Forbes have come up with their annual list of the 10 top-earning women in Prime-Time television and it’s full of the usual people you would expect to appear on the list.
10. (tie) Jennifer Love Hewitt, Estimated earnings: $6.5 million
The CBS show Ghost Whisperer, on which Hewitt served as producer and star, ended its run in May after five seasons. The former Party of Five star also played a prostitute in the Lifetime movie The Client List and offered a scene-stealing cameo in NBC’s Love Bites pilot. In March she shared personal relationships struggles in her book The Day I Shot Cupid.
10. (tie) Calista Flockhart, Estimated earnings: $6.5 million
Though her on-screen struggles, be them health-, politics- or marriage-related, as Kitty Walker have been many, Flockhart has little to complain about off-screen. As the ensemble cast’s top-earner, the former Ally McBeal star banked $6.5 million last year. Arguably better: she finally tied the knot with long-term beau and fellow actor Harrison Ford.
8. (tie) Marcia Cross, Estimated earnings: $7 million
Cross’ comedic turn as the all-too-perfect Bree Van De Kamp on ABC’s hit series has earned her critical accolades, countless fans and a $250,000-per-episode paycheck. The mother of twins padded her Wisteria Lane income with a lucrative turn as a Motts spokeswoman.
8. (tie) Ellen Pompeo, Estimated earnings: $7 million
Now in its seventh season on the air, viewers still flock to ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Having spent years watching Pompeo’s Meredith Grey simultaneously push away and pine after her now husband, Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd, they got to see her move on to the next struggle this past spring: a child. In the high stakes season finale, her character miscarries. Off camera, Pompeo has been busy caring for her own healthy baby, Stella, with her real-life producer husband Chris Ivery.
7. Tina Fey, Estimated earnings: $7.5 million
What 30 Rock lacks in prime-time viewers (the series averages 6.5 million weekly viewers last season) it makes up for in critical and award show acclaim. The series had won the Emmy for best comedy for three consecutive years, upstaged this year by ABC’s Modern Family. Fey, too, has picked up statues for her role as the series’ creator and star, Liz Lemon. She reprised her Emmy-winning Sarah Palin impersonation on an episode of Saturday Night Live last season, and appeared opposite Steve Carell in the big-screen romantic comedy Date Night.
6. Mariska Hargitay, Estimated earnings: $9.5 million
Though ratings for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit took a hit when it was bumped up an hour to make room for Jay Leno’s short-lived 10 p.m. talk-show last season, the series remains the franchise’s strongest effort. At the forefront of both that show and its success is Hargitay, who has been rewarded with an Emmy and Golden Globe win in the past. Now that the Law & Order mothership has concluded its lengthy run, the New York-based actress becomes the unofficial face of the larger franchise.
5. Marg Helgenberger, Estimated earnings: $10 million
The Emmy-winning actress recently launched her 11th season as showgirl turned blood-spatter analyst Catherine Willows on the lucrative CBS procedural. In an era where few shows deliver sizable ratings–much less massive profit–her series continues to stand out.
4. Eva Longoria Parker, Estimated earnings: $12 million
Like her fellow leading ladies, the Desperate Housewives siren pulled down an estimated $250,000 per episode last season. Off screen, Longoria Parker’s lengthy list of endorsements included L’Oreal Paris, LG Fashion Touch, Heineken and London Fog. The restaurant owner, who donates much of her personal income to charity, also dipped her toe into the celebrity fragrance marketplace with the spring launch of Eva by Eva Longoria.
3. Katherine Heigl, Estimated earnings: $15.5 million
With both a newborn and a film career to nurture, Heigl walked away from her Emmy-winning role as Izzie Stevens on Grey’s Anatomy. Thanks to a string of box office successes, like Knocked Up and 27 Dresses,Heigl commands $12 million a flick, which puts her among the best-paid ladies in Hollywood. More recently her turn opposite Ashton Kutcher in the critically panned Killers proved a dud. Up next: Life As We Know It, where she and co-star Josh Duhamel become caregivers to an orphaned girl when their mutual best friends die in an accident.
2. Tyra Banks, Estimated earnings: $25 million
Though the supermodel turned super-personality concluded her daytime talk show run in May, she’ll continue to serve up ABC’s True Beauty and her popular unscripted model competition series, America’s Next Top Model. In addition to producing the latter, Banks has licensed it in territories throughout the world. First up from the newly minted book division of Bankable, her multimedia company, is Modelland.
1. Ellen DeGeneres, Estimated earnings: $55 million
In addition to her short-lived gig judging American Idol, DeGeneres remains host of her popular talk-show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and lends her face to ad campaigns for American Express, CoverGirl and new entry Vitamin Water. More recently, she announced she was launching her own record label, eleveneleven, and promptly signed 12-year-old YouTube sensation Greyson Chance as her first artist.
