Is NBC Replacing Law And Order SVU Stars?
Law and Order: SVU may be a procedural show (meaning people watch mostly for the crime of the week, not to see what happens in the characters' lives), but NBC is reportedly considering the unthinkable: replacing SVU stars Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni, according to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello.
'I don't think in this environment, there's any chance
they could re-launch the show with both of them gone,' says a
high-ranking exec at a rival network. 'It's a horrible time to retool a
show. They already have to change the time-slot, because it's not going
to be airing at 10 pm next season.' At the same time, a key Peacock
insider says, 'I can't imagine either actor walking away from over $7 million a
year.' "
This is occurring because NBC just renewed SVU for an 11th season. Everyone's salaries have to be renegotiated, including Mariska and Chris, who reportedly want more financial benefits in addition to their $350,000/per episode salaries.
To echo Ausiello: They. Wouldn't. Dare.
Photos by INF
620 points
NBC would be crazy to replace them but on the other hand Chris & Mariska are crazy if they're asking for more money. Come on people why be greedy?
Pookie B D
lol, i live in the uk and am watching SVU right now, clicked onto ino and this story was top of the page!
I love all three Law and Order, but my favorite is SVU. I stopped watching the original when Jerry Orbach died. If they do replace Mariska and forehead; I'll stop watching! you hear NBC?!!!!
43913 points
You know what? SVU was my favorite UNTIL they cast Jeremy Sisto and Anthony Anderson on the "original" L&O. I am head-over-heels for these two as partners. Stabler and Benson still rock my socks, though, and I would hate to see them leave. NBC better pony up!
NBC is really losing it. They are losing in the primetime ratings and news ratings. With Friends,even ER gone their glory days are so gone.
If this happens with SVU their network will be hard to resuscitate.
Chris Meloni is one actor Ive met and is just handsome,adorable and humble. Mariska is a sweetie and her baby is adorable.
I will never forget my meeting Meloni same way with my awful meeting with Paul Walker and Christian Bale. Walker was too arrogant while Bale looks unhappy and so rude to me. He's not even handsome in person but rude and looks like a redneck.
300 points
I wont watch if they replace them, they are the reason I watch. NBC is being cheap and stupid there will be nothing left on their network worth watching.
NO ONE will watch will Stabler & Benson
SVU is one of my favorite shows, but I doubt I watch if they replace Chris and Mariska. I don't think I could handle not getting my Stabler fix!
7610 points
Law and Order is notorious for replacing actors but since Mariska and Chris have been there since day 1, I can't imagine the show without them.
570 points
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If they changed them, I will stop watching SVU. It wouldn't be the same.
i's normal to ask more money! this drama is a real success in the world. Why only will productors have more money?
300 points
NOOOOOO....this can not be happening! THEY CAN NOT REPLACE THEM they make the show. They will sure loose some ratings including me bc i love those 2 as a couple. PLEASE NBC think about that before you destroy a show that has been on the air for 10 years!
Television is hurting in this economy. Yeah, I know 350K doesn't sound like it's hurting, but it is. If they can get an actor that attracts more viewers, or find some that work cheaper, they may do it. The bottom line is, it's the bottom line.
12527 points
It wouldn't be the same without Dets Benson and Stabler. I don't mind when they add extra actors to beef up the story lines, or if it is a temporary thing, but in the end, Law And Order SVU really isn't about the sensational stories--it is about Olivia and Elliot.
960 points
They CANNOT do that. They are my favorite pair on Law and Order.
300 points
I love Marishka!
If CM and MH leave SVU so do the viewers, you hear that NBC?? DON'T LET THEM GO!!!!
If CM and MH leave SVU so do the viewers, you hear that NBC?? DON'T LET THEM GO!!!!
I wouldnt watch the show if these two actors are planning on being replaced.
They are 85% of the reason why i watch the show. I didnt like when Mariska Hargitay was replaced for that shortage of time, it made the show different , and well point is i think both actors should stay on the show with out them it would be completly different and they would loose many fans
NBC cannot afford to let Meloni & Hargitay go. The way that network is suffering in the ratings, if benson and Stabler go the fans go. There will be no need for a Season 11, so pony up the money and quit jeapordizing the jobs of all the cast and crew. QUIT WHINIG Mr. WOLF!!!!!
I do enjoy the storyline, but the biggest appeal for me is the main characters. If they replace them, they may save some money up front by not having to pay higher salaries but NBC could lose out in the end if people just stop watching.
I say NBC should stand by their guns and not cave in to their demands. Their salaries are not exactly sweat shop wages...and let's get real. If NBC said no to them...where else are they going? These two actors are good at their roles on SUV but is there a demand for them elsewhere? If they get cast on another show, will they be certain to get a higher salary??? Hardly.
It's not about being greedy, these actors don't pay the same price you do for everything you pay for. Just as you have to pay for mortgage or rent they have to pay too only higher prices because they live in condos and pay a fee to a condo board for security and a doorperson. They pay higher prices for health and life insurance. They pay part of the price for their bodyguard when they are filming on location, part of the price to get them from their homes to the studio in NJ. They have to pay their lawyer, assistant, maid, nanny, PR and spokesperson plus health insurance for the nanny if she doesn't come from a company. No one here has to pay for all that. So, by the time they are done paying all of the people that work for them, all of the other bills that they have to pay, setting aside money for their kids to go to the schools they want them to go to then they are basically like you.
It's like you wanting a promotion at your workplace after you have worked so hard during the year, even going in when you were sick and someone else saying oh no s/he shouldn't get the promotion because s/he is being too greedy.
I mean these people work 16 hour days 5 days a week and they have been doing that for years. Have you ever worked those amount of hours?
They choose to buy more expensive houess and have a team of people working under them, they could choose not to do this.
Many doctors and nurses work double shfts up to 7 days a week, should they get paid as much as these people do?
theres no way they would replace them and it cant be true because mariska is really nice and i cant amagine her being greedy and asking for more money unless if there was a good reason. if nbc replaces them no one will watch anything on there network anymore.
Its amazing how greedy people get, man i would love to get the money htese people get.
If they keep asking for more cut their greedy arses out. Afterall it is a global financial crisis, everybody should be cutting the purse strings.
They should just end the series it got old by series 5.
i swear to god if they replaced these two i would never watch svu again! it was bad enough when mariska had her baby and that stupid becks came in but if they had the nerve to replace both of them!
no. way. in. hell.
NO Chris, No Mariska, no SVU for me....WaKe up NBC!
I will refuse to watch L & O if they replace Marissa and Chris, they are what made the show. NBC open your eyes!!
NBC better take a deep breath & stop to realize that people are still watching L&O:SVU after 10 years because of the ACTORS,not the story lines. Chris & Mariska have tremendous on screen chemistry & that is what the fans enjoy about the show. Take those 2 away & they're left w/just another ho-hum cop drama. Without Stabler & Benson on the show my time will be better spent getting my Meloni fix via dvd's of Oz.
mariska and chris ARE SVU
nbc would lose so many viewers if they're not in the next season
i have watched almost every episode and i would not watch any more if they are replaced
although i am totally hooked and in love with mariska hargitay and chris meloni, i think that if they were able to replace the characters with two-just as likable people, i think that i would still be in love with the show.
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