Wow, Mariska Hargitay is baby-crazy! People Magazine confirms that Mariska and her husband Peter Hermann have adopted for the second time, welcoming their third child into their family. Mariska and Peter have a biological son, August, who is five years old, and they just adopted daughter Amaya six months ago. Their second adoption was for a little boy who they’ve named Andrew (one of my favorite boy names!). People Magazine only identifies Andrew as being born “over the summer.” I think Amaya must be about six or seven months old now, and judging from the photo of Mariska with Amaya and Andrew, Andrew looks very, very small.

When Mariska Hargitay welcomed her daughter Amaya Josephine six months ago, she started thinking about adopting another child down the line.

She never imagined the new addition would be right around the corner.

Within a week of processing their paperwork for the second time, Hargitay, 47, and her husband Peter Hermann brought home a son, Andrew Nicolas Hargitay Hermann, who was born over the summer.

“We never in a million year thought it would happen this quickly, but something inside of us knew that this was right, and we said, ‘Yes, yes, yes!’” says Hargitay, who is also mom to son August, 5.

“We knew this was our guy. Everything about it felt right. It felt divinely right.”

Two babies may be a handful, but the Law & Order: SVU actress — who will continue working four days a week — says Andrew and Amaya have already bonded.

“They’ll lie in the crib together, and she’ll hold his hand and put her arm around him,” says Hargitay. “She’s already so protective of him.”

[From People]

Wow, they got another baby WITHIN A WEEK. At first I thought that maybe Mariska and Peter had pursued adoptions at several different agencies, and then they were just thrilled that two babies came up for adoption, but it sounds like they used the same agency for both, right? I guess the agency had already thoroughly vetted Mariska and Peter, so the second adoption was a lot faster.

Incidentally, Viola Davis also adopted a little girl very recently too – Viola named her girl Genesis… are they going to call her “Genny”? Hmm…

Photos courtesy of WENN.

As we heard last week, Christopher Meloni is closing down his private gun show on Law & Order: SVU. Meloni has had a long rumored desire to leave the successful show, and I guess he was just asking for too much money during his contract renegotiations, because Meloni and the producers have now established that Meloni isn’t coming back next season. Many of us wondered if they should just discontinue the series instead of forcing them to limp on, Meloni-less. Mariska Hargitay is good, but is she good enough to go it alone? Well, if I was in charge of the show, I would simply put Mariska in more episodes with Belzer and Ice-T, because she has chemistry with both men and that could totally be a watchable show. Unfortunately, it looks like Mariska already has one foot out the door, and they’re probably going to cast Jennifer Love Hewitt and the Lollipop Guild.

Anyway, Hargitay has now released a statement about Meloni’s departure:

One of TV’s longest-running – and hottest-looking – couples are to be no more.

This week brought the official announcement from NBC that Christopher Meloni, who has played Detective Stabler on Law & Order: SVU since the series began in 1999, will not be back for a 13th season this fall. Contract talks reportedly broke down.

That leaves his costar, Mariska Hargitay, partner-less. But the week also brought the unsettling news that the actress will be not be appearing in all of next season’s episodes.

Regarding the departure of her costar, Hargitay – who plays Detective Olivia Benson – said in a statement released late Friday:

“For the past 12 years Chris Meloni has been my partner and friend, both on screen and off. He inspired me every day with his integrity, his extraordinary talent and his commitment to the truth. I love him deeply and will miss him terribly – I’m so excited to see what he’ll do next.”

[From People]

Aw. Has anyone else seen Mariska’s E! True Hollywood Story? She and Meloni have always been tight, ever since the first time they auditioned together. They simply have great chemistry, and they make for a great on and off-screen partnership. I do think she’s going to miss him quite a bit, to the point where it might not even be fun for her to work on the show anymore.

I really feel like this next season of L&O: SVU will be the last. Or SHOULD be the last. Fingers crossed.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

I thought this already happened, months ago, but I guess this is new. According to an exclusive report from TV Line, Christopher Meloni will not be returning to Law & Order: SVU next year. I’m pretty sure he already said that he didn’t really want to do another season, but now it’s all official.

