Just days after the future of 'Law & Order SVU's star Mariska Hargitay was up in the air, another SVU star won't be returning. After 272 episodes of solving especially vexing murders, Detective Elliot Stabler and NBC couldn't negotiate a contract for the 13th season. So after years of crime fighting and an Emmy nomination, Christopher Meloni has left the Special Victims Unit. TV Line reported on Tuesday night that Meloni has left the NBC hit "Law & Order: SVU," exiting after contract negotiations fell through between the star and network.
The shock move comes hot on the heels of speculation about the future of the show's other star, Mariska Hargitay. Though she's under contract for the upcoming season, NBC president Bob Greenblatt admitted that, given her new child, she may not be back for a 14th. For season 13, Hargitay's role has been greatly reduced. There were talks that former 'Ghost Whisperer' star, Jennifer Love Hewitt may replace Hargitay.
It's a wonder how the series can continue without two of its key players? With such a move, it appears that '13' is an unlucky number for NBC, SVU and the fans.
This type drastic cast shake-up did not bode well for another Law & Order franchise. When the two main characters of 'Criminal Intent' were replaced, the show was canceled and later revamped on the USA network. After suffering a ratings decline, the two original detectives were brought back.
No comments:
Post a Comment