Smallscreen News

TV cash: Big money in smallscreen, ask Charlie and Kyra

By Stone Martindale Aug 5, 2008, 4:57 GMT

TV is where the dough is at, if you are a working actor or successful chat show host. 07/07/2008 - Noreen M. Culhane and Kyra Sedgwick - Kyra Sedgwick Rings the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on July 7, 2008 - New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) - New York City, NY, USA © Janet Mayer / PR Photos

07/07/2008 - Noreen M. Culhane and Kyra Sedgwick - Kyra Sedgwick Rings the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on July 7, 2008 - New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) - New York City, NY, USA © Janet Mayer / PR PhotosOprah Winfrey is the biggest moneymaker in TV, earning $385 million a year from her various multimedia ventures.Charlie Sheen is the top-earning comedic actor on television right now, with a per-episode payday of $825,000, according to a list of the biggest earners in prime-time compiled by TV Guide.Also raking it in are CSI's William Petersen, who takes in $600,000-per-episode salary when he leaves CSI in the coming season, and Law & Order: SVU's Mariska Hargitay, who banks $400,000 an episode."The Closer" Kyra Sedgwick's $275,000-per-episode salary makes her the highest-paid actress in a cable drama.Family Guy and American Dad creator Seth MacFarlane's new $100 million, five-year deal with Fox makes him the highest-paid writer-producer out there creating for the small screen.Brit Simon Cowell earns $50 million a season for American Idol.David Letterman makes $32 million a year as host of The Late Show.Katie Couric is getting $15 million for anchoring the CBS Evening News. The cast of The Simpsons makes the cheddar too: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith each earn $400,000 per episode. The full list of prime-time's biggest earners can be found in the Aug. 11 issue of TV Guide.

And Also

Lady Gaga's New Outfit: Police Tape?! - PopEater
Corey Haim's Funeral -- All Taken Care Of - TMZ
Kim Kardashian Spells 'I Am a Kind Shark' and Other Awesome Celebrity Anagrams - PopEater
Corey Haims death linked to massive prescription-drugs ring - Monsters and Critics
'Atlanta Housewife' Walks Out on FOX Show - TMZ

Kyra Sedgwick - View Kyra Sedgwick Pictures - Kyra Sedgwick News

Click to launch this Kyra Sedgwick gallery

Your Talkback on this Story

Latest Headlines in Smallscreen

Older Talkback

page: 1

Dan RatherAug 5th, 2008 - 13:20:10

Their paying couric millions more than me to drive the network that walter and I built into the biggest propoganda machine since pravda into the shitter. Where is the justice, she must be sleeping around.

Report this comment

page: 1