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Mariska Hargitay eyes new role on 'Law and Order: SVU'; Jennifer Love Hewitt to step in?
Mariska Hargitay may be scaling back her responsibilities with NBC.The actress has reportedly asked to take on a lesser role on "Law & Order: SVU" as she inks a new deal for the 13th season of the crime drama. Deadline reports that Hargitay is looking to work fewer hours at her previous salary of $400,000 per episode.
Producers solution? Detective Olivia Benson will continue business as usual for the first 13 episodes, at which point the character will be promoted to a supervisor position, making room for a new female detective to take her place. It is being rumored that Jennifer Love Hewitt is in talks for said role.
Hargitay may be hoping to spend less time at work and more time at home, as she and hubby Peter Hermann debuted adopted newborn Amaya Josephine in early April. Their new daughter joins 4-year-old son, August.
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Wasn't she a guest star on the show??? A rape victim? I didn't see the episode so I don't know her background but I don't think that would work.
She was a guest star on the show and she did play a rape victim this season. If I recall, she also ended up killing her attacker when he was released from jail. Maybe not.
She would be a good addition as a detective but it may be hard for the viewer to forget her previous appearance on the show.
Diane Neal's ADA Casey Novak character came after she first played one of a trio of female rapists on an episode in an earlier season. Several other actors have played different characters on the show before as well so that isn't the issue.
For me, this show is all about Benson and Stabler. The stories are crazy too but they're so ingrained into the show that I feel like it's the first step to changing the show entirely and me tuning out.
I still watch SUV, but not always
will see most in reruns. Another
detective, with more screen time that's okay, but I really hope it's not Jennifer L Hewett, I don't really care for her acting that much. Hope casting thinks this over carefully I don't think she will fit in.
Jerry Orbach also famously appeared as a lawyer or something a year before he signed on to play Briscoe for the rest of his life.
I don't know about JLH, though. She just doesn't have the gravitas for such a part. Then again, Hargitay's resume included ditzy girlfriends, I think an Elm Street movie, and stuff like that and she did OK. But I'm still not sold. They're going to need a female powerhouse to replace Hargitay after 13 years, and I just can't see JLH being that powerhouse. Maybe someone like Marg Helgenberger maybe. Or Betty White. Just kidding. Maybe.
I cannot see Hewitt working well here though she did surprise me with her dramatic gravitas in the guest star role. My thought:there are many great actresses from the cancelled soaps ATWT and GL and more soon from OLTL and AMC. Snag one of them!
I cannot see Hewitt working well here though she did surprise me with her dramatic gravitas in the guest star role. My thought:there are many great actresses from the cancelled soaps ATWT and GL and more soon from OLTL and AMC. Snag one of them!
No one can replace Mariska. She's an amazing actress. Can't see JLH on SVU. Angie Harmon would be a good addition, but she already has a series. The only one I can think of that would fit in is Jill Hennesy...ex L&O, and Crossing Jordon. S.Mertha's first role was as a welfare mother. She was recast later as lead detective. So if everyone has amnesia...
why JLH? how about Mira Sorvino?
I love the suggestion of Mira Sorvino!
They need someone harder and more intense than I think JLH is capable of.