'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' NBC Season 16 New Episode to Focus on Danny Pino’s Det. Amaro’s Family History
NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 16's upcoming 12th episode will air on Wednesday, January 21, and is titled 'Padre Sandunguera.' According to the network's new official synopsis, Amaro's father, Nicolas (guest star Armand Assante), is going to ask his estranged family to attend his marriage to 28-year-old Gabriella Nunez (guest star Katty Velasquez), and despite their volatile past, all but Amaro will agree. When a fight breaks out at the wedding and Nicolas is put in handcuffs, Amaro is going to become a witness in a case that could expose family secrets and tear his family apart.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit stars Mariska Hargitay as Sgt. Olivia Benson, Danny Pino as Det. Nick Amaro, Ice-T as Det. Odafin Tutuola, Raul Esparza as ADA Rafael Barba and Peter Scanavino as Det. Sonny Carisi. The show's recurring cast includes Bronwyn Reed as Lucy Huston, Peter Gallagher as Deputy Chief William Dodds, Elizabeth Marvel as Defense Attorney Rita Calhoun, Thedra Porter as Chantal Jackson, and Delaney Williams as Counselor John Buchanan. Joining Armand Assante and Katty Velasquez as guest stars for episode 12 are Joseph Lyle Taylor as Counselor Mickey D'Angelo, April Hernandez-Castillo as Sony Amaro, Ivan Hernandez as Javier Arenas, Daniel Zacapa as Luis Nunez), Robert John Burke as IAB Lt. Tucker and Nancy Ticotin as Cesaria Amaro.
According to Fashion&Style, the 'Padre Sandunguera' episode was directed by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit original Mariska Hargitay.
In related news, show creator Dick Wolf told TV Page that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 16 is set to air a special episode inspired by the accusations surrounding comedian Bill Cosby. He said: "We've already [made] it. But as I've said for 20 years, all of the LAW & ORDERs are fiction." He added: " It is obviously, low lying fruit. Not that specific event, but that sequence of events. I am not sure of the air date, but it is coming."