The cast of CBS’s high-rated Big Bang Theory is due salary bumps now that the show’s been sold into syndication for tons of money. But while most figured Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, and Jim Parsons would negotiate together, Friends style, for a raise from their current $65,000 per episode, Deadline reports today that Parsons is considering separate talks from his castmates since he’s the show’s Emmy-nominated breakout star.
Taking most of the fun out of this, though, is that the trio will likely be offered favored-nation deals, under which they’ll all receive the best terms that any was able to negotiate separately, as a way to prevent them from killing one another. But just because Warner Bros. won’t play favorites doesn’t mean you can’t: Which of Big Bang’s stars will actually deserve his or her bumped-up salary? As Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva notes, Cuoco has the best prospects for a future film career. And Galecki was terrific as Rusty Griswold in Christmas Vacation. Is Parsons’s Emmy nomination really worth $5.75 million per season? Let us (and WB’s negotiators) know in the comments.
Coming This Summer: The ‘Big Bang Theory’ Cast Renegotiations [Deadline]