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EXCLUSIVE: Just in time for NBC’s upfront presentation on Monday, Law & Order:SVU star Mariska Hargitay has closed a new deal to return to the crime drama for its upcoming 13th season, in which she will pass on the female lead baton to a new actress. I hear Jennifer Love Hewitt is being courted for the gig, though no formal offer has been made. Meanwhile, SVU‘s leading man Christopher Meloni still has no deal for next season.
Going into the contract negotiations, Hargitay had asked to scale back her workload on the show. The producers granted her request, and she will work fewer hours at her previous salary of about $385,000 an episode ($400,000 with backend and other payments included.) For the first 13 episodes, Hargitay’s character Olivia Benson will continue to solve sex crimes alongside her partner, presumably Elliot Stabler (Meloni), pending him closing his deal. Then Benson will be promoted to a supervisor position, with a new female detective taking her place. That is the role that the producers are eying Hewitt for. Hewitt is not a stranger to SVU — she did a memorable guest appearance this past fall. As for Meloni, whose current salary is the same as Hargitay’s, I hear the actor is seeking a raise but talks with the studio are in very early stages and moving slowly, so it doesn’t look like he will have a deal before NBC’s upfront. The last time Hargitay and Meloni’s contracts were up 2 years ago they didn’t sign new pacts until end of June.
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i still see her in fluff ghost whisperer type roles. Is she really that believable as a police detective?
No.
That was the thing, Mariska looked like she could be a tough as nails cop, a pretty cop with great clothes but still. Jennifer Love Hewitt just doesn’t have that look. BUT I thought she was actually great in the episode where she guest starred. I mean I’m not a fan of hers at ALL but her performance in that episode actually moved me so I won’t count her out in this role.
So my question is, will she be in those 9 episodes after she becomes a supervisor or will she be off the show?
“Mariska looked like she could be a tough as nails cop”
You’re joking, right? Mariska looks if we were speaking in terms of most queens blvd hairstylist, but as a NY cop, she could only pass for the pencil pushers who work the desk.
Tough as nails may be a bit of an over exaggeration, but you are over exaggerating yourself saying she only looks like she could only be a pencil pusher or hairstylist. That’s absolutely ridiculous. She’s definitely strong enough looking to be a cop. And she does a damn fine job of acting like a NY one on the show too.
yeah u knw what i agree wht u she do due a good job sme pple nds 2 stp htting on da real
Is Cragin leaving? Is he the one getting killed in this weeks episode then?
Wow, I mean, I’m sure JLH can be okay, in some things, but this would be a guaranteed way to make sure I stop watching this show.
Sorry – Jennifer Love Hewitt CANNOT provide the necessary level of acting to head this show. This is probably the best acted show on TV and she does not have what it takes. I think adding HER to this show will turn off a majority of viewers. It needs someone with a better presence. Ugh… don’t make me stop watching the best show on TV because of the Ghost Whisperer!!
No, no, no. Not her! Just because she did a fair turn as a victim doesn’ mean she has the chops for this show as a lead detective. Is NBC trying to destroy this franchise? They messed around with Criminal Intent and had to bring back Donofrio and Erbe, even for a shorter season, which is to be the finale. LOLA was and is a mess and the original should have been given a chance to break Gunsmoke’s record. They gave Southland away and look what happened. No wonder NBC is in the toilet! Their scheduling is absurd. Any show that might have promise, they put up against bonafide hits, I.e., Monday against Hawaii 5 O and Castle, Tuesday against The good Wife and now Body of Evidence. With all the junk they put on the network, surely some potential hits could find homes on better days and times. Come on Bob Greenblatt, work your magic!
Everyone hold on a minute — maybe she’s not even going to be a detective. I see her parlaying her Japanese pop stardom as a flirty, torchlight bar singer who milks her underworld patrons for info for Chris and co. Her nickname can be “Snuggly Bear”.
Weird casting or what?
But I do like Jennifer Love Hewitt, so I’ll give it a try.
Well, that’s it for me. Once Mariska goes, I’m gone, especially if Jennifer LH is the replacement. All that plus lousy scripts this season, just doesn’t seem to be a reason to tune in.
Chris Meloni was great in “Oz”…Surely he has enough money to go back and do some real acting?
Love J-Love but this is a way bad idea. It has less to do with her, because she’s wonderful and as TV actresses go, she’s one of the most appealing ones, but not every actress can play every role, and this one seems wildly against type.
Like a large number of re-castings on Dick Wolf’s shows, this one feels like it will be one-and-out. And then hopefully she can come back for a long run in a series tailored to her, as opposed to trying to fit into someone else’s ten year-old show.
