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Only a week ago during NBC’s upfront conference call, the network’s chairman Bob Greenblatt said he was confident that Chris Meloni would be back on Law & Order: SVU next season. But, following negotiations that didn’t result in a deal, Meloni will be leaving the veteran crime drama after 12 seasons. His leading lady, Mariska Hargitay, closed her deal to return next season full-time for the first 13 episodes and part-time for the back nine as the network and Dick Wolf are preparing for an overhaul of the long-running series. The plan originally included a new female lead, a role Jennifer Love Hewitt is being considered for. But now that will be expanded to the male lead, too. Word is NBC has already sent out feelers to agencies that they’re looking for a name actor to replace Meloni. It is the end of an era at SVU, with longtime showrunner Neal Baer and Meloni leaving now and Hargitay scaling back as she also is mulling an exit after next season. L&O veteran Warren Leight is taking the reins of the series next season. As for Meloni, some sources say that he and NBC simply couldn’t agree on a new deal as the actor had been looking for a salary increase. But sources close to the actor say he’d had enough. “It was a great run and a wonderful experience,” the source said. “Now he is ready for the next chapter of his life.” This is the second time NBC threatened to replace Hargitay and Meloni during contract negotiations. Two years ago, the threat remained just that, and both actors were signed to return with salary bumps. This time, the network is moving forward with recasting Meloni.
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Hire John Stamos!
Big mistake, Chris Meloni made the show. Do not enjoy new actors.
THIS is a HUGE shame. The two leads made this show what it is and without them, it’s as good as done. They both brought such talent, grit and heart to this show and I am so bummed to see it progress this way. Major mistake NBC – MAJOR. You just killed this program for its many loyal viewers.
How is this NBC’s fault? They were in negotiations and it sounds like he walked away from the table because he wasn’t gonna see the salary bump he’d like… a salary bump that economically wouldn’t be justified by a show that’s been bleeding viewers in recent years. Also, even though you may love the show, perhaps he wants to move on after having done the same job for 12 years (imagine yourself staying in the same job for 12 years with no room for advancement beyond pay bumps).
It’s NBC’s fault cuz all he wanted was to direct an episode and they wouldn’t let him. Stupid. Let him direct. He’s been there for 12 years and all the actors and crew trust him. It would be a great show.
What if Michael Imperioli or James McDaniel took his place ?
(They don’t have a show anymore.)
Hasn’t there already been a Michael Imperioli failure on another L&O?
Failure? No. Imperioli took over for Jesse L Martin while he was filming rent. He later appeared in an episode where his character was being framed. It wasn’t a failure. He was actually quite good as a cop. This was during the same time he was on The Sopranos.
I completely agree with you. I love Law and Order original and SVU. Those are the only two I watch. Meloni and Hargitay ARE SVU. I will NOT watch it with Jennifer Love Hewitt. It took me forever to stop muting Ice T.
I have always said that artists should be paid minimum upfront and A LOT ON THE BACKEND because it is their work that brings the audience in – or not.
Oh Karen, you win Wednesday. ROFL@ “It took me forever to stop muting Ice T.” Meloni and Hargitay are not dispensable. I’m afraid for what might happen to this show.
I have been watching this show ever since it started. I think that the chemistry between Meloni and Hargitay are critically important and I doubt that I would continue to watch it without them
Pay them what they want – they are the draw.
Enough said.
agreed chris rocks no one can take his place he fits it perficktly
I agree. This show — unlike the other “Law & Order” franchises — really relies upon the strength of its two lead characters, Benson and Stabler. Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay are the sole reason I continue to watch the show. The only thing worse I can imagine than Chris Meloni leaving is if they decided to bring on Terrence Howard.
Oh you are so correct. I watch that program every day and have seen every episode they made so many times and can not count them. It definitely won’t be the same. We will miss you Elliott!
this show needs to end NOW. it’s a laughable train wreck these days anyway.
I always saw this as a problem with SVU that the other Law & Orders didn’t have.While the other shows regularly rotated lead actors, SVU kept theirs for 12 seasons.Now, we’re losing them both as main characters at the same time and that will be really damaging to the show.
The other shows are more focused on solving the crimes, while SVU is more focused on those two characters solving the crimes.
Why not make Finn the new male lead?I really like those recent episodes were Stabler was absent and Finn teamed up with Benson.He’s been on the show so long that it would be kinda insulting to make a new character/actor the lead.
I like that idea. I think of the episode where Benson goes to prison and Finn works as a guard to watch over her. They have good chemistry and the sparks could fly when they clash.
Talk about casting against type…I hear Charlie Sheen is available….
Jeez….don’t you think things are bad enough without saddling the show with that clown? NOT WINNING!
What the hell?! Who the hell would watch the show without both Meloni and Hargitay?
I was hoping NBC would use this as an excuse to cancel the show. The thing has been on since 1999 for god’s sake. I know all media outlets will go back to the well until it is dry; but thinking they can keep this franchise going with someone new is laughable.
Allow me to be the first to nominate Charlie Sheen.
But all kidding aside, cancel SVU and bring back the original!
