News Roundup: Another 'Big Bang Theory' Star Gets a Raise, 'Gossip Girl' Benches Taylor Momsen and More

Another 'Big Bang Theory' star is getting a raise.

After Simon Helberg's co-stars Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons successfully negotiated major raises for their hit CBS sitcom this summer, the actor decided to get one for himself.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Helberg bumped his salary from $40,000 an episode to around $125,000. He entered negotiations along with fellow supporting series regular Kunal Nayyar in September after their co-stars struck their lucrative deal, but Nayyar has yet to secure a payday for his role on the show. Deadline reports that Nayyar is currently making around $25,000 an episode, and if a deal is not reached soon the negotiations will be tabled until the summer.

In other TV news ...

• After next week's episode, Taylor Momsen will go on an "indefinite hiatus" from 'Gossip Girl.' The notoriously uncooperative 17-year-old actress will supposedly be gone for "creative reasons." [Deadline]

• 'Grey's Anatomy' creator Shonda Rimes said the upcoming musical episode will be a Callie-heavy story. It'll allow Tony winner Sara Ramirez to show off her pipes, but also feature other actors singing. "You will be very surprised to discover that some people sing quite well. ... Also, some people won't be singing because it doesn't go with the story." [TV Guide]

• Chuck Lorre said he built 'Two and a Half Men' around Charlie Sheen because he needed someone who could play a "degenerate." "He's a worker amongst workers," Lorre said of Sheen. "His personal issues don't come onto the stage, and he's been a good partner for a long time." [The Hollywood Reporter]

• The American Music Awards got their lowest ratings in four years this weekend. Justin Bieber took home four awards at Sunday's ceremony. [Reuters]

• Sen. Al Franken asked the Justice Department to look into Comcast's announcement of the post-NBC-merger leadership. Because the deal hasn't been approved, the announcement could've constituted "gun-jumping," or illegal collaboration between pre-merger companies. [Deadline]

• A judge has ordered the company FilmOn.com to stop streaming television to mobile phones for free. The networks providing the content objected to the company's practice. [The Wrap]