''Friends'' chat for another season
By Josef Adalian
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - With little fanfare, high-powered representatives for the cast of ``Friends'' have begun formal talks with NBC and the show's producer, Warner Bros. TV, for a deal to bring the hit comedy back for a ninth season next fall.
The mere fact that talks have started is good news for the companies, as both strongly want the show to return. If the sitcom's six main stars had no interest in another season, it's doubtful they'd let their reps start talking coin.
Insiders familiar with the negotiations aren't giving up many details of the current talking points. But early indications are the cast will require pay hikes from their current salary of $750,000 per episode to at least $1 million per episode; a bump to $1.1 million for each half-hour doesn't seem out of the question. Each season is about 22 episodes.
The actors rejected an offer of $800,000 last fall, USA Today reported last month.
The cast is once again presenting a unified front, with several big name lawyers -- including megacounsel Michael Gendler and staffers at management firm Brillstein-Grey -- representing them.
Technically, the talks are two different negotiations: What Warner Bros. will pay the cast, and what NBC will in turn pay the studio for the show. Assuming NBC absorbs the bulk of the cast pay hike, the network's per-episode license fee of $5.5 million could increase by $1 million or more.
Despite the start of negotiations, insiders still believe there's a ``50-50 chance'' the cast will ultimately decide to call it quits at the end of the current season -- one of the show's most successful ever, both creatively and in the ratings.
Reuters/Variety REUTERS
Sunday February 3 10:42 PM ET