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.

Source: IMDB

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Posted by Lawren at June 15, 2006 07:20 AM | Trackbacks (0)

You Said

Easy solution: have a bomb blow up the holiday family gathering that Tony was hosting at the end of this season's finale ... killing Meadow (her entire character has just been one giant tease since day one - we've never really gotten much out of her, eye candy or otherwse) and AJ (everyone hates the kid anyways - he's worthless and brings nothing to the show for me) ... cut to Tony in the hospital talking to a doctor who has just told him that Paulie didn't make it out of surgery for his cancer ... and cut to Dr. Melfi's boss informing Tony over the phone that he fired Melfi for her inappropriate relations with clients. Cut to Phil knocking off Bobby, as promised this past season when he said he'd get a member of T's family as revenge.

That leaves Sil. Give Sil a slight raise b/c he looks so damn funny.

Problem solved.

Says: Iceman at June 15, 2006 08:38 AM

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A bomb? I believe that entire season finale was a bomb.

As much as I like this show, I'm ready for it to end because it's becoming a soap opera in and of itself.

Says: The Unnamed Source at June 15, 2006 09:16 AM

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I agree with getting rid of Meadow and Little Tony but I want Paulie to stay!

Says: Nanc' at June 15, 2006 09:59 AM

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