14 DAY TRIAL // For some stars, it pays to transition from the big screen to television. Since they’re not making the kind of money they once made in feature films, they’re heading to TV – and making a fortune in the process, TV Guide says ahead of the unveiling of its list of highest pair TV stars.
As one insider puts it for the publication, these days, unless you land the part of a superhero in a franchise, there’s no chance you’re going to get rich in feature films.
This explains why actors who starred mostly in movies their entire career are suddenly up for discussion for roles on television series, be they dramas or sitcoms.
At the end of the day, it’s a much better paid job, with salaries for series ranging between $125,000 and $700,000 per episode. The latter figure is also found on Ashton Kutcher’s check at the end of one episode of the new season of “Two and a Half Men.”
“There are so few gigantic stars in features and the rest are not making any money. That’s helpful,” the industry insider says of why networks are constantly on the lookout for another huge actor to bring on board a television project.
“Times that [meaning $125,000 per episode, the average pay] by 22, [and] you can maintain a pretty good lifestyle based on what you were making in features but now you’re not,” the source explains.
Of course, if you’re really lucky, you can make as much money as Ashton: $700,000, which is still peanuts compared to Sheen’s reported $2 million.
Hugh Laurie of “House M.D.” also brings home $700,000 for each episode of the medical drama, TV Guide says, which means he wasn’t affected in any way by the financial crisis that producers were faced with just recently, and which ended in Lisa Edelstein’s departure.
As a side note, it is reported that Lisa left after failed salary negotiations and because producers wanted to cut down production costs on the show, since ratings were also going down.
However, speaking of highest paid men in television without mentioning the name of Simon Cowell would be wrong. The Brit makes $75 million per season, being officially the most bankable face on our small screens right now.
Other figures: Christina Aguilera gets paid $225,000 for each episode of The Voice, while the other coaches make about $75,000. David Letterman brings home $28 million a year, while Jay Leno “only” $25 million and Conan O’Brien $10 million.
The complete list of the highest paid men and women in television will be revealed on August 11.