It's just a matter of scheduling, but I'd definitely be back. I'm really enjoying my time with Marlska, so I'd love to keep that going.

I know that you said that you were obsessed with the show, so I'm sure you know that there were many fans who wanted Elliot and Olivia together. Where you a big fan of Benson and Stabler?

The thing about their relationship is that it was an impossibility. You always wanted it to work and for it to happen, but you knew it wasn't because he was married, and they loved each other in a different kind of way. It's interesting to see how she's sort of breaking down a little bit and letting David into her emotional circle because that was once a place that she really only let Elliot into. It's fun to be that guy.

I read that your father was the District Attorney of New Orleans. Did that have anything to do with you taking on this role?

There's a lot of things in this script that I call about and ask him. He was the DA of New Orleans for 30 years, so I had a million questions for him about his job and the situations that he found himself in during that time. In fact, the reason I took the role was because of my dad. It's yet another way that I can share my time with him. We're very close anyway, but I had never done a role like this before, and since it's what he does for a living, I thought it would be a nice bond between us.

Related on HuffPost:

Loading Slideshow...
  • "Oprah's Next Chapter"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Oprah Winfrey <strong>What It's About:</strong> "Oprah's Next Chapter" will take Oprah outside the TV studio for a series of in-depth conversations with celebrities ranging from Steven Tyler to Deepak Chopra. <em>Series premieres Sun., Jan. 1, 9 p.m. EST on OWN</em>

  • "Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Rachael Ray, Guy Fieri, Aaron Carter, Coolio, Cheech Marin and more <strong>What It's About:</strong> Food Network stars Rachael and Guy face off as team leaders, each mentoring a group of celebreality all-stars from Coolio to Summer Sanders. <em>Series premieres Sun., Jan. 1, 9 p.m. EST on Food Network</em>

  • "Angry Boys"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Chris Lilley <strong>What It's About:</strong> The comedy's 12-episode first season follows five different storylines with performer Chris Lilley taking on six distinctly unique roles: twins Daniel and Nathan Sims who live on an outback farm; former surfing world champion turned surfing gang leader Blake Oakfield; a black American rapper named S.mouse; a Japanese mother Jen Okazaki, who manages her skateboarder pro son; and juvenile corrections officer Ruth Sims (aka Gran). Yeah, it's pretty funny. <em>Series premieres Sun., Jan. 1, 10 p.m. EST on HBO</em>

  • "It's a Brad, Brad World"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Brad Goreski <strong>What It's About:</strong> If you DIE for Rachel Zoe and her drama-filled titular "Project" on Bravo, you're probably already bananas for her fan favorite former assistant Brad Goreski. Yes, Rachel and her husband Rodger tried to work a mean smear campaign, but come on -- Brad's love of color, funny quips and penchant for bowties are too major not to love. His new series tells his side of the story as he attempts to blaze his own trail in the styling industry. <em>Series premieres Mon., Jan. 2, 10 p.m. EST on Bravo</em>

  • "Work It"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Ben Koldyke, Amaury Nolasco, Rebecca Mader <strong>What It's About:</strong> Lee Standish and Angel Ortiz can't find work anywhere. When a job lead comes with a catch -- the company wants to hire female sales representatives -- they decide to do whatever needs to be done to get the gig and begin cross dressing for the job. Hijinks ensue and LGBT rights groups aren't pleased. <em>Series premieres Tues., Jan. 3, 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC</em>

  • "Celebrity Wife Swap"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Gary Busey, Ted Haggard, Tracey Gold, Carnie Wilson, Flavor Flav, Mick Foley, Niecy Nash, Tina Yothers <strong>What It's About:</strong> Yep, it's "Wife Swap," but with stars. <a href="http://www.aoltv.com/2011/12/01/celebrity-wife-swap-pairs/" target="_hplink">Celebrities swap spouses with other stars</a>, living one week under the host family's rules before switching it up and taking control. Gary Busey switches with Ted Haggard, Niecy Nash swaps with Tina Yothers ... you get the idea. <em>Series premieres Tues., Jan. 3, 9 p.m. EST on ABC</em>

