Lead actors Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni have both agreed to stick around on Law & Order: SVU for two more seasons. It seems that money did the talking. Variety is reporting that both actors received about a $6.5 million raise for each Both actors had a hell of a lot of bargaining power in their contract negotiations. That show delivers consistently strong ratings for NBC and it absolutely would not be the same without Dets. Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler (Think: The X-Files without Mulder and Scully). Let's hope the network gives an incentive to keep Richard Belzer around, too.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-25-2007 @ 1:40PM
David said...
Now they just need to cancel the other LaOs.
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1-25-2007 @ 1:55PM
TomB said...
That's great news. The show wouldn't be the same without them. Considering all the revenue that the networks makes on this top rated show, Meloni and Hargitay deserve every penny.
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1-25-2007 @ 2:30PM
Mohaski said...
Super.
Two more years of Marisa Hargitay's furrowed eyebrows and mildly concerned glances.
And for this she wins Emmys.
Just super.
If it were up to me, SVU would be all about Detective Munch.
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1-25-2007 @ 5:34PM
Rich Bishop said...
This is one of the best shows on TV. I hope they give Belzer a raise and start making him a more prominent member of the show. As Det. Munch since the days of Homicide: Life on the Street, Belzer has nailed that character and it would be nice to see more of him in the future.
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1-25-2007 @ 5:48PM
MidnightPenguin said...
Interesting your comment about Munch - I was just asked to take a NBC survey about this show, and among everything I was asked, there were a few here and there that asked how I would perceive the show without Munch. It also was heavy questioned on why I like both Stabler and Benson, and where I thought the ADA should go, character-wise. I was also under the impression that they're adding on the cop that was introduced the other week. I did say that I thought Munch and Fin should have some more meatier roles. I wonder if the results of the survey helped out in the negotiations...?
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1-25-2007 @ 5:38PM
Russ said...
Good news! But please fire Ice T. He sucks. Worst actor on tv. And who would ever believe someone like him with a total lack of empathy could ever work with special victims? That last episode with him as the lead was the worst L%O of all time.
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2-02-2007 @ 11:32AM
kathy said...
...that the show made the effort to retain marisa gives me hope, but for crying out loud! when are the writers going to take some risks with the benson/stabler relationship? there hasn't been small screen chemistry like this in years, & it seems to me the writers are wasting time and talent.
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