I was feeling great about myself after taking a loan out from the bank today, until I read this. Now I feel depressed.
source: Prime Time’s 10 Top-Earning Women [Forbes]
The women of Desperate Housewives have released a joint statement in regards to Nicollette Sheridan‘s recent allegations that series creator Marc Cherry smacked her over the head and then fired her for wanting to report him to ABC Executives, and guess what they are standing right by him.
Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman, Teri Hatcher and Marcia Cross issued the statement last night announcing that they are standing by their paycheck boss and say the set is a very happy environment.
“It would be irresponsible of us to let the public believe that being a part of this show from its inception has been anything but a blessing. We have no first-hand knowledge of what Nicolette may or may not have experienced, but we would never characterize our set as a hostile environment. It is, in fact, the opposite. The friendships and support that Marc Cherry, the cast, the crew and the producers have shared for the past six years have made this a wonderful job that we are grateful for every day.â€
Teri decided being a part of just one statement wasn’t enough because she then issued her own statement, probably because Nicollette singled her out and said that Marc also abused her. Here is what she had to say:
“While my adoration and respect for the classic and dynamic chemistry of the characters of Susan and Edie is indelible, I’m honored to stand with Eva, Felicity and Marcia, as a group and clarify that our set environment is nothing less than an amazingly positive experience. I have never felt discriminated against. In fact, I have felt heard and respected by Marc and other executives in regards to both my professional and personal needs.”
I knew it was only a matter of time before they all released a statement giving their dying love towards Marc Cherry, there is no way in hell they would have spoken out about him or said the allegations are true. They only care about their paychecks and if they did speak any bad words they would have been next to be axed.
source: Housewives Stars Pledge Support for Producer in Nicollette Sheridan Dispute [People]
Forbes have release their prime time top earning women list from June 1, 2008 to June 1, 2009. When coming up with the list they take into account earnings from television work, producing, movie work and any endorsements.
10. Ellen Pompeo (tie) – $6 million
Now in its sixth season, viewers still tune in to see the latest as Pompeo’s Meredith Grey simultaneously pushes away and pines after her husband, Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd, on ABC’s medical hit. Off camera, the Massachusetts native gave birth to her first child with her producer husband Chris Ivery.
10. Jennifer Love Hewitt – $6 million
Hewitt’s CBS star vehicle rolled out its fifth season last month. As she’s done in seasons past, she serves as a producer and lead actor on the female-friendly series. The former Party of Five star also shills pimple cream and other products for skincare company Proactiv.
9. Marcia Cross – $6.2 million
Cross’ comedic turn as the all-too-perfect Bree Van De Kamp on ABC’s hit series has earned her critical accolades, countless fans and a $225,000 per episode paycheck. Off set, she took on a role as a Motts spokeswoman.
8. Tina Fey – $7 million
Despite just 7 million weekly viewers–up 10% from last season–Fey’s comedy consistently garners critical and award-show praise. Still more impressive, she serves as creator, writer and star. She grabbed gobs of attention last fall for her impersonations of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. In addition to striking a lucrative book deal during the 12-month period, she also filmed Date Night, a romantic comedy opposite fellow NBC star Steve Carell.
6. Maura Tierney – $8 million (tie)
As nurse turned doctor Abby Lockhart, Tierney spent a decade stitching up bodies at County General Hospital on NBC’s long-running medical drama ER. After a lengthy and lucrative run, the series and its fictional hospital finally closed its doors this past spring. The Emmy-nominated actress had grand plans to take on a new NBC drama, the upcoming Parenthood, before bowing out for health reasons.
6. Julia Louis-Dreyfus – $8 million (tie)
While its hardly Seinfeld money, Dreyfus makes a more than a healthy living as the star of CBS’ Wednesday night comedy. She’s also seen money from Seinfeld residuals and a Seinfeld-themed guest arc on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Lest it stop there, the famously goofy star also serves as spokeswoman for Conagra’s Healthy Choice.
5. Mariska Hargitay – $8.5 million
After 10 seasons on the NBC program, the Emmy-winning actress and co-star Chris Meloni found themselves in the middle of a protracted contract dispute this past spring. Off-camera, Hargitay also struggled with a collapsed lung.
4. Eva Longoria Parker – $9 million
The Desperate Housewives vixen may have shed her model body and sexpot image in the show’s leap forward, but she still commands a pretty paycheck. In addition to her $225,000 per episode payday last season, she rakes in additional dough with endorsements like L’Oreal Paris.
