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Home » Blogs » the linster's blog » Mariska Hargitay gives Olivia another two years

Mariska Hargitay gives Olivia another two years

by
the linster

Now we have one more thing to celebrate this holiday weekend. Olivia will return.

By “Olivia,” I mean Mariska Hargitay, of course, and by “return,” I mean she will be back on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit for at least two more seasons. Hargitay and her partner in crime fighting, Christopher Meloni, finally signed their contracts this week.

The two stars, who have been with SVU since the show started in 1999, have been holding out for more cash, which NBC wisely decided to give them. No details, of course, but the all-knowing “sources” report that Hargitay and Meloni will get $400,000 per episode. I think Mariska and I could live quite happily on that.

I could also live quite happily with many, many scenes of Olivia and ADA Alex Cabot. But you already know that.

Variety also reports that the fabulous Christine Lahti will guest star in the first four episodes of SVU as yet another hot ADA. OK, Variety didn’t say “hot ADA,” but, well, she is.

I haven’t seen nearly enough of Lahti in recent years. She was in Jack & Bobby and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, two very good series that were canceled too soon, but may be most famous for being in the bathroom when her Golden Globe for Chicago Hope was announced.

Perhaps the best way to get to know her, though, is to read her blog post, “My Daughter, My Sister,” on The Huffington Post.

“When my daughter Emma was 10 years old, we marched together in Washington D.C. in ‘The March For Women's Lives,’ and I watched her become a feminist.”

Hopefully, all of this good casting news means that things are looking up for SVU. Now if they’ll just bring a few new writers to the mix, we may be in for a series revival.

Is Olivia’s return good news for you? What do you think about Lahti’s guest role? Will Law and Order: SVU be a part of your fall viewing schedule?

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    • Submitted by
    the linster
    on June 30, 2009 - 2:00pm.
    TAGS :: 
    onefineday696's picture

    YAY!!!!

    Submitted by
    onefineday696 (6 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 1:47pm.
    My life will be so much better now. :)
    monica_ca's picture

    Hallelujah!!

    Submitted by
    monica_ca (685 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 1:52pm.
    This right here is proof that God loves lesbians and wants us to be happy!! :)
    balaustine's picture

    Yes!

    Submitted by
    balaustine (89 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 2:02pm.
    Olivia's staying AND Alex is coming back!  Squee!
    Riley's picture

    Awesome

    Submitted by
    Riley (9 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 2:33pm.
    Phew! Always knew MH and Chris would return but NBC like to keep us guessing! As much as I adore Lahti, she ain't Alex Cabot, surely Stephanie March should be in the new season..after the 'kiss' in the season finale, I think a little lady luvin' is hardly out of reach now.....and would be easier on teh eye than Olivia and Stuckie!
    Robin's picture

    What KIss? I haven't been watching.

    Submitted by
    Robin (48 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 3:41pm.

    Do tell. Thanks.

    I don't have cable anymore and watch everything on HULU.  

     

     

     

    I'm a Sagittarius -- part ass, part dude with a loaded weapon. What's not to love?  I'm pissed that Cupid got the falling in love arrow, we get the snarky, the-truth-is-gonna-hurt-arrow

    StrawberryPanic's picture

    the kiss

    Submitted by
    StrawberryPanic (69 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 7:15pm.
    She kissed that little freak that recently joined the cast on the season finale because he had Elliott tied to a chair and was torturing him.. then he was about to shoot him- so Olivia talked him down and kissed him so Elliott could kick him where the sun don't shine then Liv knocked him out. It was kinda odd...
    Roz's picture

    Well...

    Submitted by
    Roz (10 posts)
    on July 1, 2009 - 10:55pm.

     

    Well...Elliot actually kicked the little creep in the balls. He just did it from behind, while still tied to the chair.  Which is actually the idea position for such a move.

     

     *If Sense and Courtesy were common, more people would use them.*

    Nona J.'s picture

    Very Happy!

    Submitted by
    Nona J. (342 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 2:36pm.

    Law and Order wouldn't have been a part of my viewing schedule if Mariska Hargitay wasn't going to be in the cast...SVU news is getting better with each announcement. 

    Now, they just need to announce one more thing!

