'Sopranos' Stars Warn "Pay Rise or We're Off"
06-15-06 | 10:23 AM
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'Sopranos' Stars Warn "Pay Rise or We're Off"
http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3505716
I thought that they filmed the last 8 episodes along with this last season and were just holding them back for next January's premiere.
With the lower Soprano ratings this season and many of HBO shows having tepid ratings, I really believe HBO is not going to budge on this one. I mean most of those actors mentioned are not vital to the main story.
Chris
By WENN| Thursday, June 15, 2006
HOLLYWOOD - Cast members of hit mafia series The Sopranos are demanding higher salaries after the show's bosses secured a string of lucrative rerun rights and staggering DVD sales.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who plays Meadow, Robert Iler, who plays A.J., Steven Schirripa, who plays Bobby Bacala, Steven Van Zandt, who plays Silvio Dante, Lorraine Bracco, who plays Dr Melfi, and Tony Sirico, who plays Paulie 'Walnuts', are all demanding a substantial rise before signing up for the final season, set to begin next month.
They've reportedly threatened to walk out unless their wages more than double.
However, network HBO is only offering a fraction of their demands, and may be forced to write characters out of the series if they don't settle.
A source tells the New York Post, "It's coming down to the wire. HBO just doesn't want to pay.
"No one has deals and they're very far apart. [Show creator] David Chase has tried to help the actors, but even his pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
"The guys want (a new deal) to happen. These are the last eight episodes, and the money is going to be coming in for HBO for years to come. "But the actors get no residuals - and they want to be compensated.
"They're being treated like dog s**t."
An HBO spokesman refused to comment on the pay reports.
Article Copyright World Entertainment News Network All Rights Reserved.
HOLLYWOOD - Cast members of hit mafia series The Sopranos are demanding higher salaries after the show's bosses secured a string of lucrative rerun rights and staggering DVD sales.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who plays Meadow, Robert Iler, who plays A.J., Steven Schirripa, who plays Bobby Bacala, Steven Van Zandt, who plays Silvio Dante, Lorraine Bracco, who plays Dr Melfi, and Tony Sirico, who plays Paulie 'Walnuts', are all demanding a substantial rise before signing up for the final season, set to begin next month.
They've reportedly threatened to walk out unless their wages more than double.
However, network HBO is only offering a fraction of their demands, and may be forced to write characters out of the series if they don't settle.
A source tells the New York Post, "It's coming down to the wire. HBO just doesn't want to pay.
"No one has deals and they're very far apart. [Show creator] David Chase has tried to help the actors, but even his pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
"The guys want (a new deal) to happen. These are the last eight episodes, and the money is going to be coming in for HBO for years to come. "But the actors get no residuals - and they want to be compensated.
"They're being treated like dog s**t."
An HBO spokesman refused to comment on the pay reports.
Article Copyright World Entertainment News Network All Rights Reserved.
With the lower Soprano ratings this season and many of HBO shows having tepid ratings, I really believe HBO is not going to budge on this one. I mean most of those actors mentioned are not vital to the main story.
Chris
06-15-06 | 10:41 AM
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Meadow's already pretty much written off since she's in Cali
06-15-06 | 10:41 AM
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From: Bronx, NY
Originally Posted by mrpayroll
With the lower Soprano ratings this season and many of HBO shows having tepid ratings, I really believe HBO is not going to budge on this one. I mean most of those actors mentioned are not vital to the main story.
Chris
Chris
06-15-06 | 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by TheGodfather
Yes, but losing any one of them could result in a huge plot change. How would you explain Paulie and/or Syl's disappearance? War with NY? Certainly didn't seem that was the direction they were heading going into the break...
06-15-06 | 11:45 AM
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As long as Paulie and Syl are back I'll be happy.
I can't see Sigler and Iler not signing on as well, it's not like either of them have been busy making movies in the shows offtime.
HBO is getting a lot of bad press lately and you wonder if this will only compund their problems.
