• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Um, we did not authorize this. Christopher Meloni might be leaving SVU—what?! Apparently the actor told Australia's Courier-Mail, "I think 12 years is enough, a good number...The writers will have fertile ground to figure out how to arc [Elliot Stabler] out to another place—whether it's this world or the next." Meloni wants to do theater and film projects after he leaves the long-running series; Mariska Hargitay, who plays Stabler's partner, Olivia Benson, told the paper she's sticking around SVU for the foreseeable future. Reps for Meloni and NBC did not reply to requests for comment at press time. Oh, Meloni, please don't go. We suspect you might be irreplaceable.

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b165826_this_just_in_this_christopher_melonis.html?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=imdb_topstories

If he leaves, they might as well end the show. I'm not interested in another L&O show where the actors always change. The relationship between Benson and Stabler was always an important part of the show's success.

Maybe its just me but isnt 12 years long enough for a show to be on the air??

Maybe its just me but isnt 12 years long enough for a show to be on the air??
It is but SVU is one of NBC's few successes so it isn't going anywhere.

Well, that's next year, right?

I mean IF that happens. Which would be prettysad for the show and would lose a gigantic chunk of the show's audience.

{Which is what I feel will happen to Criminal Intent viewers after Vincent and Kathryn leave}

...what's unofficially known as "the Dennis Weaver syndrome". Dennis was "Chester Goode", "Marshal Matt Dillon's" deputy/sidekick on "GUNSMOKE" during its first nine years on the air (1955-'64), and became famous for the role, right down to the "limp" and his drawl {"Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dillon!"}. By 1961, Weaver accepted a guest-starring role on "THE TWILIGHT ZONE" {"Shadow Play"} primarily because he wanted to prove to viewers (and the TV industry) that he could successfully portray other characters than "Chester"....and he did. By 1964, however, no amount of money could force him to stay with "GUNSMOKE", and he left [the series continued without him until 1975, after twenty years on the air]. The first series he starred in on his own, NBC's "KENTUCKY JONES", a comedy/drama about a horse breeder with an orphan kid, lasted one season (1964-'65). He finally found the role that satisfied him, in 1970, that he's best known as today: "Marshal Sam McCloud", first in six one-hour episodes of "FOUR-IN-ONE", then in the 90 minute and two-hour "McCLOUD" segments of "NBC MYSTERY MOVIE".


So, if Mr. Meloni wants to exit gracefully in favor of other roles, he should, after a proper farewell....with an option to return occasionally in future episodes.


:typing:

If he leaves, they might as well end the show. I'm not interested in another L&O show where the actors always change. The relationship between Benson and Stabler was always an important part of the show's success.


Exactly, Benson & Stabler are the main attraction of the show, it just wouldn't be the same if one of them left.

I've said this already a few times on other sites. If Chris leaves they should cancel SVU, his the main actor of this show and if he leaves I wouldn't watch. Just like if Mariska, if she left/leaves the show I wouldn't watch. These two are the main reason I watch SVU and it's the only L&O series I watch because I don't like the other L&Os. So I hope both stay on until their contract expire and then they can make a decision on whether or not they want to stay for extra seasons after that.

I watched Law & Order SVU for the first few years it was on, and then recently, got "re-interested" in the show after watching some marathons on the USA Network and watching some of the new episodes. I will say this, very few shows can maintain their quality after 12 years and nearly 250 episodes, but Law & Order SVU is still a fresh, phenomenal show. It is perhaps some of the best writing for a one-hour drama show in years. It may not necessarily be the "in-thing" to watch these days, but it is still a hell of a show. I agree, most shows are ready to be put to bed after 12 years, but SVU still has its legs and three or four seasons left, if not more.