The three leading cast members of CBS’ The Big Bang Theory are currently in a dispute with the network as they look to increase their salaries.
Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, and Jim Parsons have banded together and they are seeking a huge pay rise from their current salary of $350,000 per episode. The three actors are now seeking $500,000 per episode.
The Big Bang Theory is set to enter its seventh season, which will premiere on September 26, but the threesome’s new contract will only begin for the eighth season.
Kaley, Jim, and Johnny, who are 27-years-old, 40 years-old, and 38-years-old respectively, each believe that they should be rewarded for the show’s rise in popularity, which has seen it become the most popular show in America. The Big Bang Theory continues to pull in around 20 million viewers a week.
A source told Radar , “They know the critical position Big Bang holds on CBS’ prime-time schedule and the only thing preventing them [from] getting what they want would be a spectacular ratings demise this season. This isn’t about to happen anytime soon. They’ll put on a united front during negotiations.”
The insider then added, “What they’ve been able to achieve is a feat unheard of for a show in recent history and they all deserve to get compensated for it.”
The trio have clearly been inspired by the six leading actors of Friends , who back in 2002 all worked together when they negotiated their new contract with the NBC show.
Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt Le Blanc, and Matthew Perry managed to get $1 million each per episode for the show’s final season.
The Big Bang Theory has been nominated for eight Emmy awards, and it will find out how many gongs it has won at the ceremony on Sunday.
Do you think that Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, and Johnny Galecki deserve $500,000 per episode for their work on The Big Bang Theory?