Chris Meloni will not be reporting back for duty when Law & Order: Special Victims Unit launches its 13th season this fall, TVLine has learned exclusively.

Protracted talks between the actor — who has played Detective Stabler since the NBC crime drama’s 1999 debut — and studio NBC Universal broke down on Tuesday, says a source. Franchise creator Dick Wolf is said to already be searching for a big name to bring in opposite the series’ female lead, Mariska Hargitay.

Hargitay’s own deal to return for Season 13 remains unaffected.

Just last week, new NBC boss Robert Greenblatt told TVLine he felt the network was in “pretty great shape” as far as Meloni’s prospective deal goes, though he did allow for the possibility of SVU one day moving forward minus its two original leads. In fact, there was very recently talk that Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer) might join the series midway through the coming season to replace Hargitay.

“Jennifer Love is somebody we’ve been circling,” Greenblatt told us, “but I don’t know that that is going to happen at all.”

An NBC spokesperson had no comment for this story.

[From TV Line]

Ugh, the Jennifer Love Hewitt rumors just kill me. It’s being reported far and wide that whenever Mariska retires, JLH will come in to replace her. I mean, I no longer watch the new episodes because the show jumped the shark with that HIDEOUS season which featured Christina Lahti and Sharon Stone (it was awful). But I still care about the L&O franchise, and the exit of Meloni and the possible entrance of Love down the line makes me think that they just need to shoot this series in the head. No more. They’ve caught all of the rapists and pedophiles in NYC. DONE.

Photos courtesy of Fame.

I no longer watch Law & Order: SVU (the Christina Lahti-Sharon Stone story lines finally killed the series for me), but I still have residual goodwill for Mariska Hargitay, just because she seems like an awesome person. So I’m really, really happy for her news: Mariska confirmed to People Magazine last night that she and her hottie husband Peter Hermann have adopted a baby girl. They named her Amaya Josephine! You can see the photo of Mariska and Amaya here, at People.

Mariska Hargitay has a big surprise to share. The Law & Order: SVU star and her husband, actor Peter Hermann, have adopted a baby girl, she tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Baby Amaya Josephine was born about a week ago and is from the United States.

“I’m deliriously happy,” Hargitay, 47, tells PEOPLE. “From the minute she was born, she was just surprisingly alert and so full of love.”

“We were considering both international and domestic adoption and we’re thrilled that this is the way our prayers were answered,” she adds. “We talked a lot about mixed-race adoptions, and we are very excited that we are now a multi-racial family. We’re just so happy she’s here.”

And there’s one family member who’s more excited than anyone: Hargitay’s 4-year-old son, August.

“He is over the moon,” says the actress. “He calls her his baby because he says the whole thing was his idea. He always talks about how he’s going to protect her. He’s going to be a great big brother.”

[From People]

Any thoughts on Mariska’s open discussion of her now multi-racial family? Is it even a big deal at this point? I don’t think so. If she didn’t mention it, I wonder if anyone would have even brought it up. I also think it’s interesting that she ended up adopting domestically, like Sandra Bullock. Although, unlike Bullock, it sounds like Mariska isn’t disrespecting international adoptions in general, she makes it sound like all options were on the table, and this is just their experience. Anyway, congratulations to Mariska, Peter and August on the new addition to their family!

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Sharon Stone is currently filming her guest part on Law & Order: The Last Gasp of a Once Great Cop Shop. I mean, SVU. Some sources claim that Stone is going to be on SVU for one episode, but I’m pretty sure she’s got a multi-episode arc at least. This week we finally saw ADA Cabot (Stephanie March) leave the unit for greener pastures (greener pastures = prosecutor for some UN commission on international rape and sexual abuse). Since ADA Novak (Diane Neal) is nowhere to be seen (she was disbarred, right?), I guess Sharon Stone is going to be playing the unit’s latest ADA. Ah, yes, I see it now. Stone is playing a former cop-turned-lawyer for a four-episode arc.