  • "Jane By Design"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Erica Dasher, Nick Roux, Andie MacDowell <strong>What It's About:</strong> Jane is your average teenage girl who has some serious adult-sized problems. In an effort to help her family's financial problems, she applies for a job in retail, but everything gets a little loopy when she's accidentally mistaken as an adult and lands a job in a hip retail company. Now Jane must balance being a high school student and a working professional, while keeping her identity a secret. <em>Series premieres Tues., Jan. 3, 9 p.m. EST on ABC Family</em>

  • "The Firm"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Josh Lucas, Juliette Lewis, Callum Keith Rennie, Molly Parker, Natasha Calis <strong>What It's About:</strong> Need a new NBC legal drama with the "Law & Order" franchise disappearing before your eyes? Thankfully, "The Firm," based on John Grisham's best-selling novel, is an antidote. Lucas stars as attorney Mitchell McDeere (the role originated by Tom Cruise in the 1993 film version) in the series, which picks up McDeere's story about a decade after the novel and film left. Since we left him, Mitchell has had a difficult time, working at a firm that operated as a front for the Chicago mob. And now, he's out of the Federal Witness Protect program and trying to evade new threats and haunting past dangers. <em>Series previews Sun., Jan. 8, 9 p.m. EST; series premieres Thurs., Jan. 12, 10 p.m. EST on NBC</em>

  • "House of Lies"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz <strong>What It's About: </strong>In this dark comedy set in the corporate world, management consultants have a grand ole time charging corporate clients millions for sketchy, incomprehensible advice. Nice work, if you can get it. <em>Series premieres Sun., Jan. 8, 10 p.m. EST on Showtime</em>

  • "Caged"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> MMA fighters and their families in Louisiana <strong>What It's About:</strong> MTV is taking a step away from the shore and heading to rural Louisiana. The network's newest docu-series will give an honest and powerful view into the world of passionate amateur MMA fighters and the women in their lives, both inside and outside of the cage. Expect MTV's signature flare for the dramatics, but this one's a little more heartfelt and honest than its predecessors. <em>Series premieres Mon., Jan. 9, 10 p.m. EST on MTV</em>

  • "24 Hour Catwalk"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Alexa Chung hosts and judges, along with designer Cynthia Rowley, fashion editor Derek Blasberg, media consultant James LaForce <strong>What It's About:</strong> Like "Chopped" but with fashion, "Catwalk" attempts to grab a "Project Runway"-lite audience, i.e. those looking for something that's merely a week-by-week commitment. Each episode finds four designers trying to reimagine a mystery garment; the two best go head-to-head with complete collections designed in just a day. <em>Series premieres Tues., Jan. 10, 10 p.m. EST on Lifetime</em>

  • "Are You There, Chelsea?"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Laura Prepon, Chelsea Handler, Jack McDorman, Lauren Lapkus, Lenny Clarke, Ali Wong, Mark Povinelli <strong>What It's About:</strong> Based on Handler's best-selling book, "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea," the show follows Prepon as a fictional version of Handler, Chelsea Newman, a working-class, opinionated young woman. Handler also stars as Sloane, Chelsea's older sister. <em>Series premieres Wed., Jan. 11, 8:30 p.m. EST on NBC</em>

  • "Rob"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Rob Schneider, Cheech Marin, Claudia Bassols <strong>What It's About: </strong>When Rob, a lifelong bachelor, marries a woman from a close-knit Mexican family, he struggles to win their respect and figure out the finer points of their culture. <em>Series premieres Thurs., Jan. 12, 8:30 p.m. EST on CBS</em>

  • "The Finder"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Geoff Stults, Michael Clarke Duncan, Mercedes Masöhn, Maddie Hasson <strong>What It's About:</strong> Centered around a man with a remarkable talent for helping people find the unfindable, this "Bones" spin-off promises to feature some familiar faces in guest roles; first up, John Francis Daley in episode five. Thankfully, they've also replaced Saffron Burrows, who was the most off-putting part of the pilot. <em>Series premieres Thurs., Jan. 12, 9 p.m. EST on Fox </em>

