Mad Men isn't going off the air anytime soon. Despite original plans for the series to wrap in 2014 with its final season, AMC announced Tuesday that it is splitting the final run up into two parts -- much like the cable network did with Breaking Bad.
“This approach has worked well for many programs across multiple networks, and, most recently for us with Breaking Bad which attracted nearly double the number of viewers to its second half premiere than had watched any previous episode,” says AMC president Charlie Collier. "We are determined to bring Mad Men a similar showcase. In an era where high-end content is savored and analyzed, and catch-up time is used well to drive back to live events, we believe this is the best way to release the now 14 episodes than remain of this iconic series.”
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Airing the first seven episodes, dubbed "The Beginning," in the spring of 2014 and the final seven, "The End of an Era," in spring 2015, AMC extends the life of its critically acclaimed flagship with few new dramas on the horizon.
“We plan to take advantage of this chance to have a more elaborate story told in two parts, which can resonate a little bit longer in the minds of our audience,” says Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner. “The writers, cast and other artists welcome this unique manner of ending this unique experience.”
Mad Men might not be the ratings juggernaut for AMC that The Walking Dead or this last run of Breaking Bad has been, but it has been a darling in the TV community since its 2007 premiere. It has won 15 Emmy Awards to date, including the first-ever outstanding drama win for a basic cable series -- a feat it duplicated four years in a row.
"Mad Men has had a transcendent impact on our popular culture, and it has played a prominent role in building our Lionsgate brand," said Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs. “We anticipate a remarkable seventh season thanks to the brilliance of Matthew Weiner, the entire creative and production team, and our tremendous partnership with AMC. We’re all working to ensure that the series will have the kind of powerful send-off it so richly deserves.”
More to come...
