Tina Fey — the comedian who famously impersonated former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential election cycle — and Eva Longoria — the “Desperate Housewives” bombshell — make more money than any other females in television.
Compiling a list of the ten best-paid women in television, Forbes tied the two actresses Monday. Fey, a 41-year-old mother of two, writes for, and stars in, sitcom “30 Rock.” Longoria portrays the emotionally troubled Gabriella Marquez on the ABC drama “Desperate Housewives.” The A-listers both cashed in $13 million between May 2010 and May 2011. (RELATED: Oops: Fox News uses Tina Fey photo for Sarah Palin story)
Fey and Longoria may earn big bucks, but that doesn’t mean their shows are insanely popular. With unimpressive ratings and the likelihood that star Alec Baldwin will flee the series, the 5-year-old program could be in its final stretch. Fey has even griped that her Palin performance decreased “30 Rock” viewership.
Earlier this year, Longoria’s personal life made headlines when she divorced husband Tony Parker, who was allegedly cheating. After the current season of “Desperate Housewives,” the soap opera will go off the air. These TV princesses also make considerably less than top paid female movie stars. “Lara Croft” bombshell Angelina Jolie takes home $30 million a year. She has to pay for those six kids of hers somehow!
Life isn’t so tough for a TV gal, though, as the winning women will still collect syndication checks long after the producers stop creating new episodes. The other stars of “Desperate Housewives” are also anything but desperate: Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross ranked on the list. Ellen Pompeo, who portrays young doctor Meredith Grey in medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” placed ninth on the ranking. Julianna Margulies of “The Good Wife” came in tenth. “Cougar Town” brunette Courteney Cox hit eighth place. “CSI” actress Marg Helgenberger and “Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit” star Mariska Hargitay made it onto the list as well.