The actors of āš The Big Bang Theoryā are thinking about holding out in an attempt to cash in on the sitcomās massive success.
The stars of the CBS coą¶£medy ā Kaley ź¦¦Cuoco, Johnny GaleckiĀ andĀ Jim Parsons ā 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, .
The new deals would be for the showās 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.
āThe cast is already talking about it theź¦¬ next round of negotiations,ā aš source told the gossip site.
Reportedly, the cast have pledged to make a āFriendsā-like pact that will bring everyone back next season. In 2002, the cast š§øof the NBC show banded together, holding out for $1 millišon 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. āThe Big Bang Theoryā is Americaās top rated sitcom, bringing in 18.6 million viewers per episode last year. It’s also the most watched show in syndication as well.
āThey know the critical position Big Bang holds on CBSā 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 isnāt about to happen anytime soon.ā
The show’s seventh season premiere will air on Thursday, September 26.