14 DAY TRIAL // The four ladies of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” are set to make $18 million each (bonuses not included) for the next two seasons of the show – if the negotiations go according to plan, says a new report. As of now, they’re in talks for a season 8.
Though ratings for the series have hit an all-time low, it still remains the strongest one-hour program now airing on the network, right there next to “Grey’s Anatomy.”
As such, it’s only understandable for producers to do everything in their power to bring it back. The stars of the show, the four original ladies and newcomer Vanessa Williams, will all be returning for a new season, Deadline reports.
“I hear the four stars of ABC’s Desperate Housewives – Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria – are finalizing deals to return to the dramedy series next fall. The deals are for one year, with an option for a second,” the e-zine informs, citing well placed sources.
As with negotiations for the previous seasons, Cross is discussing with ABC bosses separately from Hatcher, Huffman and Longoria, but the results will be the same, the report argues.
All in all, if everything goes according to estimates, the foursome will bank another $18 million each for two more years on “Desperate Housewives.” What happens after that is still to be determined.
“I hear their new base salary would be around $325,000 per episode, up from about $275,000 under their most recent deals. Reports have erroneously pegged their previous salaries at $400,000,” Deadline says.
“With additional compensation, including back-end and bonuses, the actresses’ paychecks are expected to go up as high as $375,000 per episode. If their options for Season 9 are exercised, their base salary is slated to go up to around $350,000, plus other incentives,” the e-zine adds.
“If Desperate Housewives goes to nine seasons, which has been creator Marc Cherry’s vision for the show, the four leading ladies’ entire compensation package for the next two seasons is valued at close to $18 million for each,” says Deadline.
Vanessa Williams is also on board for an eighth season, but her salary is not known at this point.
If all five stars of the show will return, series creator and executive producer Marc Cherry may not, since he’s now working on a brand new project that has just been greenlit by the network, “Hallelujah.”