  • "Napoleon Dynamite"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino and the rest of the film cast <strong>What It's About: </strong>An animated version of the 2004 indie hit, the series follows Napoleon, an awkward teenager, and his misadventures in high school. <em>Series premieres with two episodes on Sun., Jan. 15 at 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. EST on Fox</em>

  • "Alcatraz"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Jorge Garcia, Sam Neill, Sarah Jones <strong>What It's About: </strong>A San Francisco cop (Jones) stumbles across a vast, time-traveling conspiracy involving Alcatraz prisoners. Garcia, whom we've missed a lot since "Lost" went off the air, plays an Alcatraz expert she consults about the island prison's secret history. <em>Series premieres Mon., Jan. 16, 8 p.m. EST on Fox</em>

  • "Betty White's Off Their Rockers"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Betty White and a gang of mischievousness senior citizens <strong>What It's About:</strong> Betty White and friends pull hidden-camera pranks on younger people and hilarity ensues. <em>Series previews Mon., Jan. 16, 9:30 p.m. EST; series premiere TBD on NBC</em>

  • "Lost Girl"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Anna Silk, K.C. Collins, Kris Holden-Ried <strong>What It's About:</strong> Described as a "sexy supernatural drama series," the SyFy show stars Silk as Bo, a succubus who feeds off sexual energy. As part of the Fae race, Bo must choose whether to follow a path of light or darkness as she searches for the truth about her origins, living among humans, but trying to resist her darker urges. <em>Series premieres Mon., Jan 16, 10 p.m. EST on Syfy</em>

  • "Remodeled"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Paul Fisher <strong>What It's About:</strong> Now that "<a href="http://www.aoltv.com/show/americas-next-top-model-13/187482" target="_hplink">America's Next Top Model</a>" is out of cycle, The CW is bringing a new reality series to the catwalk. "Remodeled" goes behind the scenes of the modeling industry. Veteran Paul Fisher -- who once represented Naomi Campbell, Carla Bruni, and more high-profile models -- embarks on a new venture: The Network. Fisher's goal? To help small town agents from being screwed by the big agencies by bonding them together. <em>Series previews Tues., Jan. 17; time slot premiere Wed., Feb. 1, 9 p.m. EST on The CW</em>

  • "Unsupervised"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>The voices of David Hornsby, Justin Long, Kristen Bell, Fred Armisen <strong>What It's About:</strong> An animated comedy about two optimistic best friends, Gary and Joel, attempting to navigate the unpredictable landscape of teenage life without any parental supervision. <em>Series premieres Thurs., Jan. 19, 10:30 p.m. EST on FX</em>

  • "Touch"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Kiefer Sutherland, David Mazouz, Danny Glover, Gugu Mbatha-Raw <strong>What It's About:</strong> This preternatural drama follows widower Martin Bohm (Sutherland) as a single father, who -- despite serious efforts -- cannot connect, physically or emotionally, with his mute 11-year-old son Jake (Mazouz). But when he learns Jake has the amazing ability to see things no one else can see and actually is communicating (only with numbers), everything changes. <em>Series previews Mon., Jan. 25, 9 p.m. EST; series premieres Mon., Mar. 19, 9 p.m. EST on Fox</em>

  • "Bering Sea Gold"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Crews of four different gold dredging ships <strong>What It's About:</strong> This documentary series from the producers of "<a href="http://www.aoltv.com/show/deadliest-catch/185354" target="_hplink">Deadliest Catch</a>" follows the seafaring inhabitants of Nome, Alaska, as they dredge the ocean to try and retrieve the vast quantities of gold being deposited into the Bering Sea by melting glaciers. <em>Series premieres Fri., Jan. 27, 10 p.m. EST on Discovery</em>

