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Big Bang hoping to settle contract negotiations by Wednesday

Salary negotiations continue for Big Bang Theory cast members.

2014-08-03_0123If talks between Warner Bros. Studios and cast can be resolved by Sunday night, The Big Bang Theory will hopefully resume production on Wednesday, a week later than originally planned.

Talks between representatives for Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar and producers have been continuing, with the five seeking hefty pay rises and a cut of the lucrative back-end.

At this stage there is no suggestion of not meeting its September 22nd premiere, but the show may have to extend production to avoid trimming from 24 to 23 episodes this season.

Negotiations, said to be around $1 million an episode for Parsons, Galecki and Cuoco, are taking place in the lead up to the Emmy Awards. Parsons is already a three-time Emmy winner, nominated for a fourth trophy, plus another for The Normal Heart. Bialik also is in the running for best supporting actress.

Variety reports, “…sources close to the situation say the process has been slowed by the fact that the actors’ reps are negotiating separately and most are focused on achieving pay parity — which means that each is holding out to hear what the latest offer is for the others before committing to a three-season deal.”

Deadline notes “Like the 2010 salary renegotiations, Parsons, Galecki and Cuoco would likely end up with equal pay, more than doubling and likely tripling their most recent salary of $350,000 an episode as well as their current back-end ownership, said to be around .25 point. Helberg and Nayyar, who are once again negotiating together, raised their per-episode fee to more than $100,000 an episode in the 2010 renegotiations. I hear they may be looking to close the salary gap with their three original cast mates.”

9 Responses

  1. @Craig – in its first six seasons, “Friends” averaged 23.9m viewers per episode, and ranked in the Top 5 every year except for its first (#8). TBBT’s seven year average is 14.3m, with only the most recent two years spent in the Top 5 (plus #8 three years ago). It’s steadily improving, but the “Friends” cast reached the $1m figure per episode after nine years of Top 10 ratings with an average of 20m+ viewers per episode for every single season. TBBT has just had its best season yet in terms of viewers, averaging a smidgen under 20m. It’s the second most watched show in the US, but it’s still yet to reach the 20m mark (it should next year). It’s doing brilliantly, but it’s no “Friends”.

  2. Decline in quality is debatable, things change and if characters don’t a show can get stale. Besides the show is still killing it in the ratings which is why it was renewed for 3 more seasons last year, just a pity the network has dragged it’s feet in paying them more.

    @karebear – I agree, if it was good enough for the 6 main friends cast some 10 years ago then why not TBBT which is in the same ratings league.

  3. Considering it’s been a few years since the cast of “Friends” got a million dollar per ep I think it’s amazing the guys from TBBT aren’t asking for more (inflation, etc. :-P). Seriously though I love the show and I think they deserve a pay rise.

  4. They could extend production, do an episode less or do a clip show.

    You can see the effects on the budget on many shows e.g. Bones where they stopped doing location shoots except for sweeps episodes and the leads all have producer credits.

  5. Personally I thinks Simon and Kunal should be on the same money as the other original cast member and are under rated. Given the show earns some $3 Billion for CBS and the studio ever year I think they can afford to pay the cast more.

  6. Jim Parsons is worth it; not sure Johnny and Kaley are; but i guess co-leads should be paid the same; I still think it is an obscene amount of money. I guess they must ride the gravy train as long as they can. Invariably the scripts and show in general will decline in quality as the costs increase. Always happens.

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