warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Lisa Kudrow Sued By Former Manager

Dale Chong |
February 21, 2014 | 1:09 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

Lisa Kudrow and Matthew Perry on "Friends" (frie-nds/Tumblr)
Lisa Kudrow and Matthew Perry on "Friends" (frie-nds/Tumblr)
"Friends" Actress Lisa Kudrow took the stand in Santa Monica, California. She testified against her former manager Scott Howard, who claims the actress owes him a cut of her earnings from re-runs of the hit sitcom.

Kudrow's income was questioned--more specifically the price tag from the hit NBC series. Howard claims Kudrow, who played Phoebe in the sitcom, owes money from the deals the two made before he was fired in 2007. Howard and Kudrow's relationship began over 20 years ago, and Howard is now suing the actress for $1.7 million.

According to E! News, Kudrow's paycheck for her work on "Friends" began at $13,500 an episode. Over the course of five contract negotiations, he per-episode pay increased to a $1,040,000 in 2000 along with $5 million in back-end compensation. Kudrow continues to make residuals on the show, and Howard states he is owed a portion of these profits. He claims that he and Kudrow had an oral agreement stating he would receive a 5 percent cut of her revenue even after his firing.

However, Kudrow testified that she agreed to pay Howard only on the first round of residuals and nothing more.
During the final season of "Friends," which ran until 2004, Kudrow cut Howard's commission fee from 10 to 5 percent. About $8 million could be at stake.

The trial continues Friday.

Reach Executive Producer Dale Chong here. Follow her on Twitter here.



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
ntrandomness