Paula Deen

Quote: Pacomartin

For the same two seasons on TV, the three principal actors on THE BIG BANG THEORY were paid $250,000 and then $300,000 per episode.

This is an issue on shows with a big ensemble cast. Currently on Big Bang there are seven main cast members, and two recurring ones. Remember in Friends there was trouble over money as well? This even happened on Seinfeld, where there were only 4 in the main cast.

Any idea how much Law and Order, the original, paid its cast? Bonus, which actor was there the longest? I'll take the character's name, too.

They give you some insight into revenue. The Big Bang Theory in season 1 collected $2 million per show in advertising revenue (15 commercials @30 seconds apiece), and by the sixth season it was roughly $4 million per show. The principal actors are paid $60K per episode for the first three years, and $300K per episode for the sixth year. While advertising revenue has doubled, star salaries have gone up 5 times. Presumably the producers are making the big money from syndication which started after the fourth year.

Presumably a show like Two and Half Men can no longer collect enough advertising revenue to do much more than cover production costs.

An animated TV show like Family Guy which sells ad revenue for about $3 million per show, must be a financial money machine.

Quote: Pacomartin

Presumably the producers are making the big money from syndication which started after the fourth year.

In most hit shows without a big name star, the cast will be underpaid relative to revenue in the first few seasons.

Syndication for Big Bang, foreign and domestic, must be big. In Vegas last month, I was sure to catch it twice a day on different channels, local and cable. In Mexico it's on cable two eps twice daily, plus new eps twice a week.

Quote: Pacomartin

That is $300,000 per episode. Times 23 episodes is $7.8 million per season. For the same two seasons on TV, the three principal actors on THE BIG BANG THEORY were paid $250,000 and then $300,000 per episode.
But Angus T Jones was getting that money for a relatively small part in the show.
Conchata Ferrell who plays "Berta the Maid" often has just as big of a role, and she was getting paid half as much.

I've no idea who these people are but I guess they just have different agents and different lawyers and different luck.

Quote: Fleastiff

I've no idea who these people are...

These were the actors in the most popular comedy on television (Two and a Half Men) until two years ago. They fired the lead actor, and for the last two years they have been the 2nd most popular comedy on television behind "The Big Bang Theory". Both shows have the same producer.


When they fired Charlie Sheen, they hired Sophie Winkleman , Lady Frederick Windsor for 17 episodes. Sophie is married to Prince Charles's second cousin.

Quote: Nareed

Any idea how much Law and Order, the original, paid its cast? Bonus, which actor was there the longest? I'll take the character's name, too.

No takers?

Hint: it's not Jack McCoy.

Lieutenant Anita

Quote: Pacomartin

Lieutenant Anita

Would you answer "Detective Lenny" in a question having to do with the late Jerry Orbach? ;)

But, ok, her character's surname is hard to spell.

Quote: Nareed

Would you answer "Detective Lenny" in a question having to do with the late Jerry Orbach? ;)

But, ok, her character's surname is hard to spell.

I've only seen the show a few times. I can't remember their names. I didn't want to just look it up.

Quote: Pacomartin

I've only seen the show a few times. I can't remember their names. I didn't want to just look it up.

I was joking.

You got it right and don't see the show often? That's impressive.