I can't see Sigler and Iler not signing on as well, it's not like either of them have been busy making movies in the shows offtime.
HBO is getting a lot of bad press lately and you wonder if this will only compund their problems.
06-15-06 | 12:17 PM
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I agree they should get a cut, but DOUBLE? Come on...
06-15-06 | 12:47 PM
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From: The Living Room on the Couch
Originally Posted by msblue
A&E bought the series from HBO for 1mil an episode.. HBO can afford to open their wallets to finish this the right way..
That reminds me of that Mad TV skit about the Sopranos on PAX
06-15-06 | 12:55 PM
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From: New York
Originally Posted by costanza187
That reminds me of that Mad TV skit about the Sopranos on PAX
I've seen what the shows are going to look like on A&E, they've managed to put bikini tops on the bada bing girls (with computer graphics, obviously) and HBO already had the actors say certain words and lines without curses, with the idea that a cable network would eventually want to buy the shows (like sex and the city) and bloddy shots were shot again with out all the gore.
It's not as bad as everyone thinks it will be..
06-15-06 | 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Red Dog
I couldn't care less if Lorraine Bracco is given her walking papers. That's been a useless character for most of the series.
06-15-06 | 01:07 PM
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From: Malibu, CA
Originally Posted by dvd182
I completely disagree. The Tony/Melfi scenes are necessary.
I think it's HBO's fault in the first place for allowing them to get away with doing this extended season or shortened last season or whatever you want to call it. This all should have been resolved beforehand.
06-15-06 | 01:12 PM
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From: Directionally Challenged (for DirecTV)
I think the frustrations expressed by Tony in his sessions with Melfi are already essentially captured by his expressions and demeanor when dealing with the other characters. Her psychobabble is simply repetitive (as stated above).
06-15-06 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by illini420
I think it's HBO's fault in the first place for allowing them to get away with doing this extended season or shortened last season or whatever you want to call it. This all should have been resolved beforehand.
06-15-06 | 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by msblue
Was that the skit where it was all bleeps? I saw some skit where there was almost no dialog, bleeps and heavy breathing..
Easily, one of the best moments of MADtv.
06-15-06 | 01:31 PM
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Pay Little Stevie and blow off the rest of them.
We love Jamie Lynn's body, but she brings nothing else to the table.
Hopefully, Igler will get arrested again so HBO doesnt have to even consider paying him.
Bracco spends most of her time on the show hiding her horrible accent by accentuating her syllables. How Keitel and Olmos put up with that horrible accent, I dont know.
Paulie Walnuts complains about his prostrate and his money woes. He's like Jackie the Jokeman Martling.
Let Bobby Baccala promote his cook books on Donnie Deutsch ... we dont need him either ...
We love Jamie Lynn's body, but she brings nothing else to the table.
Hopefully, Igler will get arrested again so HBO doesnt have to even consider paying him.
Bracco spends most of her time on the show hiding her horrible accent by accentuating her syllables. How Keitel and Olmos put up with that horrible accent, I dont know.
Paulie Walnuts complains about his prostrate and his money woes. He's like Jackie the Jokeman Martling.
Let Bobby Baccala promote his cook books on Donnie Deutsch ... we dont need him either ...
06-15-06 | 01:36 PM
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From: New York
Originally Posted by Matthew Chmiel
06-15-06 | 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Red Dog
I couldn't care less if Lorraine Bracco is given her walking papers. That's been a useless character for most of the series.
Chris
06-15-06 | 02:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Red Dog
I think the frustrations expressed by Tony in his sessions with Melfi are already essentially captured by his expressions and demeanor when dealing with the other characters. Her psychobabble is simply repetitive (as stated above).
I can't remember which season it was, but there was a time when Tony quit seeing Melfi. He never should've gone back.
06-15-06 | 02:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Matthew Chmiel
They didn't come close to editing it enough. I knew all of the bad words that they were bleeping out! Consider me shocked and offended!
Chris