Money, money, money!
After weeks in contractual limbo it looks as though the stars of television’s biggest sitcom, CBS‘ The Big Bang Theory, have reportedly inked a staggering $1 million dollar per episode deal.
Production for the famed comedy series’ eighth season was set to begin on July 30th, however renegotiations for stars Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco have dragged on for the past few weeks, and did not come to a close until Sunday (Aug. 4) with Parsons being the first to reach a deal and Galecki and Cuoco closing shortly after. The new contracts will guarantee the actors three more seasons at $1 million an episode, similar to the rumored salary of the cast of Friends, and nearly tripling their prior $350,000 salaries with additional perks that include “signing bonuses, production deals and advances” according to Deadline. With the next three seasons totaling 72 episodes, it’s safe to say the stars are looking at quite a payday.
Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar, the remaining cast members without contracts, will reportedly close their deals on Wednesday, which will likely mirror Parsons, Galecki and Cuoco’s. Renegotiations for the cast were rumored to possibly take until September, much like they it did back in 2010, with the season eight premiere slated for September 22. However, with the expected closing of Helberg and Nayyar’s contracts this week, production can begin sooner rather than later and it will only be a week behind in schedule.
Check back with The Source as more information becomes available.
You can find Khari Clarke at a bar in Williamsburg and on Twitter (@KINGCLARKEIII).