I hate to say it, but Stone might not be a bad fit. But you can never tell with some of these guest stars. I was a big fan of Christine Lahti until her absolutely disastrous, vodka-soaked, faux-feminist character arc on SVU last fall. But then, you wouldn’t have thought Naveen Andrews as a smooth-operating, trust-fund-having, financial-crimes-unit cop would work out, but Naveen was spectacular, and I’m hoping he gets brought back. Kathy Griffin was wonderful as a lesbian-rights activist, but Mischa Barton (as an abused hooker) was horrible, just mind-numbingly terrible. So will Stone be a Lahti or a Naveen? I have no idea.

By the way, in additional SVU news, did we mention that Christopher Meloni is leaving after next season? UGH. I hate that. I love his character so much, and how much Det. Stabler has grown throughout the series. Oh, and Ann-Margret and Jaclyn Smith are going to be guesting too. Hmm… but what about Naveen?!? Maybe Naveen will come on to replace Meloni?!? Please, God.

Stone, Hargitay & Meloni on the NY set of SVU on March 18, 2010. Credit: Bauer-Griffin.

My girlfriend Mariska Hargitay is the February cover girl for More Magazine, and OK! Magazine has some lovely interview excerpts. Mariska talks about being a size 8 in a size zero world, the time some a-hole told her to get a nose job, and how much she hates Jay Leno. Not really on the last one, Mariska just blame Leno and the boneheads at NBC for killing Law & Order: SVU’s original 10 p.m. timeslot, and she also blames them for the decline in ratings this season. Now, here’s the thing: I’m a loyal SVU watcher, and while I hate that SVU comes on at 9 p.m. now, I also think this season sucked (especially the first episodes) because they cast Christine Lahti as a raging alcoholic paleo-feminist who treated men like crap under the guise of “girl power” – and who was, coincidentally, terrible at her job as a prosecutor. While that plotline might have been realistic, it sucked the life out of the first part of the season, and even throwing Lahti off the show wasn’t enough to make it better.

Mariska Hargitay is one of the most respected actresses on primetime TV, and her success on Law & Order: SVU has also made her one of the highest-paid stars on network TV.

“The only reason I have the career I have is that I didn’t quit,” the actress admits in the February issue More magazine. The cover girl opened up about her thoughts on The Jay Leno Show bumping SVU, living in the shadow of her iconic mother, Jayne Mansfield, her financial worries and the constant pressure on actresses to be beautiful.

“A guy at ABC told me to change my name and get a nose job. I said, ‘You get a nose job,’” Mariska reveals in her More interview on not having the conventional movie star looks. “I think I’m a very attractive person, but I don’t put myself in the realm of the beauty. That’s not where I get my esteem. I’m a size 8, and I feel proud of that, because it’s healthy. I’ve never felt compelled to be a skinny actress.”

Even though she is one of the highest-paid primetime actresses, Mariska still stresses about money.

“I constantly worry about money. I make a lot now, but I don’t feel that way, because I was poor and had no money for a lot longer than I’ve had it,” she said. “As an actor, if this show ends next year, then what? As an aging woman, then what? I’m saving money to live on, for the future. There are not that many roles for women, and I’ve been blessed with one of the great ones.”

SVU was affected by the late night shift when Jay Leno came on the scene for his 10 p.m. primetime talk show. The drama was forced to move into the 9 p.m. slot because of The Jay Leno Show.

“It ruined our numbers. The first four episodes, we were considerably down because nobody knew when the show was on. Finally, we’re starting to find our audience again.”

As a result of Jay’s low ratings, and the changing late night lineup, Mariska wishes the network would reconsider moving SVU back to its original time slot.

“I hope we go back to where we belong. It was doing so well. Why mess with it?”

Mariska opens up on being compared to her mother Jayne Mansfield, an iconic sex symbol and Hollywood star in the 1940s and ’50s.

“I can never compete, so I don’t try. It’s mega über, it’s legendary, it’s iconic. Being a sex symbol is not my thing; it’s not where I shine.”

Mariska comments on “losing her home too early” after the death of her mother.

“I’m getting it back through Peter and August, and, strangely, through the foundation. It’s about following the signs, listening to your inner voice. I’m living my life, and I know that this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Playing detective Olivia Benson is a hard job, and in October, Mariska landed awkwardly during a stunt and didn’t realize until months later that she had suffered a collapsed lung.

