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Report: Parsons, ‘Big Bang’ co-stars to earn $1M per episode in new 3-year deal

Report: Parsons, ‘Big Bang’ co-stars to earn $1M per episode in new 3-year deal
From left, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons in a scene from
From left, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons in a scene from “The Big Bang Theory.” CBS

Jim Parsons, one of the highest profile openly gay actors on television today, has signed a new three-year contract to continue on CBS’ “Big Bang Theory,” and the reported $1 million per episode paycheck makes him one of the highest paid performers on network television.

Deadline Hollywood reports that “Big Bang” stars Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco have agreed to new three-year contracts, scoring paychecks of $1 million per episode for the 72 episodes the show is slated to produce in Seasons 8-10, and “the door has been left open” to a potential 11th season. Entertainment Weekly said its sources confirmed the huge salary increases.

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The salary bump is triple the cast members’ current paycheck of $325,000 per episode. The cast will also receive a bigger cut of the show’s lucrative syndication earnings on TBS.

Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar, meanwhile, are still working out new agreements. Both are reportedly pulling in slightly over $100,000 per episode.

“Big Bang Theory” averages 20 million viewer per week, and delivers CBS an estimated $326,260 per 30-second spot — the highest ad rate for a non-sports program on network television.

Parsons has earned six Emmy nominations for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Sheldon Cooper in “Big Bang Theory.” He won the award in 2010, 2011 and 2013, and is nominated again this year.

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