3. Marg Helgenberger – $9.5 million
The Emmy-winning actress recently launched her 10th season as showgirl turned blood-spatter analyst Catherine Willows on the lucrative CBS procedural. In an era where few shows deliver massive ratings much less massive profit, her series stands out.
Kathernie Heigl – $18 million
As cancer patient Izzie Stevens on the ABC drama Grey’s Anatomy, Heigl garnered tears and fans alike last season. Whether her character will ultimately survive the illness–and thus remain on the show–remains one of prime-time’s biggest guessing games. Over on the big-screen, the 30-year-old star appeared opposite Gerard Butler in another romantic comedy, The Ugly Truth. Proving her range, she’ll follow that with a starring role opposite Ashton Kutcher in the Lionsgate action comedy Five Killers.
Tyra Banks – $30 million
When it comes to supermodels turned super-personalities, Banks has her competition beat. Among the former cat-walker’s projects: her own production company, along with a slew of TV shows, including model competition series America’s Next Top Model, beauty competition show True Beauty and daytime chat-fest The Tyra Banks Show.
Two more season premieres tonight for another good night of television: ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘Brothers & Sisters’.
‘Desperate Housewives’ is back tonight for the beginning of its 4th season, and Nicollette Sheridan is back on Wisterian Lane despite storylines that indicated possibly otherwise. And Dana Delaney will join the cast this year.
When last season ended, Edie appeared to have committed suicide, Gabby got married to a politician who only married her for the Hispanic vote, Lynette learned she has cancer, Bree was faking a pregnancy to cover-up her daughter’s pregnancy, and Mike and Susan finally got married.
When this season begins, the big mystery will involve Dana Delaney and her family and the reason they left Wisteria Lane years ago. Also, there’s a rumor that Susan will get pregnant this season.
Season Premiere Tonight at 9 pm EST/8 pm CST on ABC
Also on ABC, ‘Brothers & Sisters’ returns for its 2nd season. After taking home the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama, Sally Field promises to deliever again this time around. Her speech focused on mothers and war, and the second season will relate as Sally Field’s character deals with her son’s deployment to Iraq.
Season Premiere Tonight at 10 pm EST/9 pm CST on ABC
Other shows premiering tonight:
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – 8 pm EST on ABC
American Dad – 9:30 pm EST on FOX
This might be the worst poll ever taken. NewlywedKate Walsh has topped the list of Hollywood’s Hottest Redheads. But here’s the thing, who knew Kate Walsh was actually a blonde?
The former Grey’s Anatomy star is a natural blonde, but she insists redheads have more fun, stating, “When I was blonde, they treated me like a girly girl. As a redhead, it was a little more sassy.”
The top 10 List:
1. Kate Walsh
2. Lindsay Lohan
3. Nicole Kidman
4. Debra Messing
5. Geri Halliwell
6. Julianne Moore
7. Kathy Griffin
8. Marcia Cross
9. Amy Adams
10. Isla Fisher
I should change my hair color to red. Maybe I could pull in the #11 ranking. I think this poll incudes every redheaded actress in Hollywood. Lame.
Madonna is currently making her directorial debut on a short film called “Filth and Wisdom” , which is currently being filmed in London. She’s stated that the film will be based on personal experiences.
“While I cannot tell you more about it for now, I am happy to officially reveal its title: Filth And Wisdom. I will finish this in time to go back to the recording studio in July. I hate to be such a tease, but you know how I am.”
Based on the pictures below, she doesn’t look all that happy to me. Maybe it was just a bad day…. a headache maybe.
Apparently, Edie Britt, Nicolle Sheridan‘s character on “Desperate Housewives,” killed herself in the third season-ending cliffhanger. My wife and I don’t watch the show, but my mother-in-law loves it.
i literally leapt out of my seat at the very end of desperate housewives‘s season three finale – did edie britt (played by nicollette sherdian) really hang herself after carlos (sexy ricardo chavira) found out her scheme to make him love her?!?
craziness!
oh my gosh – i still totally love this show and the return of bree (oh my marcia cross) on tonight’s episode totally set the stage for season four – poor gabby (ms. eva longoria) she found out that her new hubby was only interested in securing the latino vote in his race for governor – meanhwile susan (oh teri hatcher) finally found happiness with mike (hunky james denton) – last but not least lynnette‘s (the incredible felicity huffman) mom joined in on the action & her daughter’s current marital problems – portrayed by the always awesome polly bergin!
I’m so excited, I can’t stand it.
Go read the rest of his thoughts at the link. He also fills you in on “Grey’s Anatomy,” which my wife and I actually do watch, although we’re one episode behind on the TiVo.
i literally leapt out of my seat at the very end of 