"The Big Bang Theory" season 10 cast members' contract negotiations have been creating quite a buzz in the recent weeks following the imminent cancelation of season 11 due to salary issues. Show producer Chuck Lorre finally comes out to speak up on how he feels about the million dollar earnings of the cast, most especially Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco.
Chuck Lorre Delighted
"The Big Bang Theory" co-creator Chuck Lorre finally shared his sentiments regarding the salary demands of the stars for a new three-year contract, particularly Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco who are all equally paid over $1 million per episode since season 8. According to a report, Lorre admitted he is not surprised by the enormous salary increase of the main actors. For Lorre, he feels that "the actors should be making as much as they possibly can." In fact, he expressed that he is delighted to see "all of those expensive German cars pulling up to the studio," referring to the actors'. Lorre added that being able to witness that means he has successfully done his part.
Recent Developments
After "The Big Bang Theory" season 11 cancelation rumors first broke out last month, CBS confirmed that contract negotiations with the stars are ongoing. As of the latest though, the network has yet to release specific details on the current stance of the actors. In recent developments, Jim Parsons' character Sheldon has been confirmed to star in a spin-off series. On the other hand, it remains uncertain if Cuoco is renewing her contract with CBS.
Salary Progression
To show a glimpse of how much the salary of these actors has ballooned since the beginning, here's a quick rundown. In season 1, Parsons, Galecki and Cuoco were all paid $60,000 per episode. From seasons 2-4, the actors were paid $250,000 per episode. From seasons 5-7, they were all paid $350,000 per episode. From seasons 8-9, Parsons was paid $1.2 million per episode, Galecki $1 million, and Cuoco $850,000. This season, all of them are paid $1 million per episode making them the highest paid comedy actors since 2014.
In the meantime, many fans are still hopeful that contract negotiations for the forthcoming season will turn out smooth. "The Big Bang Theory" season 10 currently airs every Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS.
