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[Tchu-Espresso]

I stumbled across across an article in a mag here while on the shitter (NW for you aussies) which is as good of a read on the shitter as any and was shocked by the amounts some actors get paid PER EPISODE. So who's being overpaid/underpaid?

Here are the figures in AUD:

James Gandolfini - The Sopranos ($962k)

Desperate Housewives cast ($530k each)

Keifer Sutherland - 24 ($481k)

Kevin James - The King of Queens ($481k)

Charlie Sheen - Two And A Half Men ($421k)

Zach Braff - Scrubs ($421k)

Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order : SVU ($361k)

Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer ($361k)

Marg Helgenberger - CSI ($361k)

Christopher Meloni - Law & Order: SVU ($361k)

Ellen Pompeo - Grey's Anatomy ($240.5k)

Patrick Dempsey - Grey's Anatomy ($210k)

Jamie-Lynn Sigler - The Sopranos ($144.3k)
America Ferrera - Ugly Betty ($95k)

Let's not forget though, the friends cast, whom started in 1994 on 48k per episode and ended up at $1.2m per episode.

 

[John Dunbar]

edit: double post

 

[John Dunbar]

I remember Frasier making quite a lot for the final season(s). And Christopher Meloni will always be Keller to me.

Also, Two and a Half Men is surprisingly funny.

 

[Cold-Steel]

Holy crap TV is profitable.

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

Holy crap TV is profitable.

Warner Bros TV is pocketting $1.2bn just on the reruns of friends.

 

[guise]

James Gandolfini - The Sopranos ($962k)

Ohhhhhh
[/tonysoprano]

 

[Jacobi]

How much do the Losties get ?

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

How much do the Losties get ?

Suprisingly no mention of them in the article. I was curious on that too. There's no breakout star on that show though so there wouldnt be any one standout performer.

 

[eggerland]

AFAIK Anthony Edwards and Noah Wyle got crazy amounts of money while in E.R. Even Julianna Margullies turned down a big check for another season when she left the show.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Kiefer should be higher on the list.

 

[titiklabingapat]

Are those per episode figures?

edit: oops, should have read better

Kevin James - The King of Queens ($481k)

Charlie Sheen - Two And A Half Men ($421k)

Way too overpaid even if they're just annual figures.

I wonder how much Claire from Heroes is getting paid. And Hiro, too. Both thier actors are breakout stars of the series, IMO.

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

Are those per episode figures?

edit: oops, should have read better


Way too overpaid even if they're just annual figures.

I was hoping the use of capslock in the first line would make it stand out.

Apparently the king of queens makes a shitload of money from syndication even though the show "under performs"...

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

Just to follow up on the LOST cast pay per episode, an article from January 06 (after the golden globes win) stated that touchstone was upping the pay for the 2nd season.

The studio's pre-emptive offer would see the actors earn almost $80,000 an episode next season, the show's third, up from a range of about $20,000-$40,000 for most cast members this season.

All original cast members, including Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway, Naveen Andrews, Dominic Monaghan, Terry O'Quinn, Jorge Garcia, Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim and Harold Perrineau, have been offered the same deal and are expected to take it. Fox, who plays the pivotal role of Jack, is said to have earned an extra bonus of at least $250,000.

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

I remember Frasier making quite a lot for the final season(s)

$US1.6m per ep.

 

[iilluminate]

I stumbled across across an article in a mag here while on the shitter (NW for you aussies) which is as good of a read on the shitter as any and was shocked by the amounts some actors get paid PER EPISODE. So who's being overpaid/underpaid?

Here are the figures in AUD:

James Gandolfini - The Sopranos ($962k)

Desperate Housewives cast ($530k each)

Keifer Sutherland - 24 ($481k)


Kevin James - The King of Queens ($481k)

Charlie Sheen - Two And A Half Men ($421k)

Zach Braff - Scrubs ($421k)

Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order : SVU ($361k)

Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer ($361k)

Marg Helgenberger - CSI ($361k)

Christopher Meloni - Law & Order: SVU ($361k)

Ellen Pompeo - Grey's Anatomy ($240.5k)

Patrick Dempsey - Grey's Anatomy ($210k)

Jamie-Lynn Sigler - The Sopranos ($144.3k)
America Ferrera - Ugly Betty ($95k)

Let's not forget though, the friends cast, whom started in 1994 on 48k per episode and ended up at $1.2m per episode.

