(The Big Bang Theory) TBBT: How Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, and Johnny Galecki’s Ballsy Move Forced Warner Bros. to Bend to Their Will.
To keep the series from going in the wrong direction, one brave group effort was all that was needed.
Summary
- In 2014, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, and Kaley Cuoco collectively negotiated $1 million per episode.
- By season ten, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar had both received sizable raises and parity with the core trio.
- Warner Bros. supported reaching a favorable resolution to the wage disputes despite difficult discussions.
The Big Bang Theory is still a topic of significant discussion five years after it ended. Over the course of 12 seasons, this TV show has won numerous honors, making it one of the most influential and successful. As the cast grew in size, it became simpler for them to talk to Warner Bros. and renegotiate their contracts.
But in this instance, coming to a consensus isn’t always simple. In most negotiations, there are a lot of intricate nuances involved that are hard to alter. Still, there are situations when taking a chance and trying something risky could pay off.
Read Also: Would You Imagine TBBT Without Kaley?
The Millionaire Salaries Of The Protagonists Of The Big Bang Theory
Ten years have passed since Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, and Jim Parsons banded together to negotiate pay adjustments. At the conclusion of the seventh season, the three agreed they would not do another season unless they were paid an amount greater than the $325,000 per episode they were previously receiving.
Since Sheldon, Leonard, and Penny were among the most well-known characters at Warner Bros. at the time, it was nearly impossible to produce further episodes without any of the three. The issue was that, as The Hollywood Reporter reported, there wasn’t actually a backup plan in case the cast decided not to renew.
Everything was too hazardous given its enormous success and the fact that the replays of the programs frequently outnumbered the initial schedule of the major broadcast networks. CBS also prioritized The Big Bang Theory above all else. Ultimately, the performers made the brave decision to work together to try and accomplish the goal. If not, there could be production delays and even a chance that the performers would look for other employment.
The agreements were therefore created to elevate the three of them to the status of the Friends cast. Chuck Lorre, the executive producer and co-creator, also offered his thoughts on the situation:
There are people at Warner Brothers Television and people representing the actors who have done this before. This will work itself out. I think it’s great; I want them all to be crazy wealthy because nobody deserves it more than this cast. It’ll work out.
Parsons, Galecki, and Cuoco received guarantees of $1 million for each episode in addition to a larger cut of the profits—from 0.25% to 1.25%—from the show. Along with these benefits, other general provisions in the contracts also improved.
The Supporting Cast Wasn’t Left Out Either
A significant part of the renegotiations to raise the salary—which was $100,000 per episode up until that point—was performed by the supporting cast. Ultimately, the outcomes have undoubtedly been favorable.
The maturation of Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar’s characters was aided by their admiration, as they went on to play increasingly important parts in each of the seasons. The reason given by both actors for asking for a pay raise was that they felt Howard and Raj had progressed beyond supporting parts. They evolved into protagonists as well.
Rumors circulated on whether Warner Bros. would find another home for the series and if it would continue with them. Insiders stress that while the studio was considering this option, it was more of a negotiating ploy than a viable option (via Deadline).
It was later officially decided that the two actors would split 75% of the money that their colleagues had managed to collect. Over the next three seasons, each also made over $70 million, according to Deadline. By the eleventh season, they had also caught up to the main three in terms of rate per episode. Everything worked out perfectly.
You can watch The Big Bang Theory online at Max.
