Just when NBC jumped through its latest hoop with Dick Wolf's Law & Order franchise – upping the salaries of SVU stars Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay – there's another paddling on the way.

The overexposed program (currently with three versions, after No. 4 got quickly axed) is suffering diluted ratings, thanks to syndication on USA, Bravo, TNT, and probably a few cable channels we've yet to discover. All of which means The Peacock is looking for one thing: cost cutting measures. Fewer veteran actors demanding high salaries? Maybe.

Or, god save our TiVo, something more drastic.

Reports Variety:

But there's a chance cast changes won't be enough. Though it's highly unlikely NBC would ax both shows in a single year — particularly when the net is still in the ratings basement — insiders believe one of the skeins could simply be canceled.

Then again, the franchise brings in billions of revenue dollars a year for NBC Uni (each episode nets 7-figures), so another option is having two versions, like Criminal Intent and SVU, continue producing new episodes, but fewer of them — and begin sharing a time slot.

Which we're entirely in favor of.

With Chris Noth already reduced to subbing for Vincent D'Onofrio every other episode, such a move would cut him down to just a quarter of regular airtime. High-five.