'The Big Bang Theory' Season 8 Release Date Latest: Back on Track as Cast Sign New Contracts
After prolonged negotiations with Warner Bros., "The Big Bang Theory" stars Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons, and Johnny Galecki have agreed to sign their new contracts—said to be worth $1 million per episode, according to Deadline.
The new sum is a massive increase from the $350,000 per episode that the trio has been earning. With the sitcom being renewed for three more seasons, Cuoco, Parsons and Galecki could earn upwards of $90 million each for all the episodes they are slated to film.
According to Forbes, the trio's pay increase is not a shocker as the same thing has happened before in previous contract negotiations in other shows of the network. The stars of "Friends," for instance, were paid $22,500 each for the first season. Year by year, the cast negotiated new contracts with Warner Bros. which saw an increase in their pay with each season, and by the ninth and tenth seasons, they were able to negotiate for a $1 million salary for all six of them.
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It is reported that the raise will likely boost Cuoco's ranks on the list of top-earning actresses. Forbes estimated her earnings last year at $11 million, making Cuoco the second highest-paid actress on television. Parsons and Galecki each earned $9 million last year, and both actors have extended their work behind the camera as executive producers. Parsons is currently developing a series with Radical Media based on the Prodigies of Youtube, while Galecki has a show in the pipeline for FOX.
Meanwhile, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar are still working out new agreements. Both actors are reportedly pulling in slightly over $100,000 per episode.
With the contract negotiations out of the way, Deadline is reporting that the target date of Aug. 6 for the start of filming for Season 8 could be very possible.
"The Big Bang Theory" Season 8 will premiere on Sept. 22 on Warner Bros.
