9 More TV Salary Disputes

Valerie Harper, “Valerie”

Just because your name’s in the title doesn’t mean you’re not replaceable. Former “Mary Tyler Moore” co-star Harper learned that the hard way when she asked for a salary bump and a cut of the gross profits following Season 2 of her NBC family sitcom (co-starring a young Jason Bateman as teen son David). As negotiations dragged on, Harper went on strike, leading the producers to enact a Plan B they called “Throw Momma ... more 

Valerie Harper, “Valerie”

Just because your name’s in the title doesn’t mean you’re not replaceable. Former “Mary Tyler Moore” co-star Harper learned that the hard way when she asked for a salary bump and a cut of the gross profits following Season 2 of her NBC family sitcom (co-starring a young Jason Bateman as teen son David). As negotiations dragged on, Harper went on strike, leading the producers to enact a Plan B they called “Throw Momma From the Series”: Harper’s character was killed off in a car crash at the start of Season 3. The show was retitled “Valerie’s Family” and later “The Hogan Family,” with Sandy Duncan moving in as the kids’ aunt. less