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Thesp will pull down more than $275,000 per episode next season as part of a just-renegotiated contract with producer NBC Universal Television Studio. Assuming his old deal put him at the high end of what drama series leads make, it's likely Laurie has roughly tripled his payday.
Big raise isn't a surprise given the smash success "House" has become on Fox. Skein is a top 10 staple, particularly when it follows "American Idol" in the spring.
What's more, because it's a procedural drama, "House" is expected to do very well in the off-net syndie marketplace, ensuring that NBC will make a tidy profit on the show. That fact gave Laurie's reps plenty of leverage in the negotiating room.
Laurie scored an Emmy nom last year but, in a major surprise, was snubbed when this year's nominations were announced last week (although "House" earned a mention for drama series).
"House" provided Laurie's major breakthrough role in the U.S., but the thesp has been prolific on the other side of the Pond, more recently starring in several editions of "Blackadder," as well as "Spooks" (retitled "MI-5" in the U.S.) and in several comedy programs alongside Stephen Fry (including "Jeeves and Wooster").
Laurie's other credits include the features "Sense and Sensibility," "101 Dalmatians" and "Stuart Little." He also appeared in the telepic "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows."
A NUTS rep declined comment.
Date in print: Thurs., Jul. 13, 2006,
Los Angeles
Date in print: Thurs., Jul. 13, 2006,
Los Angeles
