'Modern Family' Cast Sues Over 'Illegal' Contracts
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(Image source: Rolling Stone)
BY JASMINE BAILEY
The cast of ABC’s hit show “Modern Family” may be all smiles on-screen, but behind the scenes, some serious issues are brewing. NECN explains.
“Six cast members from the hit comedy show are suing the studio demanding they be let out of their contracts. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the actors claim the contracts prevent them from taking role outside the show.”
Cast members — Sofia Vergara, Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Ed O'Neill — filed a lawsuit together claiming their contracts violate California law. People Magazine reports …
“… (The lawsuit claims) 20th Century Fox Television contracts break California's ‘7-Year Rule,’ which prohibits personal services contracts that span longer than seven years.”
But The Hollywood Reporter notes — this could be a tactic to void contracts in order to negotiate a pay raise.
“ … renegotiations are common between the third and fourth seasons, when casts of hit shows typically get bigger paychecks in exchange for agreeing to continue with the show beyond the seventh season. The cast is asking … more than double the offered salary if the show goes 8 or 9 seasons, as expected.”
Currently, Sofia Vergara is TV’s highest-paid actress, but E! reports the title is meaningless.
“In a way, the title of ‘highest-paid’ and a bid for a raise are totally unrelated. After all, you can be the most expensive person in your field and still be underpaid; just depends on how much your bosses are making off of your talent back … ”
So what does the future look like for “Modern Family?”
A blogger for the Washington Post reports a rep for 20th Century Fox TV said the company had no statement; and ABC also declined to comment. Presumably, the debate will be wrapped up by Friday’s press conference.
A table read to mark the beginning of the show’s fourth season was canceled Tuesday when cast members refused to attend. Filming is scheduled to begin next week.
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