‘Big Bang Theory’ Main Cast Offers To Take Pay Cut To Give Co-Stars A Raise

Look, we all know ‘Big Bang Theory’ is not the greatest show in the world.

No one is under the illusion that there’s any semblance of nuance or craft to this thing, and having to listen to 30 seconds of studio laughter every time someone says “Spock” is tedious as shit. 

At the same time, I think a film starring a dude with metal claws and his tiny, bone-clawed clone is going to be the most emotionally devastating film of the year, so who am I to judge.

So for those who have also been avoiding news about the show, because it is a toilet, apparently the main five actors apparently earned a whopping $1 million per episode last season, while their two female co-stars, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch, were paid a measly pittance of $200,000 p/e. 

The pay discrepancy is particularly galling when you consider that Bialik and Rauch, slowly introduced during the show’s third season, are now basically sharing equal screen-time with the other five (okay I have been following the show a bit SUE ME). They are, quite simply, not doing one-fifth the work, so those figures are pretty shit.

Now, with Bialik and Rauch yet to sign on to seasons 11 and 12, leads Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg have offered to drop their pay to $900,000 and split the remains between the two hold-outs. 

This would more than double Bialik and Rauch’s wage, bringing it up to $450,000 p/e. Which would still be half of the leads are getting paid, so imho hold out, ladies, hold out. 

And look, all of these people were probably the most overpaid actors in Hollywood as it was, although the fact that two women were being paid a small fraction of their predominantly-male co-stars is an obviously shitty, if not particularly surprising, aspect of all this. 

But hey, a pay cut is still a pay cut is still a pay cut, and the whole gang honestly all seem like lovely people so yes well done all around gang.

They cast are yet to actually speak out about all this, so for now we’ll just say good on you, ya goddamned nerds.