Are you kidding who care??? Meloni is the luckiest stiff in prime time. He has the same acting skills as any one of the hundreds of daytime talking mannequins on any soap. This guy just took a huge gulp of the kool aid and thinks he has something “special”. Idiot, see ya in a hair loss treatment commercial next time I can’t fall asleep and turn on the tv at 3am.
You’re absolutely right.
no, not correct. he was excellent on “Oz”.
Hahahaha… this is actually very true. Meloni’s not a bad actor. I liked him on Oz and SVU. However, how much more can he really do? He is a far cry from Jerry Orbach, Vincent D’Onofrio, Alfred Molina and even Skeet Ulrich as far as being a versatile actor. In fact, Meloni reminds me of a high school gym teacher.
No, high school teachers actually have personality and sometimes smile. Meloni is a grouch on screen and off.
It’ll never work without those two. Not in a million years. Meloni and Hargitay were the show. Viewers even dealt with Ice-T mangling even the most monosyllabic dialogue just because the two leads held it down. Pennywise and pound foolish, NBC. Love Hewitt and Stamos or whoever will reek of B-team.
May I suggest any number of Latino actors? NBC has 12 new shows for the fall season; only 6 Latinos were cast as series regulars on all these new shows. Here’s a great opportunity to bring Diversity to a show set in New York.
Easi Morales…..in the nude……then I’d watch.
Jimmy smits is available!!!!
Who cares? I believe in the best person getting the job. Anything else is racist and/or discriminatory. We have a bi-racial President. It’s time to get over this affirmative action preoccupation.
The why don’t you actually name some, instead a blanket plea for affirmative action?
Well, Charlie Sheen needs a job……
Jennifer Love Hewitt?
hire charlie sheen
when is NBC going to realize that DICK WOLF is not longer the king of NBC…..i mean the “law and order” kingdom is now down to this show….this is THE BEST rated show on the network…and the MINDSET that Chris is expendable/replaceable is the same mindset that has DESTROYED the law and order franchise…..LOLA didn’t need a pilot….Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe were replaceable on Criminal Intent….i think respect was due to Chris so that he and Mariska were accorded the same in terms of leaving the show…and contract money to wrap up their tenure…..and to think….Jennifer Love Hewitt a candidate to replace on this show…..i take it all back….IT’S FUN TO WATCH NBC’S continued to demise…..maybe they’ll wake up when they’re in 5th or 6th place……
Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe were so replaceable that they were brought back for the 10th season.
John Stamos deserves his own new show, not coming in at the end of one that is going down hill rapidly.
Terry O’Quinn’s looking for a job! They should consider casting him as the male lead!
Actually, I’d watch that!
EXCELLENT suggestion, from a viewer’s standpoint!
Well this pretty much puts a death nail in the franchise that was ‘Law & Order”, it had a historic run, all the shows, but it’s time to move on.
Jesse L Martin would be great
Since his series didn’t get a pick up, he would be available.
Jesse L Martin deserves better than another Law and Order franchise
Easy fix. Just have Ricardo Morales decides to get away from the corruption and the politics of Los Angeles and decides to get back on the detective beat working sex crimes for NYC. There’s absolutely no way this idea couldn’t not work twice.
I hear Charlie Sheen is available.
Charlie Sheen has to come back to movies, where he belongs, i can totally see him in a Tarantino or a Coen movie or maybe in a new tv show on a channel like HBO, Showtime..not so much network tv anymore..ha.
As for Law & Order SVU i don’t know if it could work without Meloni and Hargitay..it is not like the other L&O (although even the original and it spinoff was not the same without Sam Waterston as the lead), they really wrote their show around their lead characters and less around the criminal cases as they did with the other shows franchise.
I like the show SVU but perhaps a baker’s dozen of season’s was a sign that the Law & Order period is over. When the Lead female was leaving logically speaking the Lead male would follow . He saw the writing on the wall and decided to leave while he still had his dignity, I don’t blame him.
John Stamos deserves his own new show! Not some old frayed series that’s going downhill quickly. Don’t insult his talent and staying power.
Charlie Sheen would be a great way to change up the show
They really should hire Charlie Sheen and their ratings will go up. Sheen is a great dramatic actors. Do 6 eps with Sheen and see how it goes. Sheen has great drama chops.
Two And A Half Men will go to hell after the first 2 eps.
Sheen on a season of Law & Order will strengthen the show and SHeen will take it seriously.
Guy does not miss a day of work. He actually comes early and very prepared.
Charlie? What planet are you living on? Until the man gets help- serious help- not I’m at home getting help crap- NOBODY CAN GOT NEAR HIM CAUSE HE IS UNINSURABLE!
You have to be joking right? But where are smilings? Honey – your idol has diged himself such a big hole that he will never find job again. Never. Not om movie and not on TV.
Euh ? How do you know that ? Actually Charlie Sheen with his status and fame can do so much better than a Law & Order NBC show..he should come back to movies..as for this BS about his “outrageous” real life..people are you so naive to think that majority of Hollyweird actors don’t have the same behind the scenes shenanigans real life ..come on wake up.