  • "Luck"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte, Jason Gedrick <strong>What It's About:</strong> In this David Milch drama about the colorful characters who inhabit a horse racing track, Hoffman stars as an ex-con who, like everyone else in "Luck," is hoping for a big score. The Michael Mann-directed pilot got a generally positive reception when it aired in December, but this is Milch we're talking about, so who knows if this high-profile drama will turn out to be more "Deadwood" than "John From Cincinnati." <em>Series premieres Sun., Jan. 29, 9 p.m. EST on HBO</em>

  • "Key & Peele"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele <strong>What It's About: </strong>Comedians Key and Peele star in this offbeat comedy, utilizing filmed sketches and live stage segments to share their irreverent view of the world. <em>Series premieres Tues., Jan. 31, 10:30 p.m. EST on Comedy Central</em>

  • "I Just Want My Pants Back"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Peter Vack, Sunkrish Bala, Kim Shaw <strong>What It's About:</strong> MTV's new scripted comedy series "I Just Want My Pants Back" is based on David J. Rosen's novel of the same name. It follows the misadventures of a group of hipster friends as they navigate post-college life in Brooklyn. The post-grad protagonist, Jason Strider, dreams of being a music journalist, but has absolutely no idea how to get there. It's not until a one-night stand steals his heart -- and his pants -- that he begins a quest to get his beloved jeans, hopefully the girl ... and the dream job. <em>Series premieres Thurs., Feb. 2, 11:00 p.m. EST on MTV</em>

  • "Smash"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Debra Messing, Anjelica Huston, Jack Davenport, Katharine McPhee, Megan Hilty <strong>What It's About:</strong> NBC calls this show, which is set among the schemers and strivers of Broadway, a "musical drama." We're calling it one of 2012's best pilots, and we very much hope this show can deliver on what that smart first hour promised. <em>Series premieres Mon., Feb. 6, 10 p.m. EST on NBC</em>

  • "The River"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Bruce Greenwood, Leslie Hope, Paul Blackthorne <strong>What It's About:</strong> A celebrated wildlife expert disappears on a trip through the Amazon, and when his family goes after him, things get very strange. Perhaps that's not surprising, given that one of the executive producers of this spooky drama is Oren Peli, the mastermind behind the "Paranormal Activity" film franchise. <em>Series premieres Tues., Feb. 7, 9 p.m. EST on ABC</em>

  • "Comic Men"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>The staff and customers of Kevin Smith's comic shop, Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash <strong>What It's About:</strong> Kevin Smith, a geek hero, is bringing cameras into his iconic New Jersey comic shop. Formerly known as "Secret Stash," the show will feature the staff dynamic and the weekly customers. <em>Series premieres Sun., Feb. 12, 10 p.m. EST on AMC</em>

  • "Life's Too Short"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Warwick Davis <strong>What It's About: </strong>Described by Gervais as a cross between "The Office" and "Extras," "Life's Too Short" is a fake documentary that follows Davis, a 3'6'' actor, as he works tries to find a niche in show business. The show is slated to feature cameos from stars like Johnny Depp and Steve Carell. <em>Series premieres Sun., Feb. 19, 10:30 p.m. EST on HBO</em>

  • "GCB"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Leslie Bibb, Kristin Chenoweth, Annie Potts <strong>What It's About:</strong> This Darren Star-produced series comes in on the high heels the "Desperate Housewives" of Wisteria Lane are leaving behind. Soon, scripted housewife drama will have a new address on ABC: Dallas. Though "GCB" is less fun than the show's original "Good Christian Bitches" title, one viewing of the series proves that the bitchiness is still in full effect. When former high school mean girl Amanda (Bibb) returns home after a few hardships, she's forced to revisit all of her former enemies, who are now happily living larger-than-life lives, pretending to be holier-than-thou in Big D. <em>Series premieres Sun., Mar. 4, 10 p.m. EST on ABC</em>

  • "Fashion Star"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Elle Macpherson, Jessica Simpson, John Varvatos, Nicole Richie <strong>What It's About:</strong> 12 designers will compete for a multi-million dollar contract to launch their clothing line in America's largest retail stores, while viewers at home will be able to buy the winning designs each week. <em>Series premieres Tues., Mar. 13, 9 p.m. EST on NBC</em>