“I thought it was a pulled rib. I’m pretty tough. When I couldn’t breathe anymore, I got an X-ray, and they couldn’t believe I was walking… I was doing stunts when I was pregnant. I’d fall, jump on guys. Now there are scenes when I have to run, and I’ll only take a few steps. Everyone is super-careful of me.”

Mariska started the foundation Joyful Heart, which helps survivors of sexual assault and is an important cause in her life.

“Doing something about it takes away some of my sadness. We can get closer to cures by shining a light on [the abuse]. I liken it to what happened with AA 15 years ago, where there’s not a stigma to it. We’d love to see that happen to sexual assault.”

Mariska’s full cover story can be found in the February issue of More Magazine on newsstands January 26th.

[From OK! Magazine]

Sigh… I love Mariska. I find her very “real”. Maybe this isn’t who she really is, but give me my fantasy that she’s this cool and down-to-earth. I was really worried about her last year when she went into the hospital repeatedly, and I honestly thought it was something more serious than a collapsed lung – although that is serious, I just thought my girl was dying or something. Anyway, I’m glad that she’s doing well, I hope SVU returns to 10 p.m. and I hope they lose Christine Lahti’s number permanently.

More Magazine cover courtesy of Pop Crunch, additional photo courtesy of More online.

NBC had some cute and unusual self promotion going on during the Today show this morning. “Cute” is admittedly a strange way to put it, considering this is a story about a crime, but that’s how the network spun it. Recently Justine Faeth, an assistant at a media company in Manhattan had a strange interaction with a man who showed up and demanded to see an executive about an idea for a show he had. She told him he needed an appointment, but he wouldn’t leave. He wasn’t some super persistent show business type; he was sticking around and annoying the assistant with requests for DVDs, asking him to get her a glass of water, etc. After he finally left, Faeth found out that a purse had been stolen and dumped in the stairwell. She saved the cup and tissue the man had used and then discarded on her desk to give to police, and said it was because of all the hours she’s spent watching “Law & Order: SVU.”

Naturally, NBC is having a field day with the “TV is good for you after all!” idea.

Proving that TV can be good for you after all, a 24-year-old “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” fanatic helped police nab a suspected serial robber in New York, thanks to the amateur sleuthing skills she picked up watching the long-running television series. It was a day just like any other day when the fast-talking stranger entered City Lights Media in midtown Manhattan, telling assistant Justine Faeth he had an idea for a show — something involving 50 Cent, Faeth said — and wanted to talk to someone about it.

Faeth told the man that he needed an appointment to talk to an executive, but the intrusive visitor continued to hang around. “We don’t allow walk-ins,” Faeth told hosts Matt Lauer and Ann Curry on TODAY Thursday. “So I gave him some information, like e-mail [addresses], and I told him he could set up a meeting. I thought he was annoying, like, ‘Just go away; I’m trying to work,’ ” she added. Then the man told Faeth he felt sick and needed a glass of water. A wary Faeth directed him to the kitchen to get his own water. Leaving his used cup and a used tissue on Faeth’s desk, the man finally left the office via the stairwell, Faeth said.

It wasn’t long after that Faeth discovered that a wallet, an iPod and a cell phone were missing from a co-worker’s purse, which was discovered in the stairwell. Having seen every episode of “Law & Order: SVU,” Faeth thought: What would the show’s intrepid female sleuth, Detective Olivia Benson, do in this situation? Career criminal Kevin Moore stole several items from Justine Faeth’s workplace — but made the mistake of leaving behind a cup of water he drank from and a used tissue. Suspecting that it was the slick stranger who had stolen the missing items, Faeth alertly saved the cup and tissue he used, knowing they might contain helpful DNA evidence. However, when police came to investigate, they said DNA was used mainly in major cases such as rape and murder, so they did not take the cup and tissue, according to Faeth.

