Ileane Rudolph just interviewed Mariska for TV Guide about her SVU contract.

Read the full interview here, at tvguidemagazine.com: Mariska Hargitay Talks SVU Contract

Welcome back to the Special Victims Unit! How do you feel about finally signing on that dotted line?
I’m thrilled! I was extremely hopeful that this would work out. I always felt that it would. I am so not done with Olivia Benson! [laughs]

Likewise, there is an interview with Christopher Meloni, which is available to read here: Chris Meloni Talks SVU Contract

The cover art for the SVU Season 10 DVD has been released (subject to change but I like this so hopefully it stays) & the R1 release date is September 22, 2009. Pre-Order at amazon. Exciting! Start saving while we count down to Season 11.

Source: tvshowsondvd

NBC has released the Fall Premiere Dates and SVU will return for Season 11 on Wednesday, September 23 at 9-10pm.

Source: nbcumv.com

Official news here: Mariska and Chris are back for TWO more years! Even though Mike Doyle said they would be back and they had made an agreement, it’s fantastic to finally hear official news.

Obviously SVU has only been committed for Season 11 so if a 12th season goes ahead our leading stars will be on board.

Also, Christine Lahti will be coming in as a new A.D.A., while Stephanie March will be back beginning episode 5.

Source: Variety and ausiellofiles

Our girl has been submitted for consideration of an Emmy Nomination for this year. Mariska has been submitted for the Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Keep your fingers crossed she makes the cut!

Also, Stephanie March and Tamara Tunie have been submitted for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Ice-T, B.D. Wong have all been submitted for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. I’m not sure why Chris missed out. Disappointing!

Source: tvfanatic

EDIT: The list posted earlier was incomplete. See a full list here, including Christopher’s mention as having an Emmy episode submitted! Los Angeles Times

Now there is no official news about Mariska’s contract, but Mike Doyle, who plays forensic detective Ryan O’Halloran said recently in an interview with TV Guide Magazine that Mariska and Chris have come to a deal. I know it’s not official, but Mike and Mariska have been good friends for years. He’s even gone with Mariska and Peter to the Emmy Awards a few times!

Source: TV Guide

In other news, Stephanie March has just made a deal to come back for a few episodes in season 11 of Law & Order: SVU. No idea how many episodes yet, but it’s possible a minimum of 10 episodes.

Source: Ausiello Files

There is an article posted at Hollywood Reporter called “Total Recall”, where “Emmy actress hopefuls” share some of their favorite moments on their hit shows. The article features a quote from Mariska about a favorite moment of hers.

Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC)
“Somebody had tried to rape (my character) in a previous episode, so I had Post-traumatic Stress Disorder from that rape, because I was attacked and beaten up. There was a scene in (the episode) where, because of my suffering from PTSD, I unwittingly pulled a gun. So we’re shooting a big fight scene and we’re in this very small hotel room. (Director Eriq La Salle) is shooting it from a lot of different angles. I had to hold a gun and then — bam! — cock the gun. Obviously, I wasn’t doing it fast enough. So from the other room, I’m hearing, ‘Come on, Mariska, more cock! More cock! Faster cock! Cock it! Cock it!’ And the whole entire set and the crew … shut down for 10 minutes, because everyone was bending over laughing so hard. There’s a lot of comic relief and a lot of gallows humor. But you have to, because it’s just so dark.”

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Mariska has attended the The 34th Annual American Women in Radio & Television’s Gracie Awards Gala on June 3 where she was one of the women awarded. The award she received was:

Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: SVU
Individual Achievement Award
Outstanding Female Lead – Drama Series
NBC

For those unaware, the Gracie Awards ’strive to encourage the realistic portrayal of women in entertainment, commercial, news, features and other programs.’

Way to go Mariska!

Source: awrt.org

Mariska also attended the 3rd Annual Baby Buggy Bedtime Bash with her boy August on June 2. She looks stunning even with minimal make up!

Mariska has updated her blog with a lovely poem written by her goddaughter Maria:

My Shinning Star!

Mariska is the one to be
She’s the coolest star to see.
She’s my Godmother without a doubt
We don’t see each other day in and day out.

Mariska we know your busy with Law and Order
thats why our stays are always shorter.
Your Grammy is the proof of this
So, all your fans just want a kiss.

Mariska is the best
She never is unblessed
She makes me laugh when I am sad
She never makes me really mad.

Mariska is my shinning star
even though we are very far.
We haven’t seen eachother in a billion years
Sometimes I even shed some tears.

Mariska, I know I’ll see you soon
maybe before the flowers bloom.
I know you’re just a call away
to my house I know you’ll stay!

Don’t forget that the SVU Season 10 Finale ‘Zebras’ will air June 2. Check your local listings for airing times and check out the official site for some preview clips here.

Next, Mariska and Chris are apparently in final talks to extending their contracts to return for Season 11 of SVU:

Hargitay flew to L.A. last week to discuss the details with creator Dick Wolf, and the agreement is expected to be announced within the week.

Now a source has confirmed that several new scripts, incorporating Hargitay and Meloni’s characters—Dets. Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler—have already been written and the actors are expected to go before the cameras in two months.

Stay tuned!

Source: TV Guide