What TV Writers Get Paid (Wizbang Pop!)

I'm not saying they don't deserve what they're asking for... I'm just sharing information.

Writers on a prime-time TV series like "Desperate Housewives" earn a minimum of 30,823 USD for writing a story and teleplay per one episode.

If the network requires a rewrite, the applicable minimum is $8,634 per episode. The writer earns a minimum of $4,324 for polishing a script.

The writers are paid a minimum of $2,890 to $3,688 per week on week-to-week term employment basis. If they work in additional capacities they could earn a minimum of up to $6,879 per week (based on the number of weeks they are employed).

If they are asked to come up with a 'bible' (an outline of up to 6 storylines for an upcoming season) the writers earn a minimum of $44,353 per bible plus an additional $4,435 per storyline if the bible contains more than 6 storylines.

Each prime-time rerun earns the writer credited for writing the story, the teleplay or both a minimum residual payment of $8,431 to $21,078 per episode.

[source]

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Comments (5)

No one says you have to sel... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by epador | November 18, 2007 7:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

epador:

No one says you have to sell your soul cheap. Still, no reason for them to miss out on their residuals from the internet.

Posted on November 18, 2007 19:02

Great post. It is nice to s... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by John - Freelancer | November 18, 2007 9:43 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

John - Freelancer:

Great post. It is nice to see the earning of TV writers. Not that great luck for us though.

Posted on November 18, 2007 21:43

Ok, let's compare that to w... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Stevie The K | November 19, 2007 7:15 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Stevie The K:

Ok, let's compare that to what the average lawyer makes for writing verbose legalese crap that no one reads or is entertained by, but stifles creativity, business and life in general.
Pay them and let's move on.

Posted on November 19, 2007 07:15

Let them stay on strike. T... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by Imhotep | November 20, 2007 1:49 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Imhotep:

Let them stay on strike. This is the same group of knuckleheads that took the name "Californication" and Dani California from the Chilli Peppers (see above) and claim to know nothing of the Chilli Peppers albums!

Rot people.

Posted on November 20, 2007 13:49

These writers should all be... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by JJ | January 14, 2008 12:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

JJ:

These writers should all be fired and they should bust up that GREEDY union in a heartbeat.

Their writing pretty much sucks.

There are many non-union writers out there who can write far better than any of these striking monkeys.

Look at all the "other" people affected by the greedy writers. Support staffs etc. The writers don't give a rats ass about them.

Fire The Greedy Writers NOW!

Posted on January 14, 2008 12:17

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