As Nip/Tuck heads to its sixth season, lead stars Julian McMahon (Christian Troy) and Dylan Walsh (Sean McNamara), as well as series regulars Joely Richardson (Julia McNamara), Kelly Carlson (Kimber Henry) and Roma Maffia (Liz Cruz), are asking FX for a hefty pay raise. Discussions have been ongoing for weeks but no one has reportedly had their request granted.

When production on Nip/Tuck's fifth season began in the summer of 2007, McMahon and Walsh saw their compensation upped to about $125,000 an episode, with Richardson following closely behind at about $100,000. Now, Richardson is reportedly seeking a rather considerable increase while McMahon and Walsh are asking to double their salaries.

Cast members' main argument for the salary increase is the difficulty they may be facing in landing new gigs in the next few years.  As reported previously, Nip/Tuck has been picked up for a few more seasons, which will air until 2011.  Additionally, the network has also ordered 19 more episodes of the series, besides the 22 in production, which will bring the show's total to an even 100 episodes.  The final season is expected to be divided into two batches, which will air in 2010 and 2011.  Because of this, other networks might be reluctant to cast them in new roles.

On the other hand, it's not like the cast is threatening to sit out.  To help with salary negotiations, McMahon and Walsh have enlisted Marty Singer to their legal team.  Singer is a veteran litigator who represented The Sopranos lead star James Gandolfini in his 2003 renegotiations-related lawsuit against HBO and also represented the supporting Sopranos cast members in their pursuit of paycheck increases for the show's final episodes.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, an agreement could be reached this week.

Meanwhile, production on the show's sixth season started Monday.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
(Image courtesy of FX)