Alec Baldwin to Guest Star on NBC's LAW & ORDER: SVU This March

USA Today reports that Alec Baldwin is set to make a guest appearance on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The actor will portray Jimmy MacArthur, described as "a controversial New York newspaper columnist who questions the SVU squad's motives during the investigation of a potential hate crime/rape case."

Also on the episode, Katie Couric will appear in a cameo appearance, playing herself as a talk show host who inerrogates Baldwin's character on the controversial case.

SVU star Mariska Hargitay, whose character, Sgt. Olivia Benson, also goes head to head with Baldwin's "Jimmy Mac." will make her directorial debut on the episode airing March 19, 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

Speaking on the episode in a press release, Hargitay commented, "I've watched Alec on screen for so long and always hoped we would be able to work together some day," adding that having Baldwin "bring his experience, depth, truthfulness, and fierce commitment, honestly feels too good to be true."

About the show:

Created by Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," now in its fifteenth season, is the longest-running Primetime drama currently on television. This hard-hitting and emotional series from NBC's "Law & Order" brand chronicles the life and crimes of the Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department, an elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually based crimes.

Dedicated Sergeant Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), a seasoned veteran of the unit who has seen it all, heads up the department with empathy and professionalism, all the while dealing with her difficult past - as a product of rape and a witness to her mother's grief, she can personally relate to each victim she tries to help.

In 2011, Hargitay (Sergeant Benson) garnered her eighth Emmy nomination for Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and won the 2006 Emmy for that category. Also in 2011, she received her sixth SAG nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Olivia Benson. In 2009, Hargitay earned her second Golden Globe nomination for Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the role, winning the award in 2005.

Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (Ice-T) adds a unique sense of humor and undercover investigative experience, making him a formidable match for any partner. Detectives Nick Amaro (Danny Pino) and Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) have earned their place as top-notch SVU detectives and bring their own talents and style of investigation, while facing head-on the emotional toll it takes to work the SVU. Pino was nominated for the Imagen Award for Best Television Actor in 2013 and the ALMA Award for Favorite TV Actor in 2012 for his role as Detective Amaro.