'The Big Bang Theory' Season 8 Premiere: Production 'Postponed' As Contract Negotiations For Jim Parsons & More Continue [VIDEO]
Contract negotiations on CBS' massively successful sitcom The Big Bang Theory continue as production on Season 8 has officially been delayed.
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The show's original five stars are still holding out for pay increases as only Mayim Bialik (who plays Amy) and Melissa Rauch (Bernadette) have signed deals through Season 8. Word is that Jim Parsons (Sheldon), Johnny Galecki (Leonard) and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting (Penny) are seeking $1 million per episode while Simon Helberg (Howard) and Kunal Nayyar (Raj) are seeking their own slightly smaller increase.
However, production on The Big Bang Theory, which was slated to begin Wednesday, has been delayed as negotiations continue.
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"Due to ongoing contract negotiations, production on The Big Bang Theory - which was originally scheduled to begin today - has been postponed," Warner Bros. TV revealed in a statement, via Deadline.
CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler previously announced that she was confident that everything would work out for negotiations.
"We're feeling very confident that everything will work out," the CBS chairman said at the TCA press tour this month. "These deals manage to get done somehow miraculously year after year."
The Big Bang Theory Season 8 is set to have its premiere on Monday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. on CBS. It will only be on Mondays for a few months in the fall as CBS makes way for Thursday Night Football. It will then return to its regular Thursdays at 8 p.m. timeslot.
It is assumed that the sitcom will be able to make its September deadline.