MovieChat Forums > Orange Is the New Black (2013) Discussion > Natasha Lyonne - second billing?

Natasha Lyonne - second billing?

posted 8 years ago by kap9000
5 replies | jump to latest

I wonder why Natasha Lyonne gets the second billing for season 4.

As I understand it, Taylor Schilling gets top billed for all seasons, Prepon got second billing for season 1 (which made sense because she was like the second main character) and then got the "AND" credit later on, while Kate Mulgrew gets the "WITH" credit and all the other series regulars are in alphabetical order.

But with season 4, Natasha Lyonne got promoted to second billing after Taylor Schilling which is weird because she's completely absent for the first few episodes.

But also to be fair, Piper's role as the "protagonist" of the show has dwindled so her top billing is questionable too.

[–] LostKiera 8 years ago

Could just be studio politics - maybe Lyonne asked for it as part of renegotiating her contract. And although Piper's role has diminished, she's still sorta the flagship character as it were.

[–] amberjackson-72541 8 years ago

Personally, I haven't actually seen Natasha getting much second-hand billing, or even discussion as a matter of fact. I guess it's maybe because the first 3 seasons, she was credited as a guest-star. I think when her contract renewed, she was credited as a main character, so perhaps that's why she's getting further billing? I dunno, could be wrong.

[–] Darlinsugaree 8 years ago

Well I'd say Natasha is the most well known actress of the whole cast honestly. She's been in so many films throughout the 90s. That might have something to do with it. The only other known actress outside of OITNB is Laura Prepon really.

[–] pawful 8 years ago

I always thought Taryn Manning was a big star in the late 90s early 00s, but she's far down the cast list on season 4.

[–] Rainer90 8 years ago

Lyonne wanted more money, it seems, and to have a bigger role. So they decided to make her the second main character upon her return in season 4 as part of the contract.