Dexter star salary demand puts show in jeopardy
By Alexandra Heilbron on October 6, 2011 | 29 Comments
Talks have broken down between Michael C. Hall, who stars as a serial killer in the drama series Dexter, and Showtime, the network that produces the show. The sixth season premiere was watched by a record 2.2 million viewers, up 24 per cent from last year’s debut episode, but because Hall’s contract runs out after this season, a seventh season is not a sure thing. Showtime has offered $20 million for two more seasons, which would make him the highest-paid actor on a cable show, but Hall is holding out for $24 million. If the two sides can’t come to an agreement, production on the series could come to a halt when the current season wraps in the next few months. Speaking to E! Online earlier this year, Hall said: “I’m still enjoying it. You don’t want to overstay your welcome, but the past six years have really flown by.” However, Hall, who won a Golden Globe for his work on the show last year, spent four seasons on Six Feet Under before going directly into Dexter. It’s rumored that after 10 years on television, he wants to move on, with one of his goals being to star in a Broadway musical.
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“Must…have …the extra….$4 million. In need new shoes.”
“Must…have …the extra….$4 million. I need new shoes.”
He should get it. The people at Showtime will make all that money back in no time. From DVDs and merchandizing they will make more then 4 million.
A 20% raise is substantial, still I understand why he would like to move on and do other stuff in his acting career. Although it did not stop him to star in Gamer.
But the fact the show is still solid and popular they’ll probably reach an agreement.
While I enjoy the show, I think the salaries are outrageous,with this and many other shows,I say let him go I am sure the writers will come up with an idea for the show to carry on, if not let the show die.
He has the right to ask for it. A series is evaluated by the ratings and number of viewers which they wouldn’t have if he wasn’t the superb actor that he is. They wouldn’t have those ratings without him. Actually, it’s unhealthy for an actor to remain in the same category for long periods of time or else they become “typecast” and other producers don’t know if they’re capable of playing other characters in other roles and they also don’t know if the public can view them as a different type of character so they get passed up to play parts in big screen movies. Give him the money he wants. If they don’t, he can move on and it’s a win/win situation for him either way.
I love Dexter (and Michael C. Hall) and I think Showtime should pay him what he’s asking. If they don’t, they will lose an excellent series and a ton of money. Let’s keep Dexter on TV for a long, long time.
If you think about it, he’s really not getting an extra 4 million in his pockets. Well, 2 million goes to Uncle Sam as taxes. Then another 10% goes to his agent. Then more percentage of the remaining amount goes to his surrounding staff such as his publicist, personal assistant, hired hand entourage, etc. The poor man will be lucky to have 1 million left in order to spend it on his lavish lifestyle…..Joke.
I think people in the entertainment business, including sports, are paid wayyyy to much. Imagine getting paid millions of dollars for playing a game, such as those in the sport entertainment business. No wonder, oridinary folks like you and I envy them and find it very difficult having to settle for min. salaries in our common 9 to 5 jobs.
Agree with Joe’s comments. How many and who of those TV, film, entertanment, and sports celebrities are using their millions to consistently help others in dire need in this world…..
An actor doesn’t know when the next good gig will come along unless you’re a top Hollywood actor, so you have to make the most out of what you have at the moment. Dexter is successful, people are not ready to see it end, Hall knows he can cash in, as he should.
I wish my doctor made that much money.
I absolutely adore Dexter! 1 say pay the man what he want’s Showtime! He thoroughly deserves it, and give us our seventh season you cheap bastards!
Interesting point Germain, that actors should make the most of it considering they don’t know where their next gig is coming from. But is that reason enough for them to receive these enormous salaries.
If you think about it, not knowing where the next gig will come from, is everyone’s dilemma. I mean a sales rep doesn’t know if he will make enough sales to cover his yearly living expenses. A secretary doesn’t know if the company she’s working for won’t close down during the year and will become unemployed. Every person living a common lifestyle don’t know if they will have a job tomorrow. Nothing is for certain. So making the most of it doesn’t only apply to actors.
