or


[03/13/03 - 12:00 AM]
Production Halted on 'Sopranos'
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- Production on the fifth season of HBO's "The Sopranos" has been halted indefinitely due to a breakdown in salary negotiations with series star James Gandolfini. Shooting was scheduled to being March 24.

The conflict stems from competiting lawsuits filed by Gandolfini and HBO against each other last week over the actor's status with the show. Gandolfini's lawsuit alleges HBO did not notify him within the agreed upon 10 days after the show's fifth season was ordered on July 17, 2001. According to Gandolfini's representatives, such a move would make his contract for a fifth season void and not require him to show up for shooting on March 24. Calling the lawsuit "frivolous," HBO has counter-sued Gandolfini for $100 million in damages that would be caused due to his absence from the series.

Gandolfini's lawsuit is viewed by many as simply a negotiating ploy to increase his salary for the fifth season. Currently the actor is making a surprisingly average $400,000 per episode considering "The Sopranos" critical and financial success, below such actors as Ray Romano, the "Friends" cast and Kelsey Grammer but on par with "The West Wing's" Martin Sheen.

HBO has reportedly offered Gandolfini $11 million to return for the 13-episode fifth season, part of which was to be paid in profit participation. But the actor is said to have been asking for $27 million for season five, and $16.7 million for a sixth season should that get ordered, for an average of $21 million per season for a fifth and sixth batch.

Recently fellow "Sopranos" stars Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico, Drea de Matteo, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler renegotiated their contracts with HBO to more than triple their salaries. Imperioli is set to make $80,000 per episode for season five while the remaining trio will be paid in the neighborhood of $60,000 an episode for the upcoming season. Previously all four made between $15,000-$25,000 an episode.

With production halted it is extremely unlikely the fifth season of the series will be ready before January 2004.




  [march 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· FRIENDS (NBC)
· SOPRANOS, THE (HBO)
· WEST WING, THE (NBC)




[04/22/19 - 11:44 AM]
Kellie Martin Returns in "Hailey Dean Mysteries" with Three Movie Installments Premiering on Consecutive Sunday Nights This May
The successful "Hailey Dean Mysteries" movie franchise is based on characters from Nancy Grace's New York Times best-selling book series.
[04/22/19 - 11:02 AM]
Showtime(R) Documentary Films Announces Docu-Series About the Legendary Comedy Store
The four-part documentary series brings to life the legends, heartbreak and history created at The Comedy Store, which over the past 47 years has launched the careers of a breathtaking array of stars.
[04/22/19 - 10:30 AM]
CBS Renews "NCIS: Los Angeles" and "NCIS: New Orleans" for 2019-2020 Season
The pickups follow the recent renewal of the original "NCIS," also for next season.
[04/22/19 - 09:47 AM]
Video: "Knock Down the House" - Trailer & Key Art Debut
Four exceptional women mount grassroots campaigns against powerful incumbents in the film, an inspiring look at the 2018 midterm elections that tipped the balance of power.
[04/22/19 - 09:43 AM]
How Sweet It Is! New Episodes of "Cake Boss" Premiere on Discovery Family Beginning Saturday, May 18
"The famiglia and I are back, baby! Season nine is easily one of our craziest with cakes and Carlo's Bakery shenanigans," said Buddy Valastro.
[04/22/19 - 09:02 AM]
Smithsonian Channel(TM) Goes Beneath the Robes and Under the Wigs of European Royalty in "Private Lives of the Monarchs"
The five-part series premieres Monday, May 20 at 8:00/7:00c on the cable channel.
[04/22/19 - 09:01 AM]
A&E to Premiere Three New "Biography" Documentaries on Chris Farley, Jeff Dunham and Jeff Foxworthy
Airing across Monday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 28, the specials will delve deep into the careers and personal lives of these dynamic performers to give viewers an insider's look at what it took for each to reach the top.
[04/22/19 - 08:41 AM]
Video: Acorn TV Original - "Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries" - Premiering April 29
When the famous aunt she never knew, Phryne Fisher, goes missing over the highlands of New Guinea, the gorgeously reckless Peregrine Fisher (Geraldine Hakewill) inherits a windfall.
[04/22/19 - 08:18 AM]
Sunday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC, "American Idol" Lead Demo Race
The Alphabet tops the broadcast networks among adults 18-49 while CBS remains the most-watched of the group.
[04/22/19 - 07:32 AM]
HBO(R) Premieres Three New APA Visionaries Short Films for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
The films will be available to stream across all of HBO's on-demand and digital platforms on May 6 at 8pm.
[04/22/19 - 07:00 AM]
Video: Netflix Debuts Trailer & Key Art for "See You Yesterday" Produced by Spike Lee
High school best friends and science prodigies C.J. and Sebastian spend every spare minute working on their latest homemade invention: backpacks that enable time travel.
[04/21/19 - 07:52 PM]
Netflix Brings True-to-Life, Korean Romance "One Spring Night"
"One Spring Night" will launch two episodes weekly in Asia and most English-speaking territories from May 22, one hour after its television broadcast in Korea.
[04/21/19 - 05:09 PM]
Netflix to Launch Korean Fantasy Drama "Abyss"
"Abyss" will launch two episodes weekly in most English-speaking territories and Asia from May 6.
[04/21/19 - 09:29 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC Wins with "The Ten Commandments" Telecast
The Alphabet's annual presentation leads the night in both total viewers and adults 18-49.
[04/20/19 - 08:41 AM]
Friday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC Tops Adults 18-49 with NBA Playoffs
The Alphabet wins the demo crown however a repeat driven CBS is the most-watched broadcaster.