14 DAY TRIAL // Last week, fans of the sitcom “Big Bang Theory” learned that production on the upcoming season 8 had stalled after the studio and the cast failed to reach an understanding about how much money the actors would be paid for the new season.
The three main actors of the show, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco, each had refused to back down in negotiations, and now Deadline reports that they have gotten their wish. In a move that hasn't been seen in the industry since the days of the popular “Friends” sitcom, each actor is said to have negotiated a one-million-dollar-per-episode contract.
This new contract is good for three years, coinciding with seasons 8 through 10, as announced by CBS earlier this year. However, sources indicate that the door was left open for an additional season, season 11.
In a swift move, the trio of actors has managed to triple its income per episode, as well as get a lot of production perks as well as larger pieces of the show. Insiders claim that the actors have quadrupled their ownership of the show from 0.25 to 1 percent.
When the line is drawn, each actor stands to make close to one hundred million by the end of the show, or even more if the 11 season is shot after all. Not too bad work for the actors.
With the negotiations concluded, work is scheduled to resume on the show, after a reading was postponed last week. From the looks of things, season 8 is going to premiere as scheduled, with an hour-long special on September 22.