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EXCLUSIVE: In his TV acting debut, former boxer Mike Tyson is going for some dark, dramatic stuff with a guest starring role on NBC’s Law & Order: SVU. He will play Reggie Rhodes, a murderer on death row whose violent actions may in part be the byproduct of a horrible childhood. His case attracts the attention of Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and defense attorney Bayard Ellis (recurring guest star Andre Braugher) during an SVU investigation. Also guest starring in the episode is Ed Asner as someone connected to the investigation.
While he has played himself on a couple of TV comedy series, including Who’s The Boss, Entourage and Breaking In, as well as on the big screen in The Hangover franchise, this marks the first major acting gig for ICM Partners-repped Tyson. Veteran crime drama Law & Order: SVU, which is coming off hitting a season high last night, is executive produced by creator Dick Wolf, Warren Leight, Julie Martin, Michael Smith and Peter Jankowski.
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It should be a role he can really sink his teeth into.
Tyson playing someone with violent actions. That’s a sttttttrrrrreeetttccchhh…
amazing how soon we forget ….
Nevermind, just read the full article.
Happy about Braugher back, no so much on Tyson.
In China, we call this being chopped and screwed. SVU future creatively, dimming. Don’t understand how Mariska would wish to work a man with his “background”.
Glad to read any appreciation of Braugher. That guy is a real actor, who couldn’t play a forced emotion or phoney moment if he tried. He exudes brilliance and authenticity with minimal effort in ‘Homicide’. Frankly, I would take any Braugher performance from that show over another mannered, ‘look at me’-style performance from Sean Penn or any other overpaid, overrated ham.
Sorry, SVU is better written than is had been in YEARS
And the classy moves continue over at Nbc… Geez
Interesting choice.Tyson might bring fresh insights into the mind of a criminal,from personal experience! Andre Braugher is wonderful in his role as Ellis.Looking forward to this episode.
Andre is amazing
Sally, you are completely right. I guess they can stop pretending that they really do care about the issues dealt either on the show now. Are they going to have Mariska do the usual interviews about how wonderful the guest stars are on one hand and promote the work of the JHF on the other? Hypocrites. Jonathan Strauss and Warren Leight should be ashamed of themselves.
@Michelle- I disagree, Sally isn’t completely right. Warren’s job isn’t on the line. As much as one would want Mariska to do the interviews, maybe she personally doesn’t. There isn’t an I in team. They could ask the other cast memebers. They don’t need to do an interview about every guest star.
Putting down the EP’s is just being irrational.
The producers of SVU have made it very clear that Mariska is the star of the show. She and the JHF have used SVU episodes on many occasions to promote their work or their merchandise. Only recently they were there to promote the 1 in 6 campaign. It is obvious at this stage that Strauss and Leight are interested in any sort of stunt casting to improve ratings. They don’t even care that the message this sends out is exactly the opposite to what the show claims to be about. Just today Warren Leight was tweeting about abusers and yet he is willing to bring such a high profile convicted abuser on to his show just for ratings. That to me is disgraceful.
Mike Tyson’s conviction may have been a long time ago. I have no problem with different shows/organisations giving him work BUT this show was supposed to be about “shedding light in dark places” and giving victims a voice. How many times has Mariska said about how the show has helped victims? This casting gives entirely to wrong message to fans of the show and particularly to fans of Mariska Hargitay.
No, being obsessed with the EP and defending everything he does is what’s irrational.
Get off MH’s case. She does not CAST the show
How arrogant to say anyone is “completely right”.No one is. its all just opinion. thats all you have, an opinion, and a rather unbalanced one
This is disgusting. The producers of this show have long pretended to be on the side of social responsibility with frequent public displays with the lead actress’ Joyful Heart Foundation. This in no way tallys with the stunt casting of a convicted rapist on the show. Are there no depths to which these people are unwilling to sink? I would accept Mike Tyson being employed on ANY other show but this one.
I think Mariska Hargitay might wish to take a long hard look at what this show has become. She might want to decide whether the turn it has taken with viewing the crimes from the criminal’s perspective and the soap opera like focus on Benson’s ever expanding love life is really the image she wants so closely associated with her advocacy for survivors of assault and abuse.
Gimmie a break! Spoken like a true Meloni fan. LMAO
MH/Pino are doing a great job!
@Ralph, neither Chris Meloni nor Danny Pino were mentioned in that comment. The show’s producers have for 14 years said that they did more than tell stories, they also displayed social responsibility. This casting is in very bad taste and flies in the face of the way the Joyful Heart Foundation has been campaigning for since its inception, led of course by Mariska. I have no doubt that her advocacy work is very sincere but her connection to the show when they are casting a convicted rapist may just damage her cause.
Mike Tyson could be be a good acter his life was ful
l of abuse as a child,please don’t hate on him he’s done his time let him enjoy his life,good move suv.
I agree Sally and Michelle. I’m offended that a show that used to empower victims now has a convicted rapist as a guest star. And I too thought of Mariska all smiles gushing about her guest stars. “Oh I know he’s a convicted rapist but he’s such a sweetie” Turns my stomach.
when is it scheduled to air with Mike Tyson????
I have heard February 13th.
Wait …so Andre Braugher played a character named Frank Pembleton on “Homicide: LOTS” which in its ensemble had Richard Beltzer who played Det. Munch……..SOOOO isn’t he the SAME character on SVU transferred from Baltimore ??!! If so…then how can Andre Braugher be anyone but Pembleton ??!!!!
Charles Manson wasn’t available.
Lovin SVU
Writing is so much better
I don’t think Mariska gets to pick who is going to star on the show.
As for Tyson, don’t like him, but should be interesting to view.
It’s time to let go. Forgive & move on. He was at a low point in his life. Congrat him on his effort in his progress as an actor; therefore, others can see that you are a better person. Just a suggestion-be bless.
It’s really ashame on how ignorant some people really are, Mike Tyson has a past like everyone else. We Sin differently, but we all Sin.
I know a few people who worked on the show before Neal Baer quit and they say mariska is sick of the show, all the pressure being the sole star now. Before it was her and meloni and that’s what drew the audiences. It’s still a good show, but she apparently is not as happy on set anymore so I wouldn’t be surprised if she wasn’t happy with this decision. Because I truly believe her real passion is helping victims. I’ve met her multiple times and have seen it first hand. So I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a slap in the face for her.
I have been a fan of SVU since the beginning. This season and last has not been that great in my opinion. There have been several good episodes, but not that great overall. I like Kelli Giddish and Danny Pino I think they are a good fit with the rest of the cast. The casting of Tyson feels more like stunt casting to me, a way to get ratings. I am all for people paying their debt to society and turning their life around. I think some people can change and be a better person. If he wants to be an actor, good for him. I just feel like this is the wrong show for him to be on given his history of violence, especially toward women. Maybe the cast are able to overlook what he did and give him a second chance. I doubt that they will be allowed to say publicly if they disagree with this casting. I know some who have said they will no longer watch after this. I don’t know if I will watch the episode or not, but I don’t feel the quality of the show is what it used to be, aside from a few episodes. I think the actors do a good job and are doing the best they can with what their given. As for Mariska if she left the show I would probably stop watching, for me she is the heart of the show. She has been a great inspiration to me. She will always be known for Det Benson, but I think to many she will be known for her work thru the JHF, I truly believe that to be her lifes work. I agree with Rachel, for me this feels like a slap in the face to Mariska.