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May 26, 2012

Lost stars trying to renegotiate

by Brad Trechak, posted Aug 11th 2008 9:22AM
LostSuccess comes with a price. That price is giving the stars of that success a bigger piece of the action.

ABC has started to quietly renegotiate the contracts of Lost stars Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly, increasing their take for each episode to about $150,000. Unfortunately, "quietly" and "Hollywood" are contradictions in terms. Upon learning of this, other supporting players are also attempting to bump up their salaries.

Two things I don't understand: First, knowing that the show would last six years, why didn't the producers verify the participation of the required actors before they could potentially walk away like this? I know the show has a high mortality rate, but can they get away with killing off Jack or Kate? Second, how did ABC honestly think they could keep this quiet?

It's wonderful to see capitalism and egos at work and everybody exaggerating their worth in order to get a higher salary. I just hope Fox and Lilly remember to include their take for those Lost action figures.

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Peter

Clearly some of you aren't paying attention to the story or you have some strange personal issues and just don't want to admit the importance of these two characters. But let's face facts, they are a major part of the story with the flash forward clearly focusing on them having difficulties as a couple, not to mention the fact that Kate is raising Aaron who is still obviously important to the story. And Jack is now very much interested in leading the charge back to the island. Ben clearly said they will all be needed in order for that to happen, so it stands to reason the two are still going to play a major part in the final two years. They will get the money and rightfully so. Lost is nominated for an Emmy again this year. So everyone that's up for negotions has a good enough reason right there to ask for more money. Their own peers think this show is one of the best, that doesn't happen unless the cast is putting forth the effort.

August 13 2008 at 9:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ladypet

I'm an avid Lost fan, & I've seen every episode of every season multiple times. Who made Fox (Jack) "the star". I can't stand the actor or the character. I do like Lily (Kate).
But Sawyer, Desmond, Sayid, Hurley, Ben, Locke, Farraday~& the others, & the other others~LOL~all are "the Stars".

August 12 2008 at 9:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Franklin

The actors need to be careful here: Any one of their characters could be easily killed off on LOST. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if, like a horror movie, every character is killed off by the end of the series.

As for Jack and Kate: Well, in the original concept for the LOST pilot, Jack (when the producers envisioned Michael Keaton playing the role) would have been killed off by the end of the pilot. So I wouldn't be surprised if ABC decides to give Matthew Fox a raise for Season 5, but then orders the producers to whack Jack in the Season 5 finale. The entire series ends at Season 6 anyway.

August 12 2008 at 4:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Phish

Jack is the most annoying character ever on screen, and thats saying something. he always thinks he's right and is always shown that he's a fool.
they should kill him off, in a dramatic fashion. not only will they get awesome ratings, and huge story twist, but it will improve the overall show.
did anyone see MF on speed racer? what a wooden, uninspired, talentless performance that was. the younger rex was far more convincing and enjoyable to watch.

this guy is a huge DUD! kill him off, pleaseeeeeee.

as for evangeline lily.......MEH
wouldnt take more than a few eps to get over that.

August 12 2008 at 12:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joe

I think we all can agree with killing off Jack. I have been wanting that from day one. Well may be not day but I really have never cared for the Jack Character. I like Kate in the begining but in the last two season have been making me really wanting to see her Die. John locke has not been as great as He use to be even though He is still better then the other two. Yet He gets killed off.

Sawyer is another one I like in the show. Same with Ben and Desmond. I really hope Desmond and Penny get to be in the next season same with the people on the freighter.

So to me seeing Evangeline Lilly & Matthew Fox get a pay raise really sucks because really what have they added to the show and there characters are weak when next to the others.

August 11 2008 at 6:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Scott

Jack and Kate are the least interesting characters on "Lost". I'd prefer to see them fade into the background. However, given the story that's been told so far, and how much of it revolves around Jack needing to "go back" to the island, I'm afraid he's absolutely necessary.

August 11 2008 at 5:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ganesh

honestly, either of their characters could die and no one would care, partly because they're boring and partly because they don't seem to affect the main storyline -- especially compared to o'quinn and emerson's characters.

August 11 2008 at 1:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
derek

What's interesting to me is that Charlie Sheen is making $850k an episode for Two & A Half Men while the cast on Lost is making $150k an episode. I guess when you consider the Sheen show can easily go into syndication for years upon years versus a show like Lost plus the production costs of Lost I guess it all makes sense in some way.

August 11 2008 at 11:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Villavlg

I get that these two are the male and female leads and earn more, but if they get a raise then so to should the rest of the cast, especially those who have actually been recognized for their acting by either winning or being nominated for Emmys (Terry O'Quinn and Michael
Emerson). If either of those two great characters left the show it wouldn't be the same. The same can not be said for EL. If Kate died in the S5 premiere her abscence would hardly be felt. And i would hardly refer to MF as a movie star. His box office "success" leaves something to be desired.

August 11 2008 at 11:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Villavlg's comment
mr. O

Important to remember that compensation in Hollywood rarely has to do with talent - sex appeal trumps ability eight days a week. Michael Emerson is a great actor...but he will never see the kind of cash Matthew Fox (or Charlie Sheen or David Caruso or Topher Grace or Chris Meloni etc.) does. It just doesn't work that way - he's a character actor. MF is a leading man. Period.

Surprising that this is actually still news to people - pretty standard stuff for decades in show business.

August 11 2008 at 1:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Villavlg

I get that these two are the male and female leads and earn more, but if they get a raise then so to should the rest of the cast, especially those who have actually been recognized for their acting by either winning or being nominated for Emmys (Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson). If either of those two great characters left the show it wouldn't be the same. The same can not be said for EL. If Kate died in the S5 premiere her abscence would hardly be felt. And i would hardly refer to MF as a movie star. His box office "success" leaves something to be desired.

August 11 2008 at 10:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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