Goodbye Olivia Benson; hello Jennifer Love Hewitt?
Quote:
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 the female lead baton on 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.
If this happens, I'll boycott this mother****er. Olivia is the only reason why I still watch this show, and why it still has credibility. She's probably the best character from the Law & Order franchise.
If this happens, I'll boycott this mother****er. Olivia is the only reason why I still watch this show, and why it still has credibility. She's probably the best character from the Law & Order franchise.
Nooooo! it's supposed to be olivia and Elliot till the end!! their chemistry is unmatched! i swear just cancel it now cause i know i'll watch one episode and be over it! >=(
Mariska Hargitay has confirmed reports that fans of "Law and Order: SVU" are about to see some big changes with her character, Olivia Benson, in the 2011-2012 season.
"I think in the second half of the season, I'm going to go into a different position, which is very exciting," Mariska told Access Hollywood on Monday in New York City at the NBC Upfronts, responding to the news that she's going to cut down her hours on the hit series in order to spend more time with her children. "It'll be quite challenging and different, but I think it's exciting."
Over the weekend, NBC executives confirmed reports that "SVU" will be bringing in a new detective half way through the season, and it appears that move will set into motion a change for Olivia.
"Twelve years is a long time and I've gotten to really flesh out a lot [of Olivia] and I'm ready to do something a little different, but not ready to say goodbye to Olivia Benson," Mariska told Access on Monday.
The actress didn't disclose details of how the impending arrival and Olivia's job change will come to pass, but she is ready to throw her upcoming extra time into more hours with her family.
"I think that's the reason we did it this way, and we structured it this way so I could have a little more free time to be a mom -- that was the goal," she said.
"SVU" has managed to survive year after year on the network, despite cancellations of its related franchise shows, including "Law and Order: Los Angeles," which will not return, and Mariska put the success down to the writers and actor chemistry.
"I just think it's been really great writing and our show has a very strong soul," she said. "I think we've been really lucky with the casting. We have an incredible cast and we've been together a long time and Chris[topher Meloni] and I have been very blessed with the gift of chemistry and everything just clicked... It's been such a beautiful ride."
"Law and Order: SVU" airs Wednesdays at 10 PM on NBC.
Owh I didnt see this had been already posted, maybe because Jennifer Love Hewitt was on the last part of the sentence!
I so hope she gets the role she did an AMAZING job when she made one episode!!! Queen Hewitt would be an amazing hot cop! If she gets the role gonna start watching!