Only caveat: she was fantastic as a seductress/con woman with Sigourney Weaver in “Heartbreakers,” so it’s entirely possible I have no idea what I’m talking about.
Her character in Heartbreakers was the only one I could appreciate, but she basically played a brat, playing off her mother. It’s difficult to see her in a Benson type role. I’ll likely tune out.
Executives don’t understand that there is a glut of content out there: Netflix, online streaming TV, cable On Demand, are what I use. I don’t have time to watch everything I want to see, so I won’t be tuning in to give someone like her a chance, past her first fifteen minutes.
I’m sure most of you hate reality shows, but they’re good shows for multi-tasking. I’m usually online at the same time I’m ‘watching’ those shows so they serve a purpose. I enjoy them but I don’t need to watch them every minute, except Shark Tank and a couple of others. My rapt attention is for scripted shows like The Good Wife, Blue Bloods. They must produce shows worthy of all of our attention.
Odd casting, but then again, so was Ricky Schroeder on NYPD BLue. It might just work, plus she might pull in a younger audience, along with her older demographic from The Ghost Whisperer.
This could be very interesting. I loved her in Ghost Whisperer. She did a great job playing a rape victim on this show. I think it would be great to see her in a serious role.
Now put Alana De La Garza on this one and it will be perfection. I can only dream.
If their intention is to lose viewers, count me among those who will stop watching if that acting challenged celebrity is hired.
-1 ^^^
Trust me, Hewitt doesn’t care what the little people think. She’s working a lot.
Just give us more Munch. Do some episodes with Ice-T as the lead. Call it good.
Definitely. I’d love to see Munch and Tutuola more, like the old days.
Seriously… I was just getting back into this show. They cannot bring in Jennifer Love Hewitt – she is seriously unlikeable and not believable in this role. Please tell me they are also considering other more qualified actresses.
+2 ^^^
BRETT — you sound like a great actor in the making yourself, as I have been reading all your SUPPORTIVE posts recently on DH!
Hargitay’s salary is undecent…can’t remember her in a movie?
Cancel this old boring thing,NBC,ratings are mehhh.
No future for this show.
What is the relationship between talent and movies? Mariska does not make movies can be a personal decision. But it is undeniable that she is pretty, talented and deserve the wages they earn.
Get Marg Helgenberger of CSI instead! I don’t think JLH can play as a detective. She was great in her guest appearance though. But why her?
Nope, nope, nope. NBC, you should have given LOLA another year, at least. And now, I hear you’re pulling this crap with SVU?? WTF? Lots of potential replacements out there, to go with. JLH will kill the show.
I saw the episode that they had JLH on last fall..she did an amazing job, and there had been talks of nominating her for an emmy for that guest starring appearance. I had seen her in GW, and by the time she was done with this arc story on SVU, I saw a whole new side to her that I had never seen before acting wise. I think she could pull it off….at least I hope so.
When Schroder took over for Smits on Blue the boards were full of remarks similar to some here. He was, after all, the Silver Spoons kid.
But Schroder took the ball and ran with it soundly. I was sad to see him leave the show.
JLH may do really well with the job. The simple fact that she’s younger than Meloni will give the writers all sorts of ways to go with both characters.
I think the jig is up with this type of show on Television.
These kinds of crime Shows are far too easy to see and figure out now.
Jennifer Love Hewitt is a terrible choice. the writing and plotlines for this show have really taken a turn for the worse lately. If they hire her, she will kill the show. I avoid her acting at all cost.
Give JLH a chance! When she saw all the ghosts on “Ghost Whisperer” I believed she was a good actress with the fear and uncertainity week after week. Harsh comments on DH! Geesh!
I’m kind of torn on this one, If she does get the job let there be a killer that is dressed like a fisherman.
Based on what I’ve seen of her performance on the show this season, I’d say she could definitely pull off the part. That performance is amazing and has made me see her in a whole new light. The woman can ACT.
I loved JLH in Ghost Whisperer and I think she will do a great Job with this role too. I agree that she will appeal to the younger demographic in particular. She is a very hard working and excellent actress. She is also extremely gorgeous with a fantastic screen presence. You go girl!!
JLH agree that by being a younger demographic appeal brings. However I understand that Mariska has more talent and the high end of its 47 years is still gorgeous (and of course sexy). I think Mariska is irreplaceable and I do not see it leave SVU.
It can not be, really? …. Mariska can not be replaced by anyone, much less by a guest star who was the victim on SVU … and Chris does not sign the contract yet? … I can not believe, they want to kill us?