Say it isn’t so.
Love it or hate it, The Big Bang Theory is one of biggest shows on TV these days. It’s constantly on repeat on a number of channels and is now heading into its 10th season.
While the focus is now on completing season 10, apparently there are issues with the contract negotiations for some of the leading actors. Jim Parsons (Sheldon), Johnny Galecki (Leonard), Kaley Cuoco (Penny), Simon Helberg (Howard), Kunal Nayyar (Raj), Mayim Bialik (Amy) and Melissa Rauch (Bernadette) are reportedly looking for pay rises after their contracts expire at the end of the 10th season.
They’ve already begun filming the new series but it’s the outcomes of the contract negotiations which will seal the fate of all the main cast members who have yet to sign.
One of the creators, Steve Molaro, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the future of the show and its cast saying:
“All we can do right now is focus on season 10 and go script by script, which is what we would be doing anyway. As far as I’m concerned, here in the writers’ room, it’s business usual: moving forward with the characters and letting them live their lives day by day and feeling out what happens with them.
“We don’t really arc out stories too far, and we let things happen organically, and if things catch us by surprise — like Bernadette being pregnant or something like that — if it feels right, we go with it. It’s more of that and if and when we know something that’s actual information that can be helpful [regarding the contracts], we may do something differently, but until then, we’re sticking to the game plan.”
When asked what would happen if one of the main stars like Jim, Johnny or Kaley were to quit over the negotiations he replied:
“I think it would certainly be different and weird. If I had a couple of episodes of advance warning, I’m confident we could do something meaningful, but hopefully it won’t come to that.”
He wasn’t very quick to give much away about the new season but did give some details on Penny and Leonard’s wedding saying:
“Yes! It’s intimate, it’s small with family and friends. It’s outdoors at an arboretum in Pasadena that’s quite pretty and outdoors on our stage. It’s nice, and despite all the weirdness going on around it, you still have Leonard and Penny, who still love each other, and those pockets of love find a way of bubbling through the tension.”
It’s due to air in the States on September 19th, so hopefully it will be broadcast in the UK and Ireland shortly afterwards.
