Are The Cast Of 'The Big Bang Theory' Worth $1 Million Per Episode?

Production of season 8 of the _The_Big Bang Theory is yet to be confirmed as the stars of the show and its production company continue to wrangle over contract negotiations.

According to Deadline.com, the entire original cast have not signed new contracts and a major issue which is dragging the deal is thought to be the actors’ pay-per-episode amount.

For season 7, the big three, Leonard, Sheldon and Penny - played by Johnny Galecki, Jim Parson and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting - earned a whopping $350,000 per episode.

It has been suggested, as the latest round of negotiations continue and in line with the huge rise in popularity of the show, the main cast could demand up to $1million per 22 minutes of televisual viewing.

This situation bears resemblance to that of the cast of Friends, who settled on a whopping $1million per episode contract for seasons 9 and 10 of the hit show.

Comparisons have consequently been made between the two comedies as the popularity of The Big Bang Theory reaches the Friends fever-pitch of the early 2000s.

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_Next page: Are the Big Bang Theory stars really worth $1 million?

The question is: are the stars of The Big Bang Theory really worth $1million per episode? Putting aside the notion that anyone deserves $24million for one work project that takes up to three months to complete, has the cast of The Big Bang Theory delivered enough for this new million dollar status they are potentially demanding?

Are Jim Parsons and co really worth $1 million?

Earlier this year, the show renewed for an epic three more seasons which gave a small indication of just how popular it is and how much its producers believe in its longevity.

Every year its audience has grown and it has become the highest-rated show on American television.

Across the pond in the UK, the new season formed part of E4’s Quite Big Thursdays and the channel regularly show re-runs and re-runs of past seasons.

It is, therefore, without doubt a huge money-making venture and surely nothing without the main cast who have taken viewers on a ride packed with laughs, emotional rollercoasters and genuine feelings towards the geeky, slightly alternative characters.

It would seem that the actors hold all the cards.

But still, $1million per episode is a phenomenal amount of money.

Even if their popularity level deserves it, do they really need it?

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