Follow Zap2it:
'SVU' shocker: Chris Meloni leaves 'Law & Order'
Twitter
Google
Well, this is some sad news. TVLine reports that "Law & Order: SVU" star Christopher Meloni has left his post as Detective Elliot Stabler and will not be returning for the series' 13th season. According to the site, Meloni was still in talks with NBC Universal about a return deal as late as Tuesday, but negotiations broke down and series creator Dick Wolf is now looking for a replacement.Producers are hoping to replace Meloni with a "big name," which is probably a good thing, as he'll have some very big shoes to fill. Meloni, along with co-star Mariska Hargitay, has been a central figure of the series since it began in 1999.
The Season 12 finale ended when, in a shocking stand-off, Stabler was forced to shoot an armed teenage girl who had opened fire on her mother's murderer (among others) in the Special Victims Unit squad room. The event left both Stabler and Benson visibly shaken.
Hargitay is returning for Season 13, though in a more reduced capacity than in previous seasons. Benson is expected to be promoted at a midway point in the season, leaving room for a new detective - possibly played by Jennifer Love Hewitt - in the lead.
What do you think about this news? Will you watch without Detective Stabler? Weigh in below in the comments section.
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Photo/Video credit: NBC
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Night by Night
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
-
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 
ABCDancing With the Stars performance show (Sep. 24) Castle (Sep. 24) 
CBSHow I Met Your Mother (Sep. 24) Partners (Sep. 24) 2 Broke Girls (Sep. 24) Mike & Molly (Sep. 24) Hawaii Five-0 (Sep. 24) 
NBCThe Voice (Sep. 10) Revolution (Sep. 17) 
FOXBones (Sep. 17) The Mob Doctor (Sep. 17) Local Programming 
CW90210 (Oct. 8) Gossip Girl (Oct. 8) Local Programming -
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCDancing With the Stars results show (Sep. 25) Happy Endings (Oct. 23) Don't Trust the B (Oct. 23) Private Practice (Sep. 25)
CBSNCIS (Sep. 25) NCIS: Los Angeles (Sep. 25) Vegas (Sep. 25)
NBCThe Voice Go On (Sep. 11) The New Normal (Sep. 11) Parenthood (Sep. 11)
FOXRaising Hope (Oct. 2) Ben and Kate (Sep. 25) New Girl (Sep. 25) The Mindy Project (Sep. 25) Local Programming
CWHart of Dixie (Oct. 2) Emily Owens, M.D. (Oct. 16) Local Programming -
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCThe Middle (Sep. 26) Suburgatory (Oct. 17) Modern Family (Sep. 26) The Neighbors (Sep. 26) Nashville (Oct. 10)
CBSSurvivor (Sep. 19) Criminal Minds (Sep. 26) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Sep. 26)
NBCAnimal Practice (Sep. 26) Guys with Kids (Sep. 26) Law & Order: SVU (Sep. 26) Chicago Fire (Oct. 10)
FOXThe X Factor performance show (Sep. 12) Local Programming
CWArrow (Oct. 10) Supernatural (Oct. 3) Local Programming -
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCLast Resort (Sep. 27) Grey's Anatomy (Sep. 27) Scandal (Sep. 27)
CBSBig Bang Theory (Sep. 27) Two and Half Men (Sep. 27) Person of Interest (Sep. 27) Elementary (Sep. 27)
NBC30 Rock (Oct. 4) Up All Night (Sep. 20) The Office (Sep. 20) Parks and Recreation (Sep. 20) Rock Center
FOXThe X Factor results show (Sep. 13) Glee (Sep. 13) Local Programming
CWThe Vampire Diaries (Oct. 11) Beauty and the Beast (Oct. 11) Local Programming -
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCLast Man Standing (Nov. 2)) Malibu Country (Nov. 2) Shark Tank (Sep. 14) 20/20 (Sep. 14)
CBSCSI: NY (Sep. 28) Made in Jersey (Sep. 28) Blue Bloods (Sep. 28)
NBCWhitney (Oct. 19) Community (Oct. 19) Grimm (Sep. 14) Dateline
FOXTouch (Oct. 26) Fringe (Sep. 28) Local Programming
CWAmerica's Next Top Model (Aug. 24) Nikita (Oct. 19) Local Programming -
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCSaturday Night College Football
CBSCrimetime Saturday 48 Hours: Mystery (Sep. 29)
NBCEncore Programming
FOXFOX Sports Saturday Local
CWLocal Programming -
7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCAmerica's Funniest Home Videos (Oct. 7) Once Upon a Time (Sep. 30) Revenge (Sep. 30) 666 Park Avenue (Sep. 30)
CBS60 Minutes (Sep. 30) The Amazing Race (Sep. 30) The Good Wife (Sep. 30) The Mentalist (Sep. 30)
NBCFootball Night in America (Sep. 9) Sunday Night Football (Sep. 9)
FOXNFL Game The OT (NFL post-game) The Simpsons (Sep. 30) Bob's Burgers (Sep. 30) Family Guy (Sep. 30) American Dad (Sep. 30) Local Programming
CWLocal Programming
| Legend: | New Show | New Time | Returning |
|---|
Recent video
New TV Shows
666 Park Avenue
1600 Penn
Animal Practice
Arrow
Beauty and the Beast
Ben and Kate
The Carrie Diaries
Chicago Fire
Cult
Do No Harm
Elementary
Emily Owens, M.D.
The Family Tools
The Following
Friend Me
Go On
Golden Boy
The Goodwin Games
Guys with Kids
Hannibal
How to Live with Your Parents
Infamous
The Job
Last Resort
Made in Jersey
Malibu Country
The Mindy Project
Mistresses
The Mob Doctor
Nashville
The Neighbors
The New Normal
Next Caller
Partners
Red Widow
Revolution
Save Me
Vegas
Zero Hour
Our Partners
I can't imagine the show without either Hargitay or Maloni. This is terrible news for the series and the fans like me who love these actors! I hope this isn't true!
They should bring back the Naveem Andrews character.
This should be the end for the show. Unlike the other L&Os, SVU is very character driven. Benson & Stabler are the heart of the show. The producers should have given Meloni and Hargitay whatever they wanted for what will likely be the show's last season.
NOOOOOoooooooooo!
Maybe now they can stop having the 'very special episodes' geared toward giving them Emmy nominations.
Jennifer Love Hewitt? No way, she does not fit the role of a LO agent. Want my picks? Patricia Arquette. For the male role, the big name would probably someone who's been in movie roles in the past. Um, I heard Tim Roth might be available. LOL
Terrible news!!!! Count me out for next season.
I think it stinks, I really do.I do hope, however, that when they find a replacement he will be as good as, if not better, than Chris.He and Mariska worked really well together.
Is it too late to bring back Wentworth Miller's (Prison Break) cop character? Loved the change of pace for him.
With Christopher Meloni's exit and Mariska Hargitay's reduced role next season, I really don't see much of a point in continuing the show. As much as it's supposed to be an ensemble cast, everyone knows Elliot Stabler and Oliva Benson ARE Law & Order: SVU. Without them, well that's just sad. I do love all the other characters(Bring back Diane Neal full-time as ADA Casey Novak!) so I will watch next season. I'm just not looking forward to it as much as I used to.