But Faeth’s faith in “SVU” would pay off after all. After viewing a video surveillance tape, police returned the next day to ask if Faeth still had the evidence. Fortunately she did, and police were able to match DNA samples from the cup and tissue to a man in their criminal database. Faeth credited her “Law & Order” addiction and the science of genetics for helping to nab Moore. “I have family in law [enforcement], so I think it might be in my blood,” she explained on TODAY. “I’m just happy he was caught and I was able to help.”

[From MSNBC]

Kevin Moore was charged with multiple counts of burglary and grand larceny – according to police, he’s been pulling stunts like this all over the city. The best part of the interview – which seems a little disorganized when you watch it – is that they have SVU star Mariska Hargitay call in and compliment Faeth on her great detective skills. It could have been cheesy but was actually really cute because Faeth went all fangirl on her and kinda sorta freaked out a bit. Mariska Hargitay, by the way, is all class. She is one of the few celebrities I’d actually want to hang out with. She always comes across as whip smart, gracious, and well-adjusted. Now I sound like a fangirl too. Which I sorta am – there’s a chance I’ve seen every single episode so many times, I could quote them all if need be.

Here are Mariska and Christopher Meloni relaxing on West 43rd Street in New York City, on August 13, 2009 before heading to the set to film “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”. Images thanks to Fame Pictures .

Mariska Hargitay is finally clearing the air about her repeated hospitalizationso ver the past several months. As Mariska went in and out of the hospital and on and off the set of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, the rumors have been everything to near-death pneumonia to some sort of contract negotiations with SVU producers. Mariska spoke out Monday night, telling People Magazine that as she was doing a stunt during SVU filming, she “fell wrong, basically” and collapsed her lung. As for the repeated hospitalizations, Mariska’s rep still claims that those visits were only for repeated tests and check-ups. Oh, well. If she’s out and about, that’s a good sign. Hopefully she’s feeling a lot better:

Since January, when her rep announced Mariska Hargitay had suffered a partially collapsed lung, information about the nature of the Law & Order: SVU’s star condition has been scant, until now.

During a dinner in Manhattan for the American Ballet Theater on Monday, Hargitay, 45, told PEOPLE: “I’ve been doing my own stunts on the show for 10 years. I fell wrong, basically. I collapsed my lung doing a stunt.”

Hargitay underwent surgery in January, then returned to work on her NBC series soon after – only to check back into the hospital on March 3, at which time her rep said: “She is undergoing routine tests and expects to be feeling better soon.”

A March 9 statement said, “Mariska is recovering well and is expected to return to SVU in the next couple of weeks.” On March 23, PEOPLE reported she was back on the set.

And now? “I’m 100 percent,” a spectacular-looking Hargitay, in a long gown by Caroline Herrera, told PEOPLE at the dinner, where Caroline Kennedy introduced Michelle Obama, who in turn introduced the young performers of the ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School.

Added Hargitay: “I’m back to my old self.”

[From People]

Yes, Mariska is already back to shooting Special Victims Unit, even though this has been the worst season ever. Well, there have been a few exceptions. That episode about child soldiers immigrating to New York was really good – and they even filmed a scene at the United Nations! That was exciting. But perhaps for Mariska’s return next season, they should get some more interesting sex crimes.

The National Enquirer has a theory this week on Mariska’s illness and her new-found health – they claim that now that she’s feeling better, she’s really wants to try to get pregnant again. Her son August turn three next month – and he’s one of the cutest babies ever. Good gene pool!

“Mariska is happily telling close friends her collapsed lung issues are over and all she can think of is giving her son August a little baby brother or sister – and soon!” a source revealed to The Enquirer.

[She] and husband Peter Hermann, 41, whom she married in 2004, began making effort again to expand their family, says another insider. August was born in June 2006.

“It’s her dream to have a second child – it’s almost as if it’s all she can think about,” said the insider.

And while her publicist denies she’s pregnant now, the baby buzz is already swirling on the “SVU” set, maintains the insider.

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, May 25, 2009]

I was thinking about reporting on this story last week, but it didn’t seem like there was much to go on. They’re not claiming Mariska is pregnant, only that she would like another child. Which I’m sure she would – although she’s already given some quotes about how much she’s missing from August’s childhood by being on the SVU set so much. So either she’s trying to get pregnant, or she’s signed on for another few years on SVU. Who knows?

