The rich get richer

Since there's not going to be a whole lot to discuss about TV outside of the Olympics in the ensuing weeks, next week's TV Guide (on newsstands Thursday) looks at the highest-paid TV stars and creators. Here are some of the salaries discussed:

"Two and a Half Men's" Charlie Sheen makes $825,000 per episodes (which includes earnings from his ownership stake in the show), which is a whole lot more than "CSI's" William Petersen, who this season will be walking away from $600,000 per episode. They're the highest-paid actors in a comedy and drama, respectively.

Mariska Hargitay is the highest-paid actress, pulling down $400,000 per episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Another TV cop, "The Closer's" Kyra Sedgwick, earns the most among cable stars, at $275,000 per episode. Memo to aspiring actresses: Get an exotic-sounding name, and you'll be golden.

("Look, I have one of these, so let's all just forget that little thing with 'The Love Guru' ever happened, OK? - Oh, you have already? Well, forget I ever mentioned it.")

Hargitay makes as much as the voice talent for "The Simpsons," each of whom earns $400,000 per episode, without having to do nearly as much heavy lifting. But "Family Guy's" Seth MacFarlane towers over almost everybody: His new deal with Fox will reap $100 million through 2012.

And these you probably already knew: Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions earned $385 million last year, "American Idol" curmudgeon Simon Cowell (with the record deals included) makes do on $50 million per annum, David Letterman pockets $32 million before taxes and, yes, Katie Couric's must-discussed $15-million/year contract is discussed yet again.

The following week, TV Guide will be doing their annual report on the highest-paid TV Critics, and I will once again be shocked not to be on the list.