I'd think Gil Grissom isn't the highest paid CSI guy? Must be an incomplete list otherwise there's a scandal going on.

 

[Borci88]

What about Jerry Seinfeld..?

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

What about Jerry Seinfeld..?

~ $US1m per ep.

The other three ~ $US600k.

 

[tahrikmili]

James Gandolfini - The Sopranos ($962k) - Way Too Much

Desperate Housewives cast ($530k each) - Too Much

Keifer Sutherland - 24 ($481k) - Reasonable

Kevin James - The King of Queens ($481k) - Way Too Much

Charlie Sheen - Two And A Half Men ($421k) - Reasonable

Zach Braff - Scrubs ($421k) - Reasonable

Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order : SVU ($361k) - Too Much

 

[medrew]

William Petersen - CSI - US$500k
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer $250k (on TNT?!?)
Steve Carrell - The Office $175k
Calista Flockhart - Brothers & Sisters - $150k
Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters - $100k
Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton - Action News - $150,000 - $275,000

I wonder how much Claire from Heroes is getting paid. And Hiro, too. Both thier actors are breakout stars of the series, IMO.

Some of the best television — like Grey's and Heroes — began with mostly no-name actors who each earned $50,000 or less.

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20015775,00.html

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

Zach Braff - Scrubs ($421k) - Reasonable

Even though i like the show and braff, its arguable considering the show apparently only comes in at 94th in the US tv ratings.

 

[medrew]

Even though i like the show and braff, its arguable considering the show is apparently only comes in at 94th in the US tv ratings.

it sounds like the NW article is based straight off the EW one I just linked to :lol

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

Some of the best television — like Grey's and Heroes — began with mostly no-name actors who each earned $50,000 or less.

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20015775,00.html

Katherine Heigl was only getting ~ AUD$36k in comparison to Ellen Pompeo's $240.5k.

it sounds like the NW article is based straight off the EW one I just linked to

Probably, these mags regurgitate news from everywhere.

 

[gollumsluvslave]

Based on these figures both Hugh Laurie (Gregory House) and Michael Chiklis(Vic Mackey) should be getting some good cash!

 

[tahrikmili]

Even though i like the show and braff, its arguable considering the show apparently only comes in at 94th in the US tv ratings.

Just because Americans have no taste doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it.. Scrubs wouldn't be the first underappreciated series ever. Millenium, Carnivale, hell even Boomtown bombed. *shrug*

 

[John Dunbar]

I hated Boomtown and Carnivale.

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

Just because Americans have no taste doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it.. Scrubs wouldn't be the first underappreciated series ever. Millenium, Carnivale, hell even Boomtown bombed. *shrug*

Im just saying, because the US would undoubtedly be scrubs biggest market and its still a so-so show in terms of popularity, so if they can afford to pay him that much i say more power to him.

 

[Borys]

No Prison Break?

LAME-O

 

[Sapiens]

Is it true that JC and Hammond from Top Gear are getting 1M pounds per ep while James gets 40k?

 

[Instigator]

How can Kevin James be paid that much more than Leah Remini?

 

[medrew]

How can Kevin James be paid that much more than Leah Remini?

Her deal is confidential, while James also gets producer credits

 

[OmniGamer]

How much do the Losties get ?

$78,000 per episode

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0597480/news

 

[DarkJediKnight]

So this is why Rome was cancelled? Because HBO is giving their money away to a fat American guy who can't speak english?

 

[sublime085]

So this is why Rome was cancelled? Because HBO is giving their money away to a fat American guy who can't speak english?

I thought BBC put the money up for Rome. Or was it a split venture kind of thing?

 

[bggrthnjsus]

even $50k per episode is a ton of money
i mean, in lost, the only emotion jack can convey is apparently being upset, and he makes $50k to half frown at everything for 40 minutes?

 

[bionic77]

How can Kevin James be paid that much more than Leah Remini?

Pretty much everyone on the show is funny, but James makes that show work. The guy is hilarious and deserves every penny. Especially when you consider how the show got pretty much no backing from CBS throughout its life.

