On the syndicated public television show “Vine Talk,” the actor Stanley Tucci leads a changing cast of chefs and celebrities in a convivial round of wine tasting. But off-camera, many of the show’s participants are battling over money they say is still owed to them.
The show, produced by Jersey Wooly Productions and broadcast on stations nationwide since April, rented WNET’s new Lincoln Center studio to tape a first season last winter. But the New York City public broadcaster, which has already weathered a couple of tough financial years, has not been paid about $500,000, according to several people briefed on the matter who would not discuss it publicly.
A WNET spokeswoman, Kellie Specter, declined to comment, and Bruce Marcus, Jersey Wooly Productions’ chief executive, disputed the figure.
Joe Locarro, the program’s director and an executive producer, said in a telephone interview that he was owed “in the six figures.” Mr. Marcus, he said, has “told me that he’s had a number of people that are interested in sponsoring the show and investing in the show. Why these people have not come to fruition I do not know.” He added that he had been working for six months to get the show’s crew paid, which they were last week.
Mr. Tucci declined to comment through his publicist, Jennifer Plante, “on the advice of counsel.” She said, in a statement, that “Mr. Tucci and his production company are reviewing their legal options regarding Vine Talk’s lead producer and originator.” Mr. Tucci, the actor Steve Buscemi and the producer Wren Arthur, through their company Olive Productions, were also executive producers.
Mr. Buscemi’s publicist, Staci Wolfe, said in a statement: “Olive hasn’t been paid, Stanley has only received a small portion of his fee, and they have withdrawn from the project for that reason.”
Mr. Marcus, in a telephone interview, declined to say how much money was owed, but said it would all be paid.
“We’re still in the process of Season 1 and still bringing money into the project. We do have payables still getting paid, slowly but surely,” he said, adding, “There’s no doubt the economy has impacted our ability to bring in money over the past year.”
Riki Kane, founder of the show’s sole corporate sponsor, Metrokane, said, “The show has been tremendous for us.” She said the company would hope to sponsor a second season, and Mr. Marcus said he was already planning for it while he was trying to pay off the first season.
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