Danny Pino and Kelli Giddish will join the cast of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” on NBC this fall.

As the show enters its 13th season, veteran Christopher Meloni (Detective Elliot Stabler) will not return. Pino and Giddish will work alongside Mariska Hargitay (Detective Olivia Benson) who will have a limited role.

Pino played the role of Detective Scotty Valens for seven seasons on CBS’ “Cold Case” and last season Giddish starred in NBC’s “Chase” as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost.

Source: USA Today

Christopher Meloni attends the 2011 Joyful Heart Foundation Gala at The Museum of Modern Art on May 17 in New York. (WireImage)

Chris Meloni, who has played Detective Stabler since the 1999 debut of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” will leave the show, TVLine reported Tuesday.

The television news site reported that contract talks between the actor and NBC broke down Tuesday, leaving the show without a male lead going into its 13th season.

Show creator Dick Wolf is reportedly already looking for a recognizable actor to replace Meloni opposite Mariska Hargitay.

Hargitay has already signed on to return for season 13.

But it also looks like Hargitay may be leaving the show, possibly in the middle of the season.

NBC may bring in Jennifer Love Hewitt to replace her, TVLine reported.

With the dismal failure of Law & Order: Los Angeles and now this, is this the end of the L&O franchise? Share your comments below!

According to a report in Deadline, NBC will cancel the long-running crime drama “Law & Order.”

The drama, which was trying to become the longest running drama on television (Gunsmoke) apparently will end after its 20th season.

NBC will, however, renew “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and is expected to pick up a new spinoff called “Law & Order: Los Angeles.”

“Law & Order” was a groundbreaking cop drama which paved the way for shows like “CSI” and “NCIS.”

I know, I know. I just can’t stop talking about Jon and Kate. But this is weirdly morbid.

According to EW.com, “Law and Order” will air an episode with Jon and Kate-like characters on Oct. 16. Of course, it isn’t a first for the show to do it’s own take on the news, but this one is particularly fictious and odd.

The episode is titled “Reality Bites.” The Kate-like character gets murdered and the Jon-like character is the prime suspect. A little creepy, but it’s starting to seem like anything will happen in the world of Gosselins.

So can Jack McCoy take down the infamous (fictional) daddy-turned-womanizer? If you’ve seen even one episode of either show, you know the answer will be yes.