Friday, May 02, 2008

My Weekend Crush

I love crime procedurals. And I particularly love the women in crime procedurals. It’s one of those unique genres where the women are expected to be as tough, smart and capable as the men. Sure, they’re not the star of the show as much as I’d like. But that’s where Mariska Hargitay comes in. As Det. Olivia Benson she is arguably the star of “Law & Order: SVU.” Fine, straight gals and gay boys everywhere love them some Christopher Meloni. But SVU is nothing without Olivia’s crusading heart. As the good detective, Mariska is at once tenacious and tender, compassionate and composed, righteous and real.

Mariska, in turn, seems to have a very happy, healthy home life. Married to fellow actor Peter Hermann (the cheating cad from “Cashmere Mafia”), she is the proud mother to adorable, creamy-centered, little boy August. For all her Hollywood trappings (daughter of 50s sex symbol Jayne Mansfield and Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay) she, like her character, is a tireless crusader in the fight to stop violence against women and children. She co-founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, a group that supports women who have been sexually assaulted. Last month she was on the cover of Redbook to promote another group she works with, Safe Horizon, a victim support group for abused children. All that, and she looks great in a tank top and carries a really big gun. Now that’s the kind of law I would happily lay down for, if you know what I mean. Happy weekend, all.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Between MiLPh and Mariska...I think you have been checking out my AE Hot 100 nom list...naughty, naughty. :P

Slym said...

Mariska rocks like no other. Love her.

Anonymous said...

I was wondering when you would choose Mariska :)))) - Ok! it´s your weekend Crush, not mine! Tks!

Anonymous said...

but...but...but...Tina Fey shoved a whole sandwich in her mouth last night in under a minute! ;)

Lindsay said...

Dorothy!! Could I love you anymore??? I love love svu and Benson. Do I watch at least two episodes a day? Maybe.
This just made my day!

Sue J said...

Once again, an excellent choice, Dorothy!

TheWeyrd1 said...

She made my top 20, but alas not my top 10 for AE's Hot 100 list. Why oh why did they have to limit us to 10!!!

Anonymous said...

“Law & Oder: SVU.”

Is this another spin-off or does Dot need sleep?

Middle Girl said...

Heck yeah!

Sera Alastia-Promit said...

this woman is the love of my life. I love the fact that she is an amazing actress. Her mother was Jayne Mansfield. And she attended my school!
I want to move to New York and be a regular on Law and Order...

Anonymous said...

I've got to disagree with you I'm afraid. In all the years she's been on SVU, she's built up a massive (at least, online) lesbian following and yet she has never acknowledged her dykon status. Not once. In fact, she seems to have shied away from lesbians ( and lesbian rumors) to the point where she looks terrified and offended that anyone would equate Olivia or herself with teh gay! You can have her. I'm not interested in 'phobes.

Unknown said...

And don't forget: her husband was Liz Lemon's incestuous love interest on 30 Rock!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love the character of Det. Liv Benson. Love, love her. Addicted to her, I think. But not in the scarey way, I promise. Although I concede it would be nice for her to acknowledge her lesconic standing, I look at her and forgive her. Gorgeous, smart, and probably, save Jennifer Beals, the sexiest female (to me) on tv. She is my Tuesday crush.

Anonymous said...

Sooooo overrated.

Anonymous said...

I don't know how you do it, but everytime I head over to read your latest blog, it's like you've reached into my mind and pulled from my thoughts... now here you are doing it again with Mariska Hargitay!
Tina Fey, Mary-Louise Parker and now Mariska, you certainly know how to please a lady with the posts of the lovely ladies you continue to put on your blog.
Mariska gets better looking with age and her role as Detective Benson is certainly crush-worthy.
It's fitting that since she is on the pages of both People magazines most beautiful issue and among the pages of TV Guides most beautiful this week as well, that she should appear (perfectly timed) on the blog pages of Dorothy Surrenders!