Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
01-26-11, 04:41 AM
#1
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Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Here's the Summary:
1) AMC is still negotiating with Lionsgate for a 5th season even though they promised one recently.
2) Matt Weiner, the creator and showrunner, has no contract.
3) No scripts have been written yet.
The show normally starts production around April or May, so they better hurry the hell up!!
From EW.com
Fans already know that AMC has promised them a fifth season of Mad Men, but will its brilliant creator Matthew Weiner come back, as well? The Emmy-winning scribe told EW exclusively that his new deal has yet to be finalized but he’s “not looking for a new job.” The show’s future is vague because AMC is still negotiating with both Weiner and Lionsgate, which produces the hit drama starring Jon Hamm.
“I think all of AMC’s decisions about their scheduling and so forth have nothing to do with me, and I don’t have a deal yet,” Weiner told EW, while walking the red carpet for the Producers Guild of America Awards Saturday. “I have every intention of making the show when they decide to work out their business with Lionsgate. I can’t wait to come back to work. I have said over and over in public that I want the show to go on and on and on until it has worn out its welcome with viewers and we can’t think of anything more for the characters to do.
“I am not looking for a new job. I’m dying to go back to work,” Weiner continued. “But the truth is I don’t even know what their plans are. We have not started writing. I am not back at work. My contract expired. They are fighting over a very lucrative property, and who is going to pay for it to get made; it’s one of the biggest perils of success — everyone wants a piece of it now and they are fighting over who is gonna get the biggest chunk. Then they will come to me because talent is last. It would be heartbreaking for me if they don’t work it out, horrifying really. It would be a shame for fans to never get to see what great stuff we have planned for Don and company.”
1) AMC is still negotiating with Lionsgate for a 5th season even though they promised one recently.
2) Matt Weiner, the creator and showrunner, has no contract.
3) No scripts have been written yet.
The show normally starts production around April or May, so they better hurry the hell up!!
From EW.com
Fans already know that AMC has promised them a fifth season of Mad Men, but will its brilliant creator Matthew Weiner come back, as well? The Emmy-winning scribe told EW exclusively that his new deal has yet to be finalized but he’s “not looking for a new job.” The show’s future is vague because AMC is still negotiating with both Weiner and Lionsgate, which produces the hit drama starring Jon Hamm.
“I think all of AMC’s decisions about their scheduling and so forth have nothing to do with me, and I don’t have a deal yet,” Weiner told EW, while walking the red carpet for the Producers Guild of America Awards Saturday. “I have every intention of making the show when they decide to work out their business with Lionsgate. I can’t wait to come back to work. I have said over and over in public that I want the show to go on and on and on until it has worn out its welcome with viewers and we can’t think of anything more for the characters to do.
“I am not looking for a new job. I’m dying to go back to work,” Weiner continued. “But the truth is I don’t even know what their plans are. We have not started writing. I am not back at work. My contract expired. They are fighting over a very lucrative property, and who is going to pay for it to get made; it’s one of the biggest perils of success — everyone wants a piece of it now and they are fighting over who is gonna get the biggest chunk. Then they will come to me because talent is last. It would be heartbreaking for me if they don’t work it out, horrifying really. It would be a shame for fans to never get to see what great stuff we have planned for Don and company.”
01-26-11, 07:13 AM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
i don't think it is a question of not coming back. it is a question of money and how much AMC is willing to pay Weiner and co. for one of their 2 staples (Breaking Bad being the other). It will be around for some time.
01-26-11, 09:05 AM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
They didn't leaving anything really hanging. I wouldn't be shrieking mad if it ended right where it is.
01-26-11, 02:35 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
That sucks.
But how profitable Mad Men really is? I know it has low ratings, even for AMC standards. Critics love it. The people that watch the show love it. So I guess it's really hard to take some decisions here.
But how profitable Mad Men really is? I know it has low ratings, even for AMC standards. Critics love it. The people that watch the show love it. So I guess it's really hard to take some decisions here.
01-26-11, 02:40 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
I heard the production costs for 1 episode is around $3M which is very high for a cable budget, but I'm sure Lionsgate is the one that covers most of the costs. So, I think the delay is probably more about continuing to make the show profitable for AMC.
Plus, you can't do this show without Weiner as showrunner. He writes/co-writes most of the episodes and directs a few. I'm sure this is probably one of the hardest shows on TV to write for, especially with the amount of research that needs to be done.
Plus, you can't do this show without Weiner as showrunner. He writes/co-writes most of the episodes and directs a few. I'm sure this is probably one of the hardest shows on TV to write for, especially with the amount of research that needs to be done.
01-26-11, 02:44 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
I say play free agency and get the fuck away from AMC. Get on a channel that I can get in HD.
01-26-11, 02:47 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
It's an interesting situation. Mad Men is as popular as ever and is AMC's flagship show (pending the likely season 2 success of The Walking Dead). I would assume this is rather high on everyone's priority list to sort out.
01-26-11, 02:51 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
You should just get off your fly-by-night satellite provider.
Mad Men pulls around 2.5m viewers each week, Breaking Bad only gets 1.2 to 1.8m viewers a week.
...I care much more that Breaking Bad gets a final season (it can be this year, or next, or later... as long as we get one) instead of just being canned than Mad Men. I'd be shocked if this all fell apart for Mad Men.
