A season 7 of Mom on CBS seems like a sure thing given that it’s one of the most popular comedy series’ on the network but one hurdle is said to be in the way of a guaranteed pickup and that’s more money for its two co-leads, Anna Faris & Allison Janney.
The two actresses have to renegotiate new contracts which expire this season. Producing studio Warner Bros. TV over the past month or so reached out to Faris and Janney about new deals and the two actresses went in together and there has been some initial back and forth but the two sides are still very far apart on the money as Faris and Janney are seeking significant salary increases.
Reportedly Faris and Janney make under $200,000 an episode which is well below the $1 million an episode that the cast of CBS‘ The Big Bang Theory receives. While Mom doesn’t pull Big Bang Theory numbers, the show is the #3 series on the network in terms of total viewers and adults 18-49 behind Chuck Lorre’s Big Bang and Young Sheldon. It also finished last season as the third most-watched comedy in broadcast TV and as a Top 5 comedy in 18-49 and 25-54.
Mom is also a rarity in the world of current sitcoms because it tackles real-life issues while maintaining its sense of humor. Created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky and Gemma Baker, the series follows Faris and Janney as daughter/mother duo Christy and Bonnie Plunkett, who, after having been estranged for years while both were struggling with addiction, attempt to pull their lives and their relationship together by trying to stay sober. Janney has won two Emmy Awards for her work on the show and CBS is probably very interested in keeping a sitcom around that has its level pedigree.
