As a film nerd, I tend to go on TV and movie benders. I'll watch, or re-watch, an entire series of a TV show or series of films all within the span of a month or a weekend. Last year, I took on the ambitious task of watching all 15 seasons of "ER" and prior to that, I renewed my obsession with "Lost". The last month and a half has been all about "Friends". As I've stated before, that show is my barometer for all other sitcoms (well, that and "Roseanne"). Those two are the class of the category, which probably explains why I don't watch many current sitcoms. They don't measure up and most have stupid humor and not witty, smart humor. In fact, I think I only watch one current sitcom and that would be "The Big Bang Theory". I was an early adopter of the show, and the first few seasons were great. But we're approaching season 8 now and it doesn't have the same...something that it used to. There's the occasional laugh your ass off episode, but those have become the exception instead of the rule. I think a part of this is the decision to keep Leonard and Penny as a thing, which was always unbelievable in the first place. There are only so many plots and jokes to be made about a wicked smart dude dating a dumb blonde and we've worn them all out in the last eight years. Now, they're engaged and I shudder to think about all the marriage plots that loom over the next three seasons (it's been renewed through 2017) about a pairing that's pretty unbelievable in the first place. Personally, I watch the show for everybody except Leonard and Penny as their plots are usually the more humorous ones. The L&P relationship is meant to be the Ross and Rachel of the show, but even that coupling took some seasons off and the "will they or won't they" wasn't a part of nearly every single episode. They were also a much more believable couple because Ross wasn't super socially awkward and Rachel wasn't some bimbo, they both dated other people and had other options throughout the series. With BBT, you get the feeling they decided to marry off L&P purely because neither could do any better; she couldn't land anyone who was halfway intelligent and he couldn't land anyone halfway attractive.
All of this came to mind when I heard the the lead actors on BBT are demanding raises before filming begins on season 8. Technically, they've staged a walk out as filming was to begin this week and is now on hold indefinitely. This puts CBS in a pickle because the show is supposed to kick off their season with an hour-long episode, as well as anchor their Thursday night lineup once football is over. These decisions were made with the belief that getting deals done wouldn't be an issue. But it's an issue. Typically, I would side with the actors in a debate of this sort, I was willing to rob a bank and throw $1 million of stolen money at the "Friends" cast to make sure it stayed on the air. However, this particular coo comes off as nothing more than pure greed for the actors who play Leonard and Penny. Yes, they were two of the three who were pitched as main characters when the show began but they've become more background characters in the last couple of seasons. I like Johnny Galecki, but let's face it, anyone could take over his role or Penny's role and play it just as well. Neither are worth the $1 million price they're demanding for their services. Sheldon, on the other hand, would be worth every penny of that price tag. He's earned it with his Emmy wins and his consistent performance in the role. The other two haven't won anything for their roles, nor has the show won a "Best Comedy" trophy of any kind (though it should have in the first few seasons). It's the highest-rated show on TV but that still doesn't justify all three of them making $27 million a season. Of course, I'm sure CBS didn't foresee Jim Parsons becoming the breakout star of the show, they likely hinged their hopes on the one who plays Penny since she was the most recognizable face when it began. But eight seasons later, one has proven themselves to be a gifted, award-winning actor while the other has basically been cast in the same role her entire career. Sheldon has grown as a character, while still hanging onto the quirks that existed within him when we all first met. Leonard and Penny have not really developed at all as characters, and are stuck in the same relationship loop that they began in. I do agree that they should all get raises since it is CBS' biggest show at the moment, but I'd say a bump up to $500,000 an episode would be more appropriate (they currently make $325,000).
I've seen a lot of articles comparing this to when the "Friends" cast negotiated together and ultimately got $1 million per episode from 2002 until the series ended in 2004. The majority of responses about whether BBT cast is worth as much have been, "Sheldon is, but not the rest" so we know who a lot of people tune in to watch. In some ways, it's unfair to compare the two shows since "Friends" was a cultural phenomenon and a true ensemble cast and the BBT is neither of those things. It is comprised of A players, B players and C players and, unlike "Friends", scenes that combine the talents of the entire cast are few and far between. Also, by the time the "Friends" cast got $1 million per episode, most were recognizable from more than just the show; Jennifer Aniston was married to Brad Pitt, Courtney Cox had done the "Scream" movies, Lisa Kudrow had done "Romy & Michele", and Matthew Perry had a few meh movies. I doubt anyone who doesn't watch BBT could pick any of the actors out of a lineup, aside from maybe Mayim Bialik, Parsons and possibly Galecki. But two of those three are more closely associated with their previous shows, "Blossom" and "Roseanne". Nobody on the BBT brings major name recognition, or has the potential to bring in new fans via side projects. If they're comparing themselves to the last major comedy cast that all locked down major paydays, they don't exactly come out on top of that debate. I don't doubt they will likely get the $1 million, a request made all the more ridiculous by the fact that they already get a chunk of syndication profits. The longer they hold out, the more it forces CBS' hand to give in to the demand. But it is amazing what some people think their worth is. It's not enough to have a job you love, people you (presumably) enjoy working with and a steady paycheck, something that not every actor will have a chance to get. You have to bite the hand that feeds you so you can get even more out of that paycheck every month.
