The NBC series premiered its 18th season Jan. 2. The show airs Wednesday nights at 10 PM ET; check local listings.

"When a pair of men's pants goes missing from a dry cleaner," reads an NBC synopsis, "Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) suspect the lost pants may be linked to the gruesome murder of a young lawyer. The evidence trail soon leads the detectives to a suspicious businessman who may be covering up a forbidden affair with a co-worker, and perhaps, far more."

Hopkins (Bare, Bat Boy) and Chase (High Fidelity, Aida), along with Roxanna Hope (Frost/Nixon), David Drake (The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me), Guenia Lemos and Ron Canada appear as guest stars on the episode titled "Bottomless." Jeffry Denman (The Producers), Donna Lynne Champlin (Sweeney Todd) and John Cunningham (Amour) also appear.

John Pankow (Cymbeline, Twelve Angry Men) will guest star with Daniel Sauli (The Accomplices) and Christina Rouner (Coram Boy) in the Jan. 23 show titled "Illegal." Among future stars include Alan Campbell (Adrift in Macao) and Ally Walker (Five Women Wearing the Same Dress).

The Dick Wolf drama already employs stage alum Jesse L. Martin (Rent), S. Epatha Merkerson (Come Back, Little Sheba) and Sam Waterston (Abe Lincoln in Illinois) as regulars. They are joined this season by Jeremy Sisto (Festen) and Linus Roache (Richard II - London). Recent guest stars have included such stage actors as Susan Blackwell ([title of show], Speech & Debate), Elizabeth Marvel (Hedda Gabler, upcoming Top Girls), Marin Ireland (The Ruby Sunrise, Manuscript) and Michael McKean (The Pajama Game, The Homecoming).

For more information, visit nbc.com.