    " True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united" ~ Wilhelm von Humbolt

    Quigley20's picture

    Agree totally with what Nona

    Submitted by
    Quigley20 (11 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 2:38pm.
    Agree totally with what Nona J. just posted. It is indeed great news.
    Ashley Maile's picture

    I'm so glad she is coming

    Submitted by
    Ashley Maile (170 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 2:49pm.

    I'm so glad she is coming back... my ultimate fictional lesbian desire is back for twwo years.. All I can hope for now is if she cuts her hair and makes out with Stephanie March next season lol. Yea, right, and Ann Coulter has a soul.   

    "There would be no black and white, the world would just treat my wife right. We could walk down in Mississippi, and no one would look at us twice. That's my dreamworld." - Dreamworld by Robin Thicke

    Ajel's picture

    Hell yeah!

    Submitted by
    Ajel (3 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 2:56pm.
    Happy happy happy!!! Now I can continue watching Law & Order: SVU!! And at least two more seasons!!! Yay!! :D Waiting many great scenes with Olivia and Alex!
    7Up's picture

    I've got the idea, come all you SVU writers!

    Submitted by
    7Up (639 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 3:35pm.

    good!

    now can alex and olivia be parners in more than justice....  I said it before and I'll say it again, I'd be happy if it was just made clear that they were seeing eachother romantically / in a relationship, but without any major titilation for any of the guys or anything... I mean the show is set in New York, there's so much diversity here that being a lesbian gets pretty old hat, if anyone's surprised they quickly try to hide it here and get right back to business.... the more likely time when people get surprised is when people realize you've stuck together for over 5 years (homo or hetero relationships)...  hmmm.... maybe it should just come about super nonchalantly that the two of them have been together for four years already!  Now that would put a real twist on rewatching past episodes!!!!!! I like that idea best!

    Emily's picture

    So excited

    Submitted by
    Emily (10 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 4:10pm.
    I'm so excited for more Olivia!!! I love svu :)
    Ashley Maile's picture

    Just so people are aware,

    Submitted by
    Ashley Maile (170 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 4:25pm.

    Just so people are aware, if they already were not, the dude Neal Bear who is in charge of a lot of this stuff on SVU has a twitter. He responds a lot to fans on it who ask him questions.. he has a bit over 1,000 fans and I'm guessin most are thhose irritating tweeny Elliot & Olivia fans who root for his marriage to fail and get with Olivia.

    Anyway, I know a lot of us more obsessive fans don't go to these sites because we always get like 20 people bitching at us like the lesbian who just sat at the cool christian table.. but I think we need to show our AO side and at least tweet him that "Hey, so glad to see Alex AND Olivia back, will we see anymore AO subtext/lust this upcoming season?"

    That's what I asked. I don't want to send 40 horny texts saying "When will Alex and Olivia share a shower scene?" Who am I kidding, I already asked that lol.

    Here's his twitter page: http://twitter.com/NealBaer 

    We need to rep allll the AO lovers out there! I think most of us have given up.. I for one will fight till we get a scene where Olivia through Alex down on the court table and goes at it.

    "There would be no black and white, the world would just treat my wife right. We could walk down in Mississippi, and no one would look at us twice. That's my dreamworld." - Dreamworld by Robin Thicke

    monica_ca's picture

    Hilarious

    Submitted by
    monica_ca (685 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 5:23pm.

    "That's what I asked. I don't want to send 40 horny texts saying "When will Alex and Olivia share a shower scene?" Who am I kidding, I already asked that lol."

    I literally lol'd at that :D 


    PD's picture

    Bravo!

    Submitted by
    PD (33 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 6:49pm.

    You are on the case (pun intended!) with a vengence my friend! I refuse point-blank to do Twitter. However, I may email/write this Bear chap? God, wouldn't they be the couple to end ALL couples? (US TV at least.)

    PS You will let us know if he replies to your polite inquiry, right?

    fallon ash's picture

    Yay!!!!

    Submitted by
    fallon ash (372 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 4:45pm.
    Just adding my YAY! in with everyone else's! I was excited that Alex would be back, but I don't know that it would have been enough to keep me watching without Olivia. So glad that she will be back!! (And Elliot. However you ship, they're still partners, and they're meant to be partners.)
    GreenBean2's picture

    Yay

    Submitted by
    GreenBean2 (153 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 4:56pm.