Mariska Hargitay is shown 5/18/09 at the Metropolitan Opera for opening night. Credit: Fame Pictures

It’s an age-old negotiation tactic that can work (example: “Friends”) or backfire (example: “Three’s Company”). Sources confirmed that the two stars of NBC’s “Law and Order: SVU” have been in the throes of a bitter contract negotiation, asking for more money per episode of the show’s new season. But even though the show is one of the network’s few hit dramas, the studio execs aren’t ready to give in. There’s even been talk of replacing both Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni if they don’t toe the line.

They wouldn’t dare.

Multiple sources are confirming that NBC is threatening to replace Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni on Law & Order: SVU if the actors persist in their demands for more money.

Last week, NBC closed a deal with L&O boss Dick Wolf for an 11th season of SVU — which, at 10.5 million viewers, remains the Peacock’s No. 1 scripted show. That opened the door to a new round of negotiations with the stars, whose $350K-per-episode contracts will expire in May. Yet a source close to the matter said talks stalled when the duo — who, like in their previous negotiations, are banding together — attempted to go after back-end profits, a perk that’s almost never granted in the L&O universe (although exceptions were made for Vincent D’Onofrio and Chris Noth).

As a result, NBC cautioned that it may be forced to replace the MVPs — a risky move considering how integral Hargitay and Meloni are to the show. Many feel the Peacock won’t make good on its threat (reps for the network, studio and the actors would not comment for this story). “I don’t think in this environment, there’s any chance they could re-launch the show with both of them gone,” says a high-ranking exec at a rival network. “It’s a horrible time to retool a show. They already have to change the time-slot, because it’s not going to be airing at 10 pm next season.” At the same time, a Peacock insider says, “I can’t imagine either actor walking away from over $7 million a year.”

For now, Wolf is putting a positive face on the talks. Through his spokesman, he said, “It is my fondest hope that both Chris and Mariska will be back next season.

[From Entertainment Weekly]

Seven million bucks a year seems like plenty of money to me. More than enough, actually. But if this show is NBC’s number one drama, it must be raking in boatloads of advertising money. If NBC could find the cash to pay the whole cast of “Friends” $250,000 per episode, I’m sure they can work something out here. And if they didn’t want to pay back-end residuals to Mariska and Chris, then they shouldn’t have allowed other stars to get that arrangement! What did they think– these people all travel in the same circles — of course they’re going to talk to each other! Getting rid of the show’s two biggest stars would be a huge mistake. I mean, I like Ice-T, B.D. Wong and Richard Belzer – but they’re not the reason I tune in every week. It’s all about the smoldering sexual chemistry between Olivia and Stabler!

Photos courtesy of NBC.

Mariska Hargitay isn’t taking her Law and Order: SVU co-star Ice-T’s advice to take some time and heal. Her rep confirmed that she’ll be back to filming episodes of SVU for the rest of the season. So far, Mariska has only missed one episode due to her mystery lung ailment. It’s unknown exactly what’s going on with her health, but she’s been hospitalized twice, the second time just last week. OK! has more:

Despite rumors speculating that Law and Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay would be missing the entire rest of the season due to health concerns, the actresses’ rep tells OK! not to believe the buzz.

“Not true,” says the rep of the report. “Mariska is recovering well and is returning to the show this season. She is only missing one episode.”

Mariska’s had a bumpy few months after being hospitalized for a collapsed lung in mid January. The star returned to work and seemed to be doing well, but had to visit the hospital again after experiencing some discomfort relating to the lung condition.

[From OK! Magazine]

I’m a huge fan of Mariska’s, and I feel very strongly that if my girl needs to rest and recuperate, that’s what she should be doing. SVU can’t have that many more episodes to film, so why all the drama about her coming back to work so soon? There’s obviously something wrong with her, or she wouldn’t have needed to be hospitalized a second time. There’s even a rumor going around that she needs surgery, but that hasn’t been verified by anyone close to Mariska.

Here’s Mariska and Christopher Meloni on the set of Law and Order SVU filming in SoHo on October 10th. Images thanks to BauerGriffinOnline.