The actors of “The Big Bang Theory” are thinking about holding out in an attempt to cash in on the sitcom’s massive success.
The stars of the CBS comedy – Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons – are looking to score new deals that will pay them up to half-a-million dollars per episode plus a cut of the profits from syndication, reports Radar Online.
The new deals would be for the show’s eighth season, which is expected to run 24 episodes. The trio currently will earn $350,000 per episode during the show’s soon-to-premiere, seventh season.
“The cast is already talking about it the next round of negotiations,” a source told the gossip site.
Reportedly, the cast have pledged to make a “Friends”-like pact that will bring everyone back next season. In 2002, the cast of the NBC show banded together, holding out for $1 million dollars per episode for each member of the cast.
While the ploy might sound like a gamble, CBS does need the show to come back. “The Big Bang Theory” is America’s top rated sitcom, bringing in 18.6 million viewers per episode last year. It’s also the most watched show in syndication as well.
“They know the critical position Big Bang holds on CBS’ prime-time schedule and the only thing preventing them getting what they want would be a spectacular ratings demise this season,” the source said. “That isn’t about to happen anytime soon.”
The show’s seventh season premiere will air on Thursday, September 26.