Unexpected Reason 5 TBBT Superstars Had To Take Payment Cut

Being an actor is a job that is far from stable. In order to make your career work, you often have to support yourself with other part-time jobs, while making time for auditions. It's exhausting, it always makes you fear for the future, and it makes your skin thicken as you go through rounds of rejection.

But if you make it, it's always worth it.

When you land a role on a hit show like The Big Bang Theory, you know you're not only in for years of fun and growing with your character, but also a few years of steady income with the potential to grow.

Although the show got off to a rocky start in its first year with no sure direction as it was affected by the first writers strike, after the success of the second season, all five main cast members could be sure of a bright future ahead. What no one expected was that, years later, all of them would simultaneously take a pay cut instead of asking for more.

Back in 2017, the show was officially renewed by CBS for two more seasons, making it a final renewal as TBBT would reach its finale.

Although both Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch, who have played Amy Fowler and Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz for years, had already been promoted to series regulars, they were also negotiating for salary parity. Their co-stars stepped in.

Each of the original cast members decided to give up $100,000 per episode to make the deal possible for each of the actresses. This gesture of unity was not expected by either of them, but was greatly appreciated as it reportedly helped raise their pay from the previously negotiated $175,000 per episode to $425,000.

If you are feeling nostalgic and want to revisit your favorite nerdy sitcom, you can stream The Big Bang Theory on Netflix or MAX.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter