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Saved by the Bell Stars Earn Pennies from Show
2 Oct
Summary
- Actors receive minimal residual payments for hit shows.
- Some checks amount to mere cents or even negative value.
- Success on streaming platforms doesn't always reach performers.
Even decades after its massive success, 'Saved by the Bell' stars like Tiffani Thiessen and Mark-Paul Gosselaar are receiving astonishingly small residual payments. Thiessen noted that her residuals have effectively 'dried out,' joking that checks are now too small to be worth printing. Gosselaar even reported receiving payments as low as 10 or 13 cents for syndication, with no earnings from merchandise.
This phenomenon extends beyond 'Saved by the Bell.' Actors from other popular series, including 'Full House' and 'Gilmore Girls,' have shared similar stories of negligible earnings from streaming and syndication. Kimiko Glenn of 'Orange Is the New Black' received only $27.30 in foreign royalties, while Lauren Graham stated there are 'really no residuals on Netflix.'
The disparity underscores a systemic issue where the immense popularity and longevity of television shows, especially in the streaming era, do not consistently translate into substantial financial returns for the performers involved. This has been a focal point in recent industry discussions.
