It’s about time we started hearing about TV characters’ fictional, at times pathetic salaries instead of how much the actors behind them get paid per episode in real life. (Honestly, it seems like I’m constantly reading about this. Do I actively seek it out — or does the media cram it down my throat? Was I even hungry? And who is this "media"?)
Turns out The Office’s Pam (Jenna Fischer, pictured), only rakes in $23K a year. That seems pretty low (even taking into account the cost-of-living in Scranton, Pa), but unlike other TV shows and nearly every movie, Pam’s material life seems fairly reflective of her income. I just realized that’s probably because we never see the insides of the characters’ houses. Jim’s, that one time, but all he had to show off was booze and a yearbook. So The Office pulls off the income facade well. Ugly Betty probably does, although it appears to have taken a few hundred thousands of dollars’ worth of patterned fabric to upholster every inch of the Suarez house (which I love, by the way). And Boston Legal always takes great pains to remind us just how well-off and Boston-y the attorneys are. Cheers to good wealth, guys.
Some of the figures do seem to have a margin of error of plus-or-minus…infinity. I would have guessed that Lorelai Gilmore made, like, a grand per annum as an innkeeper. And how about all the hilariously unspecified businesses on some of our sillier shows? The ones so ridiculous they couldn’t possibly turn a profit but that we still love enough to ignore that glaring problem? Bluth Company? Uncles Jesse and Joey? Kirsten Cohen and Julie Cooper, "Co-owners of NewMatch?" Hi!
This is fun. Who else on TV had the weirdest, seemingly profitable job that in reality never would have made a dime?
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Matt Groening used to say that the Simpsons worked in part because the family had financial issues and weren’t well off, which led to stories of a similar nature.
Halfway through the series that changed, which I think was a bad idea. Still, early seasons had Homer not making a lot of money and everyone fretting over little things.
The ultimate example: Sarah Jessica Parker’s apartment and lifestyle on Sex and the City. A columnist couldn’t make more than $65-75K a year at the New York Star, no matter how big they were. And with 30-40 pairs of $400 shoes, never once taking the subway, and an enormous apartment, that’s pretty darn implausible. Oh well… at least she almost found herself homeless.
Obviously none of the characters on “Friends,” with the possible exception of Chandler, would make enough to live in their huge, nice apartments and dress as well as they did.
Melrose still takes the cake. Anybody who’s ever worked in advertising knows how ridiculous that business was portrayed.
Okay Uncle Jesse and Joey worked in advertising, and Danny totally supported them, don’t hate.
assomeone who spent his college years in Scranton PA I can tell you 23,000 goes a long way. Pitchers of beer are only eight bucks, and the rent on my four bed room house was only 600 a month.I think a frugal character like Pam is doing alright
Get real. I earned less as an admin assistant in Chicago.
There are lots of characters like the ones mentioned on these boards that seem to live way above their fictional means, but I’m gonna kind of go the other way…
How much do you suppose Jack Bauer makes?? What’s the going rate for saving the world 6 times going on 7?! What would he even spend it on?? More messenger bags (Jack pack!)? Maybe that magical cell phone battery that never runs out? Whatever he gets paid, it’s not enough.
Uncle Jesse also hosted a radio show, ran a night club, and was technically an international singer (where he had a lot of fans in Japan).
My favorite was always Jack Bristow. The guy basically had a government job but always had awesome suits and a nice apartment. Then in one episode you find out he has a storage locker full of cool stuff including a safe full of cash.
How about that NCIS boss who, if the NCIS falls into the standard public service salary range would make somewhere between 60-90k as a departmental head and still drove a shiny new Merc SL in the pilot. Thinking of which, what is this thing with all the governmental institutions having ready access to private jets, prototype ne’er-seen-before kit and five-star hotels?
And how did Sandy Cohen keep the McMansion on his public attorney salary after KiKi and JuJu’s inherited construction company defaulted (if it didn’t – there’s the answer to where at least Kirsten’s income came from). Maybe he holds the patent on bagel slicers, me thinks.
Annie. I’m insulted by your ignorance.
I am well-educated, with a Bachelor’s degree from a major university, and I work as a receptionist in a big city, but I only make 21K per year. It sucks, and it’s hard to survive, but its the most I’ve ever been paid. I’m just happy to have a job that ain’t retail.
I haven’t worked in 18 months. 23K sounds pretty good to me.
I haven’t worked in 18 months. 23K sounds pretty good to me.
Carrie Bradshaw on SATC is the most ridiculous example of a character spending WAY more than she earns.
I have thought about the Pam thing, too. Eh, I agree, I don’t even think she would make 23K. One that always sticks out in my mind is Sean on Felicity. From what I know he was an inventor and sometimes into advertising (I think), but he lived in this ultra cool, brick-wall exposed apartment with a cool spiral staircase in NYC. I know he had one or two roomates, but that wouldn’t even cut it, even if his Smoothaise had been a hit.
The guys at Boston Legal should move to Chicago. I work at a law firm in Chi-town and I know partners make a heck of a lot more than $210,000. And don’t forget the lawyer perks! I’m a project assistant and make a lot less. Funny thing is…lawyers tell me they list modestly…hahaha…lying jerks!!
list* live
To the person that made the comment about “Friends” if you had watched the series Finale, Chandler said that because of Rent Control, the apt was “a friggin steal”. And I’m a receptionist for a huge insurance company and the projected income for Pam is more than I make in a year. Granted I live/work in Indianapolis but still, it’s not much!
For all of you who are boo-hooing Carrie Bradshaw, remember, she lived in a rent controlled apartment in Manhatten. Remember season 4 when Aiden bought her apt and she had to rebuy it from him? She told her real estate agent -Deelia- that she paid something around the figure of $750. a month.
Now those in Manhatten would no better than I if that is true.
Then she got the “advance from France” from her book so she was able to pay off some of the debt she owed Charolette.
One of the shows today which makes me wonder is Susan Mayer on Desperate Housewives – she never works! granted she probably got the house from the divorce but writing books pays only when you actually write something.
Gabby hasn’t done a thing either. Now that her and Carlos are seperated, she would have to work in order to maintain her lifestyle. If Carlos is that rich, why is he renting right now?!
To Ashley.. Sean from Falicity got the apt from family and lived off the rent he made from the roommates.
Who are these people who get paid so much and how do I become one? I feel like the whole world is making more money than I am. I can barely afford my monthly public transit pass, and who is public transit for if not for poor people?
-Everyone on 90210 the college years. How did Kelly and Donna afford to live in the beach house working in a crisis centre? And Donna’s boutique? Rich parents I guess. And how much money could the Peach Pit After Dark bring in for Val and David? Oh wait…David was a music producer…right…
I live in Scranton and $23k for a receptionist here is probably a little generous. I know people that do similar jobs for $8-10/hr. Of course I also just built a brand new house for $210k including land so it’s not as bad as it sounds.
Oh, and in response to the comment on Jack Bauer: he’s a gov’t worker. He’s making about $120k/year prior to any bonuses (and I hope he gets bonuses) until he leaves CTU (which, of course, doesn’t exist.
This has bugged me for years. When characters complain about money troubles while wearing a new $500 outfit. The most realistic show I think was Roseanne. That Afghan on the couch was the perfect touch.
People who have money assume it is easy for everyone to get money. Sadly, this is not the case. Some people simply do not have that aggressive gene that gets them into higher paying jobs. And thank god for them. Aggressive people are so annoying.
How about every character on a soap opera ever? They never work but they all get married like ten times and have the most elaborate weddings all while going on many vacations or dangerous trips at any fleeting moment.
Wait a second, where are you people all receptionists that you’re making less than $23,000? I’m one too, but I make $27,000 a year (and I thought THAT was low!). I think $23,000 in Scranton sounds just about right.
Once thing I never got about Friends was that out of all of them, Chandler was the most financial stable yet lived in the smallest apartment (with a roomate). In response to the Simpsons’ comment on the bottom of the page, I remember episodes where the characters had to go without basic neccesities to get surgery for their dog or when “moeny was too tight for steak”. Now it seems like money is no issue whatsoever with Homer randomly buying an RV or an ice cream truck and the family flying all over the world to China and Rio. Oh well, its still pretty funny.
FRIENDS was always the most ridiculous to me. Those gigantic apartments in the West Village would cost millions to buy, probably at least $6000 a month to rent. And Rachel was a waitress/personal shopper. I live and work in Manhattan in a secure marketing job and can barely afford my tiny studio apartment in a much less trendy neighborhood!