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.
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.
That woman has astonishing titties.
Of course, she’s a Mansfield by lineage.
Yeah right, like NBC will replace them. They are the reason people watch that show.
They are right to be demanding more money, not because they need to get richer, but because the show is incredibly succesful and they should get paid accordingly. Same thing happened with friends.
I would have no desire to watch the show with them gone.
It kinda makes me sick tho, how greedy they’re being if this is true. I kinda agree with Jeane, they should be paid accordingly. But on the other hand, how many of us would love to see $350K a year let alone an episode.
They certainly *are* the show, and it would be ridiculous to let them go. But it’s also hard to feel bad for folks in that salary bracket, when everywhere I turn people are being asked to work for less.
SVU is my favorite show, but if they leave, that’ll be it for me. I won’t watch anymore. I say give ’em the $$$. Without them, there is no show.
I always thought the Friends got a million per episode.
My Mom would go into a deep dark depression if she was denied her weekly dose of Mariska Hargitay. Actually so would my Dad.
For a few seasons they did get a million per episode and they will be receiving money from the reruns and dvds.So the friends stars could just sit for the rest of their lives and cash the incoming checks.
I say give them the money.Why should the networks make all the money?
Yeah, Law and Order is pretty much the only thing NBC has left these days, DONT BLOW IT.
They are the show. Some people can’t just be replaced, because they are the reason people tune in. It would be like replacing the lead of a show named for them, such as Ugly Betty, Eli Stone etc… It would kill the show.
NBC Execs want more money in their pockets for sitting on their asses…
Ask the advertisers to pony up an extra couple of grand each per episode and give it to the stars of the show.
Else, have a car crash where they both die and replace them with new characters and watch the ratings drop…
I don’t think people should get caught up on the amount of money they’re making. It is what it is. It’s just another pay negotiation, if the show is doing well and pulling in cash for the company then a salary increase should be a consideration. It sure as hell would be for the execs.
They are being beyond greedy. I don’t care if people watch the show because of them, asking for more money in this economy, when so many people are losing their jobs is ridiculous. If a 72-year old Soap can get cancelled (Guiding Light) I’m sure NBC will not think twice about replacing these two.
Ever think a 72 year old soap might have kinda run it’s course McKenna?!? These two are still very much relavent and adored. And especially in this economy, it’d be nice to have a sense of security. The kind of security that goes along with reaping the benefits of profitable reruns. Why shouldn’t actors receive a portion of the money made off of reruns??? They make the show possible same as the network, just in a different capacity. I think as long as a show is being air, all individuals intergral to production should profit.
if nbc decides to get rid of chris and mariska , i will no longer watch l & o s v u . the rest of the cast is average at best, and these 2 are the only reason this show has been on for so long.
NBC has two decent shows. Chuck-which they are threatening to cancel, but honestly it’s fresh and funny.
ANd SVU. Cill the original no one watches it. Bring back CI with Vincent (nobody likes the other version-further more paying two casts of characters for the same show is ridiculous) and give them the money.
The networks make a ridiculous amount of money. and though SVU has lost some of it’s ratings, its because NBC doesn’t promote it much anymore after changing its night.
I’m going to boycott their entire line up if they ruin this for me.
I want to see Olivia and Cabot get together. :]
Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni are SVU. Without them, there is no show. (I know that I will not watch it without Hargitay, in particular.)
And if the stars of Law & Order: Criminal Intent are considered worthy of receiving back end profits–when they could be replaced while keeping their show intact–it makes no sense to deny the same deal to MH and CM, when it is widely known that they (and their chemistry) make SVU what it is.
As a loyal viewer, I hope that NBC will give them what they want.
It would be a HUGE mistake to let them walk and how dare NBC treat them in a shabby way! These two make the show and deserve some of the profits. Oh…and btw…if they make $350,000 an episode that translates to roughly $5.6 mil a year which is chump change for some of these actors. Actually… that sounds like ‘starting out’ pay for some actors. I don’t see this as greed, I see this as wanting to share the profits that they helped to create.
I agree with barnesir, without these two there would be no show worth watching, for me anyway.
these two were great in the earlier seasons, they suck now. Chris Meloni worked for free on Oz to get his start, and who ever heard of Marska before this show. Both will have no other careers if they are not on SVU because their TV personas will carry with them whereever they go. People will give SVU a shot with new actors – but those two will be sitting at home wishing they weren’t so greedy they lost their jobs. Screw them. I hope they walk. I will be a loyal svu fan after that – besides, didn’t they say the same thing when paul sorvino, chris noth, and the list goes on left the original L&O – and here they are over 20 seasons later.
Those two ARE the entire show! The series would be nothing without them.
Am I one of the few people out in the world that doesn’t watch the show for the purpose of hoping that stabler and benson will hop in the sack? I’m a loyal L & O fan of all the L & O’s and if Meloni and Hargitay hit the road, I will still watch it b/c what makes L & O so great is the fact that we get to meet new detectives. Despite of what people say, I’m sure a lot of people will tune in to see what the new detectives are like. I say dump Stabler and Benson, they’ve been SVU detectives too long.