Desperate Housewives Demand Bigger Paycheques

The stars of hit American sitcom Desperate Housewives have reportedly threatened a revolt over their small salaries.

MARCIA CROSS, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria and NICOLETTE SHERIDAN are all demanding bigger paycheques to cash in on the worldwide success of the ABC series that won two Golden Globe Awards last week (begs17JAN05), reports Britain's DAILY STAR SUNDAY newspaper.

More than 40 countries have snapped up the dark comedy and it is currently number one in the US ratings, regularly pulling in more than 30 million viewers.

An insider at TOUCHSTONE TELEVISION says, "The girls are fuming. Their salaries range from $47,000 (GBP25,000) to $76,000 (GBP40,000) an episode - which is peanuts compared to the cash coming in from selling it around the world.

"It's crazy when you compare it with the $1.8 million (GBP1 million)-a-show the stars of Friends were making.

"No one's suggesting they're worth that much. But they do deserve a slice of the big bucks they're generating."

In an interview with America's PEOPLE magazine last month (DEC04), Sheridan complained, "I'm the poorest actress on television. I heard (the cast of) Friends got cars when they had such amazing ratings. But I got flowers. I'm still waiting for the PORSCHE."