10 Behind The Scenes Dramas That Ruined Great TV Shows
9. The X-Files - Pay Discrepancies
The original X-Files series was probably the first-ever cult-followed show to hit tv. It was a huge phenomenon and still is today, it garnered two films and two reboots. As well as countless parodies and references made to it in pop culture. Because of the show's popularity, it was well known to the public that the two stars, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, did NOT get on well, but no one really knew exactly why.
Well in the years that followed, the two stars managed to heal their relationship and are actually good friends now. The two have spoken publicly about their feud and both have hinted that the cause of their riff came about because of their crazy pay differences. Anderson, despite having co-billing with (and arguably being an even bigger part of the show's success than) Duchovny was being paid considerably less.
The show really lost itself after season 7 when Duchovny left the show to "pursue his film career", he was replaced with Robert Patrick who just didn't have the same chemistry with Anderson. It is only now, years later and with enough clarity, that we know that the replacement of Mulder actually came about because of MORE pay issues. Duchovny and show creator Chris Carter was unable to work together after Duchovny sued Fox for underpaying him for re-runs of the show which Carter apparently knew about and was part of. Yikes.
Fox clearly didn't learn though, as Anderson was once again offered less than her male co-star for the X-Files reboot.