Cliff Lipson/CBS and NBC
Charlie Sheen and Mariska Hargitay are sitting pretty together in Hollywood.
The Two and a Half Men star and Law & Order: SVU detective are on the top of their respective lists for the highest paid television stars.
Sheen earns $875,000 an episode for playing Charlie Harper on the popular CBS comedy. To put that in perspective, topping the list last year for the men was James Gandolfini of The Sopranos with $1 million per episode.
No offense to Sheen, but he has no business being in the same ballpark in salary with Gandolfini.
Other men bringing in the big bucks are Kiefer Sutherland of 24 ($550,000), House star Hugh Laurie ($400,00), and Christopher Meloni of SVU ($400,000).
Hargitay shares the top of the list for highest-paid television women with the four stars (Eva Longoria Parker, Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman) of ABC's Desperate Housewives at $400,000 an episode. Next on the list are Tina Fey of 30 Rock ($300,000) and the underrated Kyra Sedgwick of The Closer ($275,000).
While the primetime stars might get the fame and ratings, the real money in Hollywood is made late at night.
Topping the list of highest paid talk show hosts is David Letterman and his whopping $32 million-a-year salary, edging out his rival Jay Leno ($30 million). A distant third is Tonight Show newbie Conan O’Brien with $14 million.
Does anyone else find it a little disturbing that the highest paid male television star makes twice as much as the highest paid woman? At least the Law & Order: SVU folks got it right, paying both of their co-stars equally!
Are you bothered by the discrepancy in salary between men and women? Chime in below!