 

[Cornballer]

I thought BBC put the money up for Rome. Or was it a split venture kind of thing?

In 2002, HBO and the BBC agreed to co-produce a new series based on the events of the "Roman Revolution". Towards that end, the two networks committed a US$100 million budget to the production of twelve 1-hour episodes, with HBO contributing US$85 million, and the BBC contributing US$15 million.

Between March 2004 and May 2005, Rome was filmed, in co-production with RAI, in the Italian countryside, on six sound stages at Rome's legendary Cinecittà studios, and in a collection of massive sets in Cinecittà studios' back lots: five acres of outdoor sets which comprised an elaborate "period reconstruction" of sections of ancient Rome. It was a massive undertaking, with an international crew of 350, and more than 50 local Italian interns.

Rome was very expensive because of the sets and production in general. I doubt the actors got paid that much (though I don't have any figures to back that up.)

I love Rome - one of my favorite shows of all time, but the costs were staggering.

 

[itsinmyveins]

Also, Two and a Half Men is surprisingly funny.

Actually it is. I though it'd suck, but it grows on you. Now I find it damn entertaining, though hardly surprising in any way.

 

[sublime085]

Damn, Rome was expensive. Unparalleled production though. It was very lush and recreated the time and place wonderfully.

 

[themadcowtipper]

Are those per episode figures?

edit: oops, should have read better


Way too overpaid even if they're just annual figures.

I wonder how much Claire from Heroes is getting paid. And Peter, too. Both thier actors are breakout stars of the series, IMO.

Fixed

 

[Boogie]

I hated Boomtown.

well, then you suck as a human being, then.

 

[titiklabingapat]

Fixed

Milo was a breakout star in Gilmore Girls which paved the way for roles like these so I didn't count him.

 

[KingGondo]

You also have to take into account the number of episodes relative to the pay:

Gandolfini's getting paid close to 12.5 million for 13 episodes, but each of those is close to an hour and full of physically and mentally demanding scenes. I wouldn't be surprised if his health has suffered as a result of his role. Compared to the 1 million+ earned by the Friends cast for each of the 20 or so 22-minute episodes of comedic sitcom fluff, this seems very reasonable.

 

[SUPREME1]

America Ferrera - Ugly Betty ($95k)



Oh my.. JIPPED!

She's the star of that show and it's ratings are damn good. They won a frickin emmy riding her character..

and believe me, without her AS ugly Betty.. the show doesn't make it past season 1.



Latinos stand up!!!! Es hora de revoluccion!!!!!



J/K crackers. Don't get all butt hurt.

 

[dem]

Im shocked HBO is paying Gandolfini that much.. theyre notoriously cheap.

 

[Illuminati]

Steve Carrell - The Office $175k

Steve Carrell seems like he is getting gypped as well.

 

[Night_Trekker]

Where is Tony Danza on that list?

 

[Karmacide]

Good for James. Someone mentioned that HBO is notoriously cheap and they're right. James used to be severely underpaid by HBO (compared to network actors).

http://www.themediadrome.com/content/articles/tv_articles/sopranos.shtml

I think the man deserves it just to make up for the money he should have been making earlier. The Sopranos won so many awards, got so many people to sign up for HBO and they really clean up in DVD sales.

 

[mollipen]

I wonder how much Claire from Heroes is getting paid. And Hiro, too. Both thier actors are breakout stars of the series, IMO.

Hiro I'll give you. But Claire??

 

[bjork]

I don't get how King of Queens is/was a success. Every episode I've seen (I've seen maybe 20) is a few fat jokes, the main couple being all paranoid over whether some other couple likes them, and then George Costanza's dad goes WHAAAAT

how the **** did they milk that for like 10 years?

 

[Triumph]

Hiro I'll give you. But Claire??

Yup. "Save the cheerleader, save the world" remember? She's been an integral focus of the show- in fact she and Hiro are the only two characters to have been in every episode if I remember correctly.

Also, Keifer should be making more. Although I bet he gets a nice chunk of dvd sales, and he is a producer on the show as well. Ok then, Sarah Chalke should be getting more. I want to bang Eliot.