Hargitay returns to ‘SVU’

Mariska Hargitay will make her return to “Law & Order: SVU” next week, bringing the storyline that took her character away from the show full circle.

The episode, airing Tuesday, will bring Detective Olivia Benson back to New York when ADA Casey Novak (Diane Neal) asks her to help present evidence in a rape case. Doing so, however, could impact undercover work Benson has been doing in Oregon, where she’s infiltrated an eco-terrorist group.

In real life, of course, Hargitay has been on maternity leave. She gave birth to her first child, named August, with husband Peter Hermann in late June (she also won her first Emmy in August). She appeared in this season’s premiere, which set up the undercover story, but has been absent for the past four episodes.

Connie Nielsen (“Gladiator,” “One Hour Photo”) has taken Hargitay’s place for those four shows, playing Detective Dani Beck, a newcomer to the Special Victims Unit. She was initially signed for six episodes, so it’s possible she’ll still have some role in the coming weeks.

Tuesday’s episode will also feature Vincent Spano (TNT’s “The Engagement Ring”) as an FBI agent who’s been working with Benson on her undercover assignment.

Powers that be: ’24’ elects Boothe

Fair warning to the new President Palmer: If you’re the president of the United States and your vice president is played by Powers Boothe, you may need to watch your back.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Boothe will play our nation’s second-in-command Noah Daniels on the upcoming sixth season of Fox’s Emmy-winning “24.”

The industry trade paper has no additional information on Boothe’s character, but we’re going on the hunch that he’ll be sinister.

Boothe joins a slate of new “24” cast members that includes Jayne Atkinson, Peter MacNicol, James Cromwell, Kal Penn, Marisol Nichols, Alexander Siddig, Harry Lennix, Chad Lowe and David Hunt.

The series will have its two-night, four-hour premiere Jan. 14-15.

Boothe’s rogue’s gallery of nefarious turns includes a regular role as Cy Tolliver on HBO’s “Deadwood” and appearances in “Sin City,” “Frailty” and “Men of Honor.” Way back in the day, Boothe won an Emmy for the lead role in “Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones.”