It irritates me to see television actors get obnoxiously large paychecks. (Need I mention Ray Romano's $1.8 million per episode on Everybody Loves Raymond?) The Friends negotiation set a torrid example that has left stars greedy for more and more money. Often, their salaries just don't add up when compared to a show's Nielsen ratings. But when it was recently announced that Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay renewed their Law and Order: Special Victims Unit contracts at the rate of $300,000 per episode, I was overjoyed, feeling that some sort of wrong had been righted - similar to the Rob Lowe West Wing scandal.
The two actors infuse life into yet another procedural drama - a spin-off at that - that would be completely bland without their presence. The work that they do is some of the most underrated today. Last year, both recieved Emmy nominations, resulting in a win for Hargitay.
Meloni shines in the role of Elliot Stabler, a detective with a fierce temper who is troubled by a divorce. He has demonstrated from his gigs outside his eight-year run on SVU that his talent has depth. His range of characters includes a recurring role as Christopher Keller, a bisexual serial killer on former HBO drama Oz, and as Freakshow in both Harold & Kumar films.
As good as Meloni may be, it's Hargitay that always manages to steal the show right from under him; she embodies the show's most tender scenes. Her character, Olivia Benson, is the product of rape who puts rapists in jail, each time putting away the father that she has never met. She not only has the talent of a lifetime, she's one of today's most beautiful working actresses. She resembles an old Hollywood screen siren; her classic beauty should come as no surprise, as her mother is the legendary 1940's blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfeld.
Following a spike in viewership last season, SVU has taken a dip this year, facing new competition from ABC's relocated Boston Legal and reruns of popular CBS shows such as CSI: Miami. But SVU remains a ratings gem in syndication, and, I have faith that it will thrive once again. Here's to several more years of Meloni and Hargitay.
Be the first to comment on this article!