  • "Missing"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Ashley Judd, Sean Bean, Cliff Curtis, Adriano Giannini, Nick Eversman, Tereza Voriskova <strong>What It's About:</strong> Becca Winstone's (Judd) son goes missing while studying abroad, sending the worried mom across Europe to track him down. The former CIA agent must put all her skills to the test to save her beloved son. <em>Series premieres Thurs., Mar. 15, 8 p.m. EST on ABC</em>

  • "Frozen Planet"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Alec Baldwin (narrator), David Attenborough (host) <strong>What It's About:</strong> From the team behind "Planet Earth," this seven-part series offers an unparalleled look at our world's polar regions, utilizing groundbreaking camera techniques for footage shot both above and below the ice in some of the most remote and treacherous landscapes known to man. <em>Series premieres Sun., Mar. 18, 8 p.m. EST on Discovery</em>

  • "Awake"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Jason Isaacs, Laura Allen, Wilmer Valderrama, Steve Harris, Michaela McManus <strong>What It's About:</strong> We've seen TV characters lead double lives before, but never like this. Detective Michael Britten wakes up after a tragic accident to a new reality where his wife didn't survive and he's now a single dad. When that day is done, he wakes up again to another reality where his wife is alive and they're dealing with the loss of their son. With two different people to mourn, he's struggling to come to grips with, but not willing to let go of either reality with two different therapists. All the while, he's working two different police cases with two different partners. This one will be a mind-bender for sure ... one that's smarter than the average network show. <em>Series premiere TDB on NBC</em>

  • "Bent"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Amanda Peet, David Walton, Margo Harshman, Joey King and Jeffrey Tambor <strong>What It's About:</strong> With three former TV stars we love (Peet from "Studio 60," Walton from "Perfect Couples," and Tambor from "Arrested Development"), it's easy to get excited about this romantic comedy. Walton plays Pete, a cliché surfer dude-turned-contractor, and Peet is Alex, his recently divorced type-A client with an eight-year-old daughter named Charlie (King). Shocker: the unlikely "Overboard"-inspired duo find themselves entangled in an unexpected romance. <em>Series premiere TBD on NBC</em>

  • "Best Friends Forever"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Lennon Parham, Jessica St. Clair <strong>What It's About:</strong> Lennon and Jessica are best friends who live on opposite sides of the country ... that is, until Jessica moves back in with Lennon after a break-up. The two quickly fall into old BFF habits, leaving Lennon's boyfriend, Joe, on the outs. <em>Series premiere TBD on NBC</em>

  • "Don't Trust the B---- In Apt. 23"

    <strong>Starring:</strong> Krysten Ritter, Dreama Walker, James Van Der Beek <strong>What It's About:</strong> Naive Midwesterner June (Walker) moves to New York and becomes roommates with the conniving Chloe (Ritter). The amoral schemer is best friends with James Van Der Beek (yes, the real "Dawson's Creek" alum is part of the cast and mocks himself entertainingly in the "Apt. 23" pilot). <em>Series premiere TBD on ABC</em>

  • "Scandal"

    <strong>Starring: </strong>Kerry Washington, Henry Ian Cusick, Columbus Short, Guillermo Diaz, Katie Lowes <strong>What It's About:</strong> Shonda Rhimes' latest finds drama outside the operating room. "Scandal" revolves around Olivia Pope (Washington), a whipsmart, extremely connected PR fixer in D.C. She's so good, she used to work for the president ... now, he just begs her to come back on a weekly basis. In between White House scandals, Olivia and her team deal with other high-profile clients who find themselves in very messy situations. <em>Series premiere TBD on ABC </em>

FOLLOW HUFFPOST TV

After 13 seasons, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" finally gave Det. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) a serious love interest when Executive Assistant District Attorney David Haden (Harry Connick J...
After 13 seasons, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" finally gave Det. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) a serious love interest when Executive Assistant District Attorney David Haden (Harry Connick J...