Is Jennifer Love Hewitt Replacing Mariska Hargitay on 'Law & Order: SVU'?

By AOL TV Editors Posted May 15th 2011 01:57PM

Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni have made it no secret that they hope to cut back on their hours solving crimes on 'Law & Order: SVU.' Now, sources say another veteran TV star is eyeing a role as Hargitay's replacement: Jennifer Love Hewitt.

The former 'Ghost Whisperer' star is in talks to step in as the new partner of Elliot Stabler (Meloni), after Det. Olivia Benson (Hargitay) is promoted in the precinct to a supervising position mid-season, TV Line reports.

Hargitay has signed a deal to return for the 13th season of 'SVU,' but working fewer hours at the same salary. Meloni hasn't yet signed his deal, but is reportedly asking for a raise.

Hewitt has also not signed a deal yet. The actress appeared on the series earlier this season during an episode that brought attention to the problem of rape kit backlogs in police precincts across the country; Hewitt played a woman who was stalked and raped by a man for 15 years.

Hewitt, 32, was nominated for a Golden Globe for her starring performance in the Lifetime TV movie 'The Client List.'

Hargitay, 47, was awarded an Emmy in 2006 for her 'SVU' role.

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Tags: jennifer love hewitt, Law and Order, law and order svu, mariska hargitay

Comments

(116)

Sunday 15 May

By ruth

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I'm right there with you!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Mary

Your right. Not SVU without these 2.

Monday 16 May

By Patty

I would really hate to see anyone else in the role of Stabler's partner.They have such great chemistry. My favorite show.

By E-Race-it

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Bella, I agree with you. I do think the show has made a big mistake by not having a cop on the show to have be able to have the same chemistry for Ice-T as Benson and Stabler. Munnch wouldn't have been as good to have used. This could have happened slowly, but could have saved the show. It's all about chemistry!

Tuesday 17 May

By Martha Boltz

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Agree -- Mariska Hargitay is a darn good actress and a believable character. JLH is nice and sweet but I don't see her as "tough" in any sense of the word., Hargitay has the age and experience to make her role totally credible and she and Stabler make an excellent pair. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

By deborah

OMG....If Jennifer Hewitt replaces Mariska that is an automatic death of the show...They need to put a relatively unknown in Mariskas place.......

By Sally

Who are you referring to as a man-hating lesbian, Hargitay? Last I heard, she was a very married lady with twins.

By rhonda

If they change Mariska role take the show off no one can replace her sorry jlh cant act her way out of a hat.

By lcm1067

What is wrong with you? You need some professional help, seriosly.

If Jennifer replaces Mariska in the role, I won't be watching anymore. JLH is a mediocre actress who once basked soap actresses in an interview, stating that soap acting was "beneath her"....yeah, right.

By jill

um do they NOT remember they just gave her a guest starrring role this season as a rape victim who was a shut in for 10 years? yes she was good as that victim, very serious part and she really nailed it to my surprise. how the HELL would they cast her as a detective now? stupid

By Jeff R

No Benson/Stabler NO SVU simple as that No one can or should replace Olivia Benson!!! It is a shame and should be a crime punishable with long prison sentence for what the fat cat TV moguls are doing to my viewing habits. I find a show like L&O SVU that I try NERVER to miss and the fat cats in their corner offices mess it up for millions of viewers like me!!!

Jeff

By ang

O-M-G don't do that the show will slowly die , no one can replace ovilia ,she n stabler makes the show ..don't get me wrong JLH is good buttttttttttt she dont have the guts nor attitude for the job,can you sit thier n say jlh can handle the roll like ovilia can i mean ovilia is one hell of a actor n to replace her is like takin a main ingredient form something that is really awsome?

By stu

this idea is worse than Ashton taking over for Charlie!
give the roll to Joley Richerson from Nip/Tuck.

By Bear

I'm going to give it a chance. Maybe Mariska will still have cameo appearances like Jessee L. Martin and Jerry Orbach did when SVU first started. The article did say she'd have a supervising position in the precinct. Time will tell if SVU will suffer the same "Cousin Oliver" fate that "The Brady Bunch" suffered, but I'm going to try it out.

By Frances Bennett

As many of you above state, no one could ever replace Mariska -- especially Jennifer Love Hewitt. Yes, the replacement should be a strong actress who fits well with Christopher. Sad to hear that Mariska is leaving the show. I would rather see less shows with the two of them in them, than to see all new shows with a weak actress.

By Fosterp

Oh no, I hope not. I really do not care for her acting!

By limarr

The question of JLH will be moot if Meloni pulls this "I wanna raise" crap again. I think that if he does, the show will fold, with or without JLH. Greed is NOT good!

By abeth118

I can't imagine this show without Benson and Stabler. I understand their need for "slowing down" but JLH is definitely NOT the person to take Benson's place. Most of you feel as I do, with them gone (or limited screen time) the show will fade away into the sunset. It's a shame that all the good shows are going off the air and these stupid reality shows are taking over every network. Now only the cable networks have the best shows and that's what I'll be watching from now on.

By binda

I hope not

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