UPDATE:
After contract negotiations delayed production for The Big Bang Theory last week, stars Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, and Kaley Cuoco have now all signed new contracts with Warner Bros. Television. Sources say their salaries of $325,000 per episode will be jumping up to $1 million for the next three seasons and they will also receive a raise in syndication earnings. Co-stars Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar are still in negotiations, but are expected to reach a new deal by the end of the week.
Production for the hit comedy series is now expected to resume Wednesday after a one-week delay. It is currently unknown if this delay will result in a shortened season for the show, which was originally slated to have 24 episodes.
Production for the hit comedy series The Big Bang Theory was originally slated to begin Wednesday, but it has been postponed due to contract negotiations, Warner Bros. Television said in a statement.
Stars Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar are still without new contracts, and the cast did not go to work today to do the table reading for the first episode of season eight.
It is currently unknown how long production will be delayed, but Parsons, Galecki, and Cuoco are looking for bigger salaries. Reports say they currently make about $325,000 per episode and are looking for that to increase to about $1 million. Helberg and Nayyar also want raises. Their co-stars Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch have already signed new contracts with the studio, and they both received a pay increase.
The Big Bang Theory is TV’s No. 1 comedy among total viewers and usually had over 20 million viewers each week last season. The series has already been renewed by CBS for at least three more seasons, giving the cast much leverage as they negotiate new deals.
The new season of the sitcom is scheduled to premiere Monday, Sept. 22 at 7pm CST on CBS.
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