    Glad they're staying wouldn't be SVU without them. Maybe time for the March lesbian relationship WE ALL KNOW EXISTS to happen.

    I'm glad there's another 2 seasons of SVU, despite that they lost the plot ages ago and the writers smoke every wacky backy they can get their hands on...it's still entertaining. Then again should a drama about sex crimes be entertaining =/

    freakunleashed's picture

    mariska hargitay was a big

    Submitted by
    freakunleashed (96 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 5:19pm.
    mariska hargitay was a big reason why i started watching SVU :o
    Melissa Hsu's picture

    love it

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on June 30, 2009 - 5:36pm.

     i love mariska! i always wished she was gay! LOL shes such a breath of fresh air in hollywood and shes so positive and watching her makes me happy. im so glad theres more of her coming. i'm a huge fan of svu, tho it started getting somewhat un-interesting...

    Bi-Lesbian: a woman who can be butch or femme interchangeably. :P

    dazeio's picture

    YES!

    Submitted by
    dazeio (371 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 6:32pm.

    I thought s11 would be the last SVU we'll see now we're gonna have an s12!!... *fingers crossed* that the show won't "jump the shark" But in all honestly, the "finale" for s10 totally blows! It wasn't as powerful as I thought it would be. Thank you NBC for continuing SVU

    > From Serious Sam II - "Hey, didn't I just kick your ass TWO rooms back??" <

    PD's picture

    Hurrah!

    Submitted by
    PD (33 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 7:03pm.

    An Olivia with a gun that she occasionally gets to fire! An Olivia with a potential paramour who is blissfully sprog-free! Not forgetting the occasional truly great script! This is indeed good news!

    Oh and NBC, how would you like to *really* make some  beleaguered lesbians (and others) *very* happy? A/O: We.Want.It!

    PS To celebrate here's my personal favourite 'Butchie McFabulous' music vid! (The hot ADA makes a fabulously flirtatious cameo!)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iQihJszHEQ&feature=PlayList&p=16D20E364B...
    dazeio's picture

    Love A/O? Check out my link!

    Submitted by
    dazeio (371 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 7:59pm.

    You won't be dissapointed! Guaranteed! This lady is AMAZING! she does wonderful video editing!!! 

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lr75dIHeAA&feature=channel_page

     

    > From Serious Sam II - "Hey, didn't I just kick your ass TWO rooms back??" <

    breakin52's picture

    Nice

    Submitted by
    breakin52 (55 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 7:51pm.
    More Olivia...I'm Happy.
    anna's picture

    $400 000

    Submitted by
    anna (117 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 8:26pm.
    is just ridiculous. i'm as glad as everyone else that they're returning but... seriously??? insane.
    Thembani's picture

    $400 000 x 22 episodes/season

    Submitted by
    Thembani (122 posts)
    on June 30, 2009 - 11:37pm.

    Yeah.  I did the math.  My heart just gave out.

    I do have to add, though, that a lot of it likely goes to union/legal/management/agent/etc. fees and taxes.

    Regardless.  More power to Mariska, I say.

     

    anna's picture

    haha

    Submitted by
    anna (117 posts)
    on July 1, 2009 - 9:27am.
    but... so much money!! i can't help but think what it could be put to use for haha. ahh well. god they have sweet jobs.
    fallon ash's picture

    indeed

    Submitted by
    fallon ash (372 posts)
    on July 2, 2009 - 2:56am.
    I tell myself that at least I'd rather see the money go to the actors (or you know, other people who actually work on the show, in front of or behind the camera) instead of staying with suits at the network (thinking of the writers' strike last year). But yeah. It's an insane amount of money.
    Shannon's picture

    My heart

    Submitted by
    Shannon (700 posts)
    on July 3, 2009 - 1:52am.

    Has little bits of joy in it today.  It's going to be a very rough couple months for me, so this is possibly some of the light at the end of the tunnel.  

    MH is simply the best, and I do agree, Alex Cabot was my fav ADA.

    ~Without risk, there can be no innovation.  Without innovation, there can be no advancement. ~


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