TV Guide reveals: Charlie Sheen makes $825,000 per episode

There may be no more depressing report in entertainment than TV Guide's annual look at how much media stars earn.

That's because Two and a Half Men’s Charlie Sheen -- who I like well enough as a performer, all due respect to the man -- is the highest-paid comedy star in TV's prime-time these days, earning $825,000 per episode (includes earnings from Sheen’s ownership stake in the series). That means Sheen likely earns about $20.6-million annually for walking around like a guy in a stupor and cracking jokes about sleeping around.

CSI star William Petersen, who feels so limited by his role on the forensic drama he is leaving the show after this season, takes off as the highest-paid actor in a prime-time drama, earning $600,000 per episode. You'd think Petersen would take a lesson from guys who previously held the highest-paid title -- ER stars Anthony Edwards and Noah Wyle -- who both saw their actings careers fall off a cliff after leaving their once-popular show.

Among women, Mariska Hargitay, star of Law & Order: SVU, is the highest-paid actress in a prime-time drama, earning $400,000 per episode.  Kyra Sedgwick, star of TNT’s The Closer, is the highest-paid actress in a cable network drama, earning $275,000 per episode. Since network series typically film about twice the number of episodes as in cable, Harguitay is probably making a lot more than Sedgwick.

According to TV Guide, Seth MacFarlane, the creator and lead-voice talent of the animated hit Family  Guy, is highest-paid prime-time writer/producer, thanks to a new $100-million deal with 20th Century Fox Television through 2012.  And the voice talent of The Simpsons -- Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, and Hank Azaria -- each earn $400,000 per episode on Fox's animated series.

Among the expected names: Oprah Winfrey HARPO Productions earned $385 million last year, Simon Cowell earns $50 million per year for American Idol, Late Show host David Letterman earns $32 million per year, and anchor Katie Couric (CBS News) earns $15 million per year.

What I always wonder: How does the magazine get these figures? And is it fair to compare the revenue of a major media company like HARPO -- which does more than just produce the Oprah Winfrey Show -- with the in-pocket salary of someone like Couric or Sheen?

You can ponder those questions while waiting for TV Guide's next issue, which hits stores Thursday. 

Comments

[Doug]

Hank Azaria makes 400K per episode? I hope Harry Shearer makes that much too (so he can give it to Obama...yeah right, BARF!)

[missy]

thank you. as soon as i read william peterson was the highest paid on a drama, i said "what about hugh laurie?" "House" is the best drama on t.v. - as for charlie sheen; i have loved him since the 80s and i am thrilled for him despite the fact i think all the actors are overpaid. more of them need to be giving something back. i love that america as a whole is struggling and basically in a depression but hollywood is still doing just fine. i guess California really is it's own little country

[Anthony]

For a crappy sitcom that uses can laughter! Must be nice to work 4 months out of the year for CBS

[tim]

Steve, Houston, et al: For the honor of being a very highly compensated celebrity, it's a given that one must tithe to the Hollywood establishment. Be sure to look for Charlie, Emilio and Martin - front row center when Obama hits tinsel town looking for campaign cash.

[former tampanian]

I don't usually watch 2 and half men, but I did watch last night's repeat (new to me though). I was cracking up all night with the guy jokes and sexual double entendres. Want to check out a well-written reality show...watch Wipeout. my 2 cents.

[Houston]

Tim,
???WhatTF

[Houston]

Tim,
???WhatTF

[Eric Deggans]

Back in 2006, it was rumored Laurie was making $275,000 to $300,000 per episode, so i'm sure he's doing fine.

Reality shows are popular because they're cheaper. i think they're popular among younger viewers because young viewers are tired of bad sitcoms, and would rather watch a bad relaity show -- because the form feels relativwely new -- than a bad sitcom.

And TV seemingly has forgotten how to make a good, traditional sitcom anymore (new school comedies such as 30 Rock and Arrested Development don't count)...

[Bob H.]

Mary, you're exactly right. The reason there are so many so-called reality shows is two-fold. First, the cost to produce them is incredibly cheap. No elaborate sets, hack writers, and actor wannabes that don't command millions. Secondly, the dumbed-down public demands these types of shows. Instead of intelligent dramas and sitcoms, we'd rather watch scripted drivel masquerading as "reality" (or at the very least, the shows have pre-determined outcomes) and fool ourselves into thinking we're getting a peak into someone's real life or watching the "dramatic" interaction between people in some contrived contest.

[Mary]

Chris - BEST comment on any blog lately. My 2 cents: We're screwed with either candidate...

[Mary]

The show is OK...I want to know how much Hugh Laurie (House) makes. His is the BEST character on TV these days. Also, wonder why there are SO many "reality" shows? So the networks don't have to pay the "characters" these outrageous "salaries".

[chris]

Jesus Christ, does every effing' post have to be a Democratic v Republican rant. Get an effin' life.

[Steven Tamayo]

Tim, in reading your post I was captivated by your political insight. I eagerly await your next posting.

[tim]

The Democratic party has to be funded from at least one other source than ambulance-chasing trial lawyers.