After all the sort of craziness of the past week, all the prayer circles and gif parties have worked, so you can all put down the “special punch”.
Matthew Weiner tells the Hollywood Reporter that he is “just so pleased” that everything has worked out, and let me tell you that this drinker of Old Fashioneds is just as pleased that the AMC hit has been renewed for not just one, but an additional two seasons, with a likely option for a third. Weiner also adds, courtesy Deadline:
“I want to thank AMC and Lionsgate for agreeing to support the artistic freedom of myself, the cast and the crew so that we can continue to make the show exactly as we have from the beginning.”
The writers of the show will begin writing the new season this summer, near the time when the show usually airs, but unfortunately since the contract negotiations slowed things down, the show still won’t air until March of 2012, but I’m just happy we have a confirmation on things.
A bit more from Deadline on some of the technical stuff:
AMC had been looking to cut the series’ running time from 47 