Mad Men pulls around 2.5m viewers each week, Breaking Bad only gets 1.2 to 1.8m viewers a week.
...I care much more that Breaking Bad gets a final season (it can be this year, or next, or later... as long as we get one) instead of just being canned than Mad Men. I'd be shocked if this all fell apart for Mad Men.
01-26-11, 02:56 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Originally Posted by Tracer Bullet
Just gives DirecTV more time to get AMC HD.
01-26-11, 03:12 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Originally Posted by RichC2
You should just get off your fly-by-night satellite provider.
Mad Men pulls around 2.5m viewers each week, Breaking Bad only gets 1.2 to 1.8m viewers a week.
...I care much more that Breaking Bad gets a final season (it can be this year, or next, or later... as long as we get one) instead of just being canned than Mad Men. I'd be shocked if this all fell apart for Mad Men.
Mad Men pulls around 2.5m viewers each week, Breaking Bad only gets 1.2 to 1.8m viewers a week.
...I care much more that Breaking Bad gets a final season (it can be this year, or next, or later... as long as we get one) instead of just being canned than Mad Men. I'd be shocked if this all fell apart for Mad Men.
For those on DTV -- AMC HD looks glorious for those of us on Dish. (Just don't ask me what I think of the current season of FNL or upcoming seasons of Damages
).
01-26-11, 03:33 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
The part where Weiner states that "there are no scripts" and "we have not started writing" doesn't mean that there aren't very detailed ideas and possibly outlines of where the scripts will transport the characters once the financial details are eventually resolved. You don't just ignore a great idea of creative inspiration because you don't have a contract. In my mind, it's a given that the show will continue. It's just too lucrative to allow it's production crew and actors take other work, seek other projects, and then become unavailable.
I should add that I can't wait for my S4 discs to arrive. I hope this won't delay its release.
I should add that I can't wait for my S4 discs to arrive. I hope this won't delay its release.
01-26-11, 04:20 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Good. maybe Weiner will take the show somewhere else and it will force AMC to renew Rubicon. 
01-26-11, 05:47 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
While it's a given that the show will continue, this just means I have to wait even LONGER for Season 5 to start airing. I know Season 4 will be on Blu-Ray soon, but that just isn't enough. I NEED MORE MAD MEN!
01-28-11, 09:55 AM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Originally Posted by Jack Straw
I should add that I can't wait for my S4 discs to arrive. I hope this won't delay its release.
Clearly the folks at AMC are still novices at handling their "original programming". They'd be seriously foolish to let either show slip through their fingers consider that they and Walking Dead are their only real shows right now.
01-28-11, 09:58 AM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Originally Posted by rfduncan
It shouldn't. Those are completely separate things. Lionsgate produces the show and has all the video distribution rights after it airs on AMC. I would imagine Lionsgate is ready to receive the revenue that season 4 willl no doubt generate when it hits DVD/Blu-ray. I'm sure that money is built into the production costs which allow them to avoid charging AMC as much to air the show.
Clearly the folks at AMC are still novices at handling their "original programming". They'd be seriously foolish to let either show slip through their fingers consider that they and Walking Dead are their only real shows right now.
Clearly the folks at AMC are still novices at handling their "original programming". They'd be seriously foolish to let either show slip through their fingers consider that they and Walking Dead are their only real shows right now.
01-28-11, 09:59 AM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Originally Posted by Dragon Tattoo
The Walking Dead's ratings are like 3 times what Mad Men's were.
01-28-11, 10:05 AM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Originally Posted by Dragon Tattoo
The Walking Dead's ratings are like 3 times what Mad Men's were.
01-29-11, 04:34 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Originally Posted by Dragon Tattoo
The Walking Dead's ratings are like 3 times what Mad Men's were.
The Walking Dead Premiere = 5.3 Million viewers
Better, but not three times better. And while TWD got great buzz, it's nowhere near as prestigious as the reigning three-time Best Drama Emmy winner that put AMC on the map.
01-31-11, 03:55 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Personally The Walking Dead doesn't even hold a candle to Mad Men.. The acting was "meh" at best for TWD.. I'll continue with season 2 but I'm not jonesing for it like I am Mad Men..
01-31-11, 04:48 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Yeah but the guy's point was that it is now a flagship show for AMC. Although he only mentioned two, I would add Breaking Bad to make it three, in terms of being powerhouses whether critical, ratingswise or both. And I also agree that even though I enjoy TWD, it's nowhere near the level of BB and MM (even at the 6 episode point for both).
01-31-11, 04:56 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Originally Posted by bluetoast
Yeah but the guy's point was that it is now a flagship show for AMC. Although he only mentioned two, I would add Breaking Bad to make it three, in terms of being powerhouses whether critical, ratingswise or both. And I also agree that even though I enjoy TWD, it's nowhere near the level of BB and MM (even at the 6 episode point for both).
01-31-11, 06:33 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
I would think that Mad Men's ratings are perfectly fine for AMC. I do not have the stats avaiable, but I would think it has a great demographic that is coveted by advertisers, plus all the awards it brings is a nice feather in the AMC cap.
01-31-11, 07:21 PM
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Re: Mad Men Season 5 -- Possibly delayed? (Still not officially renewed)
Originally Posted by Decker
And while TWD got great buzz, it's nowhere near as prestigious as the reigning three-time Best Drama Emmy winner that put AMC on the map.
