The cast of ABC’s hit drama “Lost” have finally cashed in on the show’s phenominal success.
All the regular cast members who have been with the show from the beginning in 2004 are set to receive large raises in the show’s third season. The increase would come in exchange for the actors agreeing to a contract extension with producer Touchstone TV by one year.
The extended contracts don’t necessarily guarantee, however, that an actor’s character won’t be killed or leave the island where “Lost” takes place. Already in the show’s history, two regulars — played by Ian Somerhalder and Maggie Grace — have seen their characters die.
Most of the “Lost” cast makes between $20,000 and $40,000 per episode, not exactly the biggest earners in prime-time television. The raises would bring the actors’ pay to the $80,000-per-episode range. That’s consistant with what the stars of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives.”
“Lost,” which draws about 16.6 million viewers per week, has one of the largest casts of any prime-time show. Combined with its tropical location in Hawaii, it’s not a cheap show to operate.
The Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning drama is among the most popular shows among adults 18-49, the demographic advertisers pay a premium to reach.
Credit: Zap2It.com
