So long, Det. Stabler: An insider confirms that Christopher Meloni will leave "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" after 12 seasons.
Apparently, the actor was offered a "generous" salary to stay with the NBC show for another year, but he made the decision to bolt, instead -- which paves the way for a fresh face to join the aging franchise. (Hey, Dick Wolf: These actorsdidn't get their pilots picked up. Maybe consider one of them?)
Meloni has been on the show since the beginning, when it launched in 1999. His co-star, Mariska Hargitay, recently signed a new deal to stay on the cop drama.
NBC announced last week in New York that "SVU" will return next fall but its sister show, "Law & Order: Los Angeles," was yanked after only one season.
Meanwhile, Peacock topper Robert Greenblatt told reporters that he's looked at Jennifer Love Hewitt as a possible fill-in next season for Hargitay, who is reportedly looking to lighten her work load (she recently adopted a baby).
Love Hewitt guest-starred on the show earlier this year as a rape victim and "is someone we've been circling," Greenblatt told reporters. "I don't know whether that's coming to pass or not."
Apparently, the actor was offered a "generous" salary to stay with the NBC show for another year, but he made the decision to bolt, instead -- which paves the way for a fresh face to join the aging franchise. (Hey, Dick Wolf: These actorsdidn't get their pilots picked up. Maybe consider one of them?)
Meloni has been on the show since the beginning, when it launched in 1999. His co-star, Mariska Hargitay, recently signed a new deal to stay on the cop drama.
NBC announced last week in New York that "SVU" will return next fall but its sister show, "Law & Order: Los Angeles," was yanked after only one season.
Love Hewitt guest-starred on the show earlier this year as a rape victim and "is someone we've been circling," Greenblatt told reporters. "I don't know whether that's coming to pass or not."