Entertainers and athletes etc only make these sums of money because the projects (or teams)they work on (or for) generate even greater sums of money. And in the case of someone like Michael Hall, he is primarily responsible for the revenue generated. As good a character as Deb is she isn’t the main reason people tune in for the most part. Same thing with sports teams. If the Yankees can pay the salaries they do it’s only because they are bringing in a hell of a lot more. And they can only generate that revenue with players that their legions of fans want to see. You could put any schmuck in pinstripes and maybe someone would pay to see that…but not many and not for much. Put A-Rod out there and now you have millions of eyes and billions of dollars. And it is all due to the player(or actor/director etc) and their drawing power. So it is only fair that they should get a significant percent of the pie…just my 2cents
Come on $24 million. No one is worth that. Take the 20 or there are lots of other actors. Noone person needs that kind of pay. They just get to greedy. We all wish we could get more. Money is not the root to all evils.
I love the show and would hate to see it all end but I’d be curious to see what becomes of him if they deny him the extra $4mill. It’s always interesting to see what happens to stars when they decide they’re going to call the shots like this.
I used to think he must be as cool in real life cos he plays his character so naturally but he actually sounds like a total jerk and I’m not even talking about the $4mill demand beause everyone deserves to ask for what they feel they are worth.
Didn’t he divorce his wife for his character’s sister and then dump her when she had cancer? I guess I wasn’t there and don’t know the whole story but how do you justify this kind of thing?
Re: ugh–Hall was the one who had cancer, not his ex-wife. How can you assume he’s a jerk–do you know him?
He’s worth every dollar they pay him. Dexter is an excellent program and Hall is fantastic in it, just as he was fantastic in Six Feet Under.
22 million anyone?
@ Sean on October 6, I agree with you 100%. Back in the 50s, hockey players were being paid peanuts, until men like Gordie Howe started to wise up. 15 000 people paying this much to some to the game makes this amount for the owner and yet, I’m the one they come to see play, why am I getting so little? I mean, yeah, it has gone a little overboard in many cases but Hall knows that there’s no Dexter without him and the likelyhood of them cancelling the series over 4 millions extra are very small so he’s going for it, deep down inside, we would all do the same.
Why doesn’t he just say I wanna be on broadway??
By Dexter.
>>>J. on October 7, 2011 4:59 AM<<>>ugh on October 7, 2011 2:19 AM>>>
“SOME” people should get their facts right before they comment! Otherwise it makes them sound like an oxymoron…
It was about 9 years ago I saw him in New York playing Billy Flynn in the musical “chicago”, He was pretty good…
What’s the matter with asking for some more celery?
Five seasons of Six Feet Under, not four.
@Sue I agree with your assessment, though I’d like to point out that Celebrities and Professional Athletes are usually under 24/7 scrutiny by the media, their fans, and possibly stalkers worldwide. They have to deal with hate mail, death threats, and constant criticism’s. This can add up to a lot of pressure, stress, and lead to psychological disorders. I’m not saying everyone doesn’t have their fair share of problems, pressures, and stresses… But not everyone has to deal with it while being watched by the whole world.
Another way to look at it is from a goods and services prospective. They provide something the fans want and get paid for it. If a magician does a show and charges $5, $10, $15, $30 a head, a stadium full audience adds up to a lot of money. An actor entertaining on television broadcasting to millions of people should technically be allowed to make as much, IMO.
15% goes to the agent.
I can see him wanting more, but in the mean time, the other cast and crew are on hold waiting to hear if they have a job come next season – which sucks for them.
I love dexter, and would not watch the show without him. give him the money. whats life without dexter.
Michael C.Hall is worth every penny of $24 million. Without him, there would have been no ‘Dexter”. Show-time can make it back, or even more…
I’m really disgusted, people like Michael Hall at which money given to the head, look at the work we do, we pay 20 million dollars? even throughout the life we have them! And we are also unemployed, they remain unemployed if they have millions of dollars to rebuild their lives. I think the world should end soon.
Massimiliano from Italy