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Send a Compliment at 9:22 PDT, 9 April, 2009
The good news: NBC has renewed Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, its highest-rated drama, for an 11th season. The bad news: The network is threatening to replace Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni, according to EW's Michael Ausiello.
This shocking development comes as the two leads have reportedly banded together to negotiate pay increases in the form of a share of the back-end profits. An NBC representative told TVGuide.com that it is their policy not to comment on talent negotiations. While a hard-line threat is a common tactic in salary negotiations, it seems unlikely that NBC would follow through with the firings.
But it raises the question: Could SVU exist without its two popular leads?
last edited by Send a Compliment at 11:48 PDT, 9 April, 2009
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Comments (10 comments)
They're wrong asking for more money, they get enough as it is.
They've been on the air a long time and deserve some of the syndication money. I mean, most actors will leave a show and then it tanks, but they've been with it for 11 years and don't want to leave, I think that says it all!
But...we have to consider the changing economic times. Normally at this point they would get raises...but networks are cutting budgets on everything for next year.
I agree with jaivomi...it seems in the current climate to be unnecessary.
I dont know how much they are making but if they leave the show it is going to tank! I hate it when shows/movies replace their main characters, its just not the same!
According to Ausiello they make £350 K per episode. That is A LOT of money. And RachelL is right, it is expected that the networks are being forced to make budget cuts. Everyone is suffering at the moment, but it isn't like they don't get enough money to survive. Don't get me wrong, the show would never be the same without them and likely wouldn't survive but that doesn't mean they should ask for more. If anything it is disrespectful to the viewers that they would jeopardise the whole show for a pay rise.
But I suppose that is Television, people always want more money.
Well, I think that there must be a middle point, where both actors can have GOOD money and give the people what they like in the serie. I hope. 'Cause it's one of the best series of all the times, and of course it wouldn't be the same without Christopher and Mariska.
I would not watch this show if Benson and Stabler were not on it. These two characters, through these two actors MAKE THE SHOW. I love this show, but would drop it in a hurry if they were gone.
I think it's reasonable for the actors to expect to get a little something out of the sydication deals. NBC makes money by selling episodes to USA and the like, so why shouldn't Hargitay and Meloni get a small percentage? Yes, they already make great money, and yes, times are tough, so hopefully they'll allow for that. But why shouldn't they get a cut?
I would not watch without them. I hope they come to some type of agreement. I love SVU, its one of the show left on tv that i do watch.
I like the show because of the duo. Don't ask me why but they are good together. I believe when those to are getting out of the show they will kill there own carers and the show.
There are a lot of S.U. show's and this is in Europe by far the most popular of them all.
I don't know hoe it is in the U.S.
So if they stop because of the money the will get a hard job to find an other success full show for them look what happend to the actors of friend! Only Jennifer made it because everybody feels sorry for what happened with her and brad Pitt and all her other boyfriends. And Courtney Cox because of her husband.
So I hope the can lif with the fact that they make in 1 season more money than the most people in their life
Good on them asking for more money!!!!
They both have families and are both extremely good at what they do. Why shouldn't they get more for their work? i would do the same thing in their shoes.
The NBC won't get rid of them anyway. They know that the ratings would drop dramatically if they fired Mariska and Chris. They partnership they portray through Olivia and Elliot is one of the reasons I watch the show.