Frasier W. Crane
12-23-2002, 01:43 PM
Only 18 episodes of Friends have been ordered by NBC for its tenth season. Article from The Futon Critic:
'friends' set for 10th season nbc
You can forget the down-to-the-wire negotiations the last time "Friends'" contract was up at NBC, the Peacock has nailed down the series five months early. As long expected, NBC has found a way to bring back its top-rated series for a tenth season (and once again, presumably its final one). What turned the tide so early? A $10 million per episode license fee, the most ever paid for a comedy series. The increase of $3 million per episode will help Warner Bros. Television offset the production costs of a 10th season as its current syndication deal does not cover any additional episodes beyond those produced for this season.
That meant that going into its tenth season, Warner Bros. could only count on NBC's license fee to cover its production costs. And with cast salaries alone at $6 million per episode, even $10 million per episode is no guarantee Warner Bros. will see a profit. As part of the deal however the cast had one sticking point - only 18 episodes will be produced for its tenth season, down from 24 this season. While NBC will be disappointed to have to stretch six less episodes across the 2003-2004 season, nevertheless having "Friends" come back in itself is a victory.
NBC already has several series locked up through the 2003-2004 season: "ER," "Frasier," "Law & Order" and "Will & Grace." Both "Law" and "Will" are also booked for the 2004-2005 season.
'friends' set for 10th season nbc
You can forget the down-to-the-wire negotiations the last time "Friends'" contract was up at NBC, the Peacock has nailed down the series five months early. As long expected, NBC has found a way to bring back its top-rated series for a tenth season (and once again, presumably its final one). What turned the tide so early? A $10 million per episode license fee, the most ever paid for a comedy series. The increase of $3 million per episode will help Warner Bros. Television offset the production costs of a 10th season as its current syndication deal does not cover any additional episodes beyond those produced for this season.
That meant that going into its tenth season, Warner Bros. could only count on NBC's license fee to cover its production costs. And with cast salaries alone at $6 million per episode, even $10 million per episode is no guarantee Warner Bros. will see a profit. As part of the deal however the cast had one sticking point - only 18 episodes will be produced for its tenth season, down from 24 this season. While NBC will be disappointed to have to stretch six less episodes across the 2003-2004 season, nevertheless having "Friends" come back in itself is a victory.
NBC already has several series locked up through the 2003-2004 season: "ER," "Frasier," "Law & Order" and "Will & Grace." Both "Law" and "Will" are also booked for the 2004-2005 season.