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July 30, 2003
A Rebellion In 'West Wing'
by Verne Gay
Newsday
July 30, 2003
Hey, it can't hurt to ask, right? Four headline actors from NBC's "The West Wing" are seeking a nearly 100 percent raise from their current $80,000-per-episode salaries, according to a report in Monday's Variety.
However, it was unclear yesterday what leverage the four have because each signed long-term contracts with Warner Bros. two years ago that tie them to the show through 2006.
The four are Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, John Spencer and Allison Janney. According to Variety, none has staged a walkout or "sick-out" or given any indication that they will, which suggests that discussions with Warner Bros. are, at least so far, amicable.
Warner Bros., which declined comment yesterday, has to be surprised and nonplussed at the demands. The show has just emerged from a rocky patch that saw the departure of Rob Lowe and creative forces Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme.
Yet as Variety pointed out, NBC also recently boosted its per-episode license payment to Warner Bros. to $6 million, which means the show is a solid profit center for the producer, a fact that perhaps emboldened the four to seek big salary boosts.
Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.
Posted by Jo at July 30, 2003 10:32 PM