AMC's Mad Men is undoubtedly one of the best shows of recent years. The two-time Best Drama winner is already a favorite for a third win in the Emmy Category, and its much-hyped fourth season premiere is slated to air this Sunday, the 25th (I'll be handling the reviews for that show this year, by the way). But what lies beyond this? Show creator and former Sopranos scribe Matthew Weiner has already stated that he doesn't intend the show to go on for very much longer, and that it should probably end with its fifth or sixth season. Lionsgate, the studio that produces the series, might have other plans, though. Execs at both Lionsgate and AMC, according to Variety, are currently "looking farther down the road for a deal that would settle the show's long-term future."
The contract for Mad Men only lasts through season five, and the article claims that execs from both parties are in "early stages of hammering out a deal to extend the contract through a sixth season, and possibly beyond":
Of course, Lionsgate is looking to maximize the value of "Mad Men" in a new deal with AMC. The show that has claimed the drama series Emmy two years in a row transformed AMC into a player in original series programming. And by basic cable standards, the 1960s period drama is a high-end production with a budget estimated at around $2.5 million per seg, or more in some instances. AMC's present per-seg license fee for "Mad" is pegged by industry sources at a little more than $2 million per episode.
It's understood that Lionsgate has the ability to shop the show to other nets for its sixth season, though AMC has the right to match any competing offers. Sources emphasized that the intent on all sides is to work out a deal that keeps "Mad Men" on its original home.
[...]
Lionsgate TV prexy Kevin Beggs would only say that the studio "looks forward to 'Mad Men' being on the air for many years to come."
Personally, I hope that the series isn't compromised by Lionsgate's obviously commercial attitude. It's a brilliant show, there's no denying that. But carrying it on through the 1970s or further might turn it into a little more of a period-piece novelty instead of the brilliantly balanced character/culture dynamic that it is now. Though I'm obviously on the side of the creative team, I think Matthew Weiner should be allowed to end the show where he chooses. Because really, do you think Men Men season seven would really be good? Sounds to me like the show would be showing stretch marks by then. What do you think?
i'd rather have 5 great seasons instead of 5 great seasons and a few crappy seasons ruining the whole experience.
I say they should carry it through to the late 1960s – that's it. I'm only on season 3, but I am very eager to see how Vietnam and all of the protests affect the characters in the show. There is no reason to go past 1969. If it needs a sixth season to do that, that's fine.
I agree. Mad Men in the 70's wouldn't be Mad Men. I don't want to see Don Draper wearing a big fat 1970's necktie and I don't want to see people walking around the office wearing Herb Tarlik jackets and pork-chop sideburns. James Bond never really worked after 1969, and neither would Mad Men.
To be honest, I wish they had not moved through the decade quite so quickly – they skipped the entire year of 1961 (Season One ended in the Fall of '60 and Season Two began in March of '62). Between Seasons Three and Four, they also jumped from December of '63 to November of '64.
Culturally speaking, there were two distinctive portions of the 1960's – the Camelot 60's of the Kennedy years, when the Rat Pack reigned, and then the psychodellic 60's after the Vietnam War started in earnest. Thyey've crossed the boudary between these two eras during this season. I wonder what the date will be when they start Season 5?
One more suggestion — the perfect series finale would be for them to be watching Neil Armstrong land on the moon (which coincidentally was the same week as Woodstock)
What? The moon landing was July 20; Woodstock was August 16-18.
If the show follows its usual habit of fast-forwarding 12-18 months between seasons, that would put season five around 1967 and season six at about 1968-69. That sounds like a good ending point to me. I agree with another commenter that the moon landing would be about the perfect capstone event for the series. (It's only too bad that in 1969 Sally Draper would still have been too young to go to Woodstock, and at nearly 30, Peggy would probably have been to old.)
I don't see the problem with extending the series into the 1970's. For one thing, the decade division is an arbitrary one, and the late 60's and early 70's are historically connected. In my opinion, a better 'cap stone' than the moon landing would be the end of the Vietnam war.
If the show were to lose its value after season 5 and start dragging on then i'd rather it just ended on a high note. we don't want a frigging one tree hill here! (i dont watch it but im aware its on like season 7 or something now and its a terrible show, only existing for money.)
but i believe that mad men has excellent and original writers behind it and great actors so I think the show could sustain for many more seasons, and a part of me hopes it will. as long as they keep it fresh, think long term, and figure out how to keep the show interesting and the characters realistic, it could continue to flourish. let's just hope it doesn't go bad.
The best and most memorable series end on a high with a limited number of episodes – The Sopranos or Fawlty Towers in the UK. Like all limited editions, whether cars, furniture or Television, limited-run and high quality is important.
If Mad Men runs on past its exhaustion point it will become a soap and this will destroy it. The basis for the show is the dynamism and fashion of Madison Avenue in the 60s, not the declining economy of the 1970s.
I'm horrified that Rupert Murdock wants to take Mad Men and put a new series out on Sky. (in the UK) On principal I will not subscribe to such blatant greed.
It's such a pity that a brilliant series that faces into to short commings of the "dream" should even consider falling for such opportunism. Is not the critical acclaim enough. Is nothing sacred? As a faithful devotee to Mad Men right from the beginning, if this happens, I will not watch series 5, and I'm very unhappy about that.
This is Mad Men… it would be almost impossible with a crappy later season and I do hope that other fans out there agree with me?
And I dont see any problem going into the 70s (and further) carrying the name Mad Men. People change so just deal with it.
This is Mad Men… it would be almost impossible with a crappy later season and I do hope that other fans out there agree with me?
And I dont see any problem going into the 70s (and further) carrying the name Mad Men. People change so just deal with it.
I think it depends on the production really and the team's ability to stay real to with the culture of where they are in time and what it means for the characters. Up until now, they have been doing it brilliantly, but if the inspiration and enthusiasm runs out, they might as well stop producing more seasons :-)
I think many of you are wrong in assuming that Mad Men would fall apart if taken beyond the 1960′s.
This show at it’s core is about evolution, or growth if you you don’t like the E-word. Not just the changes of the time but also the changes of the individual characters and how those changes, cause ripples.
Peggy has grown as a character beautifully from a shy introverted sheltered girl wanted to please others to be accepted to a fault into someone who Don respects. Someone who can tell Roger Sterling to get his own coffee. Her growth has been brilliantly written and time-lined.
Don has also evolved he’s slowly allowing Dick to trickle into his life. I for one think it would be fascinating to see the concequences of this merge, lost business and friendship.
Also as far as taking the show into the 1970′s, honestly I would love to see how the characters evolve into the era. Just thing of the historical events of the 1970′s:
Kent State Shootings
Computer Floppy Disks Introduced
Beatles Break Up
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young record “Ohio”
“American Top 40, hosted by Casey Kasem, debuts
imi Hendrix chokes to death
Janis Joplin dies of a drug overdose.
VCRs Introduced
Jim Morrison dies
Jesus Christ Superstar opens on Broadway
Grease opens on Broadway
Monty Python invades America with Ava And Now for Something Completely Different
Watergate Scandal Begins
M*A*S*H Premiers
Mark Spitz Wins Seven Gold Medals
Abortion Legalized in U.S.
U.S. Pulls Out of Vietnam
Pink Floyd releases, The Dark Side of the Moon
Mikhail Baryshnikov Defects
Patty Hearst Kidnapped
U.S. President Nixon Resigns
Dick Clark launches the American Music Awards
Arthur Ashe First Black Man to Win Wimbledon
Microsoft Founded
Elton John releases Captain Fantastic and the Browndirt Cowboy
The all-black musical The Wiz opens on Broadway
Nadia Comaneci Given Seven Perfect Tens
Gone With the Wind is broadcast on network television for the first time
Elvis dies of heart failure
Miniseries Roots Airs
Star Wars Movie Released
John Paul II Becomes Pope
Jonestown Massacre
Iran Takes American Hostages in Tehran
Margaret Thatcher First Woman Prime Minister of Great Britain
Mother Theresa Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
Nuclear Accident at Three Mile Island
Sony Introduces the Walkman
Don’t forget all the great movies and music of 1970s, I personally think it would be great – provided the writing stays at a high level.
Best comment I've read.
I think many of you are wrong in assuming that Mad Men would fall apart if taken beyond the 1960's.
This show at it's core is about evolution, or growth if you you don't like the E-word. Not just the changes of the time but also the changes of the individual characters and how those changes, cause ripples.
Peggy has grown as a character beautifully from a shy introverted sheltered girl wanted to please others to be accepted to a fault into someone who Don respects. Someone who can tell Roger Sterling to get his own coffee. Her growth has been brilliantly written and time-lined.
Don has also evolved he's slowly allowing Dick to trickle into his life. I for one think it would be fascinating to see the concequences of this merge, lost business and friendship.
Also as far as taking the show into the 1970's, honestly I would love to see how the characters evolve into the era. Just thing of the historical events of the 1970's:
Kent State Shootings
Computer Floppy Disks Introduced
Beatles Break Up
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young record "Ohio"
"American Top 40, hosted by Casey Kasem, debuts
imi Hendrix chokes to death
Janis Joplin dies of a drug overdose.
VCRs Introduced
Jim Morrison dies
Jesus Christ Superstar opens on Broadway
Grease opens on Broadway
Monty Python invades America with Ava And Now for Something Completely Different
Watergate Scandal Begins
M*A*S*H Premiers
Mark Spitz Wins Seven Gold Medals
Abortion Legalized in U.S.
U.S. Pulls Out of Vietnam
Pink Floyd releases, The Dark Side of the Moon
Mikhail Baryshnikov Defects
Patty Hearst Kidnapped
U.S. President Nixon Resigns
Dick Clark launches the American Music Awards
Arthur Ashe First Black Man to Win Wimbledon
Microsoft Founded
Elton John releases Captain Fantastic and the Browndirt Cowboy
The all-black musical The Wiz opens on Broadway
Nadia Comaneci Given Seven Perfect Tens
Gone With the Wind is broadcast on network television for the first time
Elvis dies of heart failure
Miniseries Roots Airs
Star Wars Movie Released
John Paul II Becomes Pope
Jonestown Massacre
Iran Takes American Hostages in Tehran
Margaret Thatcher First Woman Prime Minister of Great Britain
Mother Theresa Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
Nuclear Accident at Three Mile Island
Sony Introduces the Walkman
Don't forget all the great movies and music of 1970s, I personally think it would be great – provided the writing stays at a high level.
I agree with Steve and Poffstra! I want to see more through time. Mad men is the exception. Too much of a good thing is NEVER Bad :)