'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' Stars Want 50 Percent Pay Increase
The cast of hit TLC reality TV show "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" are reportedly in talks about creating a second season although new reports suggest that the popular family wants a significant pay increase.
The Thompson family is reportedly willing to film season two on condition that they receive an estimated 50% salary raise, increasing from a reported $4000 per episode to between $8000 - $10000. A location fee, for filming at the family's Georgia home, will likely be included, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The reality show, which is a spin-off of TLC's "Toddlers $ Tiaras," follows the everyday lives of the Georgia based family whose hobbies include couponing, bobbing for Pigs Feet, and "guess the breathe" games.
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Alana Thompson, the seven year old main star of the show, is a charismatic beauty pageant contestant whose vivacious personality and bizarre "Honey Boo Boo" nickname has helped make the show a ratings winner throughout the US.
"Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" ratings have soared from 2.2 million viewers when it first began airing in early August to almost 3 million viewers by the end of that same month, according to Nielsen.
Although the family reportedly asked for $10000 per episode, TLC executives are expected to raise their salary to approximately $8000 per episode and around $80,000 per season as well as the location fee.
The TLC network was accused of exploiting the Thompsons after rumors of a $2000 per episode salary began swirling. June, the lively mother of Alana, dismissed the reports telling TMZ.com that "We're very well compensated."
The 32-year-old, affectionately nicknamed "Mama" by her family, received widespread criticism over her parenting methods and Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner ironically accused June of exploiting her family for financial gain, according to RadarOnline.com.
"For every person that's hating on us, there's three people that love us," Thompson previously told TMZ in response to the critics. "It's weird that haters know more about our show than our amazing fans."
