'Law & Order: SVU' May Be Over

    You wouldn’t think that NBC could afford to lose a hit show right now, but that’s what may happen.

    Sources tell me that NBC is playing hardball with stars Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni, not wanting to pay them big increases if they stay for a ninth season next fall.

    “It’s not Dick Wolf,” my source says of the notoriously capricious producer. Wolf is infamous for constantly replacing and substituting actors on the original “Law & Order.” But so far the cast has remained stable for “SVU” since it launched eight years ago.

    NBC, however, according to insiders, doesn’t seem to care whether the show returns or not. “They’re acting like they want Chris and Mariska out of there,”

    with cost-cutting and layoffs going on, NBC is said to feel that they don’t mind losing the show or starting over with new, less expensive actors.


Personally, I think its more likely, given its a "Law and Order" show, that NBC would opt for new cast members and keep the show going.

I also wonder how the ratings were when Hargitay took some time off earlier this year. If the ratings stayed the same, maybe NBC figures they don't need her and can hire someone cheaper.