Breaking News: Big Change for Law & Order SVU

I don't know if I'd be smiling afer
walking away from $385,000
per episode!

According to TVLine, Christopher Meloni who has played Detective Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU will not be returning for Season 13. His 'partner' Mariska Hargitay, who plays Detective Olivia Benson, will be back though. It will be hard to see Oliva without Elliot but according to SVU producers they are already in search of a 'big name' to replace Meloni.

So what happened? Well, what always happens. Money! Contract talks broke down when they couldn't agree on a pay raise. From what I can tell, he and Hargitay were some of the best paid actors in a dramatic series. Hugh Laurie pulls in around $400,000 per episode and Hargitay/Meloni were right behind him at $385,000 per episode.

So we see the end of an era! I'll be eager to see who they nab as a replacement.