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Twitter'Law & Order: SVU' stars seal their deals
Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni are staying on the "Law & Order: SVU" beat for at least one more season.
Protracted contract negotiations between the two stars and NBC Universal concluded Monday (June 29) with the two stars agreeing to new one-year deals with an option for a second season. The new contracts will give both actors a pay raise above the reported $375,000-$385,000 per episode they have been making.
What's more, the showbiz trade papers are reporting that Emmy winner Christine Lahti will guest-star in the first four episodes of the season as the Special Victims Unit's assistant district attorney. Stephanie March will then return to the show full-time; she reprised her role as ADA Alexandra Cabot in several episodes last season.
The new deals for Hargitay and Meloni mean that all of the core players in NBC's highest-rated returning drama -- including showrunner Neal Baer -- will be back for the show's 11th season.
Good news, right? It would have been awfully hard to imagine "SVU" without Benson and Stabler, dontcha think?
Related:
Can Stephanie March fill the 'SVU' void if Meloni and Hargitay don't re-sign?
Are Chris and Mariska's contracts close to being signed?
Report says 'SVU' stars have settled their contract dispute
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Zap2it Twitter Talk 
L&O SUV would not be L&O SUV without Benson and Stabler. I pretty much catch episodes in the vain hope that they'll finally hook up!
I don't watch the show regularily but I still can't imagine it without them! It would be nice if Meloni got more love though...Hargitay is great too but I think that, at least media and sometimes recognition wise, she often over-shadows him (not on purpose though...I don't think!).
Good news? No, amazing, tremendous, incredible news! Without them there is no SVU. I can't wait for the new season now!
Fantastic news. Great show; underrated because it's not as flashy as shows on other networks.
Thee would be no SVU without Hargitay and Meloni -- and with Stephanie March back, all's right with the world.
Great news! NBC execs must be out of their minds if they think the show can go on without Benson and Stabler. They ARE the show at this point; it's not like the original L&O, where the main cast turnovers started very early on. After ten seasons, Benson and Stabler are pretty much irreplaceable. SVU is NBC's only show in the top 20 or top 30 or whatever (sad), and these two are the only reason most people watch--the show itself isn't what it used to be, so for me I'm surviving on the Benson/Stabler goodness (as well as the Munch/Fin wisecracks).
I can't believe that NBC gave them a raise! I think it was wise to retain their services, but they should have made them take a pay cut. The ratings went down huge last year and they will decline further this year against heavier competition in the 9pm slot.
I've been a fan since the start but I think the obscene amount of money ANY celebs make is ridiculous and then to hold out for more makes me sick. I work my *** of in my job and got a perfect yearly review and got piddly-squat for a raise.
Celebs aren't gods and they don't deserve these obscene wages. None of them do. People are so foolish to think celebs actually deserve that much money!
I don't plan to watch this coming year if they're on the same time as Criminal Minds, either.
It would never have worked without them. This is great news!
Yes, yes, yes!!!!!!! I LOVE all of you that helped them come back. If any celeb should get a raise it's Mariska; she's a great actress who has her heart in the right place: her son, her husband, and her foundation. I am a huge fan of this show and try to catch all the reruns I possibly can. I can not wait for some new stories from Liv and El. I love NBC execs, Neal Baer, **** Wolf. Thank you for getting new deals with them. SVU would be not without the two. And Stephanie March returning? Icing on the cake to a great new season. GO SVU, I love you!!!!
Fantastic news. Great show; underrated because it's not as flashy as shows on other networks.I've been a fan since the start