Is Christopher Meloni Really Done with 'Law and Order: SVU'?
by Allison Waldman, posted Feb 5th 2010 4:02PM
Things haven't really been going very well on NBC, and now here's another kick in the shins. Actor Christopher Meloni is talking about leaving 'Law and Order: SVU' at the end of this season. That's right. No more New York detective Elliot Stabler. What's going on and why?Well, after a dozen years pounding the pavement and fighting the good fight as Elliot, Meloni is interested in doing something else with his career. In an interview Down Under with the Australian Courier-Mail, Meloni said, "I think 12 years is enough." Eight is enough, yes, but twelve?
Anyway, Chris goes on to say that he has interest in doing film projects and returning to the theater. As for the future of Elliot on 'Law and Order: SVU,' Meloni believes he's giving the writers plenty of time to work out a satisfactory exit. He said, "The writers will have fertile ground to figure out how to arc [his way] out to another place, whether it's this world or the next."
Hmm... that sounds an awful lot like Meloni would like to see Stabler get killed off. It wouldn't be too difficult. The character has been seriously injured along the way and considering his dedication to the job, it wouldn't be a shocker if he died in service.
NBC will not be happy about a 'Law and Order: SVU' shake up. If there's one show the network would want to return to its glory -- and a 10 o'clock ratings winner -- it's 'SVU.' The Jay Leno experience mucked up 'SVU's' following. They would probably try to replace Meloni, because that's what Dick Wolf does with all his 'L&O' franchises. It's just not going to work on 'SVU.' The show works best with Benson and Stabler sharing the load.



Comments
by Edward, posted Feb 5th 2010
does SVU really need to replace him? Why not let Munch be Benson's partner? or have a trio of Fin, Munch and Benson as lead detectives?
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by Parl, posted Feb 5th 2010
If Stabler leaves, I'll probably stop watching the show. I can only take so much of Olivia Benson.
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by Edward, posted Feb 5th 2010
maybe they can bring back some of the old detectives....like goren or eames
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by Lovesvu, posted Feb 5th 2010
Neal Baer JUST answered someones question on twitter if Chris is really leaving, Neal anwered 'No, don't believe everything you read in an article.'
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by Jay, posted Feb 5th 2010
I absolutely live Chris Meloni. But he is too much of a scene stealer to be on a show like Law & Order. Yes I know that SVU is the most dramatic, but Meloni is capable of more
The guy is over 40. I don't want the best years of his acting career to be occupied by SVU
If Meloni leaves, then I think they should seriously consider bringing the entire SVU series to an end; in a big way, of course. It has always been the superior black sheep of the L&O franchise
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by bc, posted Feb 5th 2010
It is the best-rated, but to me the least interesting, with the least compelling writing and (over)acting. I finally gave up watching several years ago when my provider changed and I went from being able to watch and record three shows in the same time slot to two shows in the same slot. Now, there's nothing else in the same slot, but I haven't gone back. I miss Munch, but that's about all.
by Sir Yuck-Yuck, posted Feb 6th 2010
wait, didn't Hargitay and Meloni get a new contract and big pay raise to continue as Benson & Stabler over the Summer ? and I prefer D'Onofrio and Erbe as Goren & Eames over on L&O : CI but we know what happened over there, SIGH
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by Pamela, posted Feb 6th 2010
I always thought they would throw Liv and Elliot together, but the writers failed miserably at that. I could see the Russians coming back to get El for revenge and killing off his family. I thought that would be heart wrenching, but dramatic story arc especially since it reminded me of one of my favorite L&O episodes back in the day.
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by Jgreenefields, posted Feb 6th 2010
I do not like change on the Law and Order franchise, I really
hope it is the musings of an actor and not reality.
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by j.gleason, posted Feb 24th 2010
TIME FOR DET.MIKE LOGAN TO RETURN L%O
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by Judy, posted Feb 24th 2010
Please Chris....DON'T GO!!!!!!!
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by fannie, posted Feb 24th 2010
if chris goes guess i will never watch law and order svu again, i love how he acts, i may even stop watching channel 4 wth i dont like these reality shows and law and order svu is my favorite show but chris not in it well that will never be watched by me again.
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by Sarmen, posted Apr 5th 2010
Elliot and Olivia make the best partners ever and it will be very hard to come to terms with Elliot not being there.
I don't want to see a new person taking Elliot's place but I wouldn't mind if Fin became Liv's partner and Munch works from headquarters as he is getting a bit too old for action.
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