Network slashing ‘Silverman’ budget

Two executive producers have threatened to quit The Sarah Silverman Program after hearing the budget for the U.S. series is being cut by 20 percent.

The Hollywood Reporter said Dan Sterling and Rob Schrab have threatened to walk if Comedy Central keeps to its plan to drastically lower costs for the single-camera comedy show, if a third season is ordered. Silverman and the other executive producers reportedly were in discussions with the network during the weekend

The cable television network has blamed the potential reduced budget on cuts imposed by its parent company MTV Networks.

Sources told the entertainment industry trade newspaper the new budget would allow for about $850,000 an episode, as opposed to the $1.1 million an episode that was budgeted for the show’s second season, which ended two months ago.

The Hollywood Reporter said single-camera comedies are generally produced for about $1.5 million to $2 million an episode and the budget for most series normally increases each year.

Silverman is a sit-com that also has the additional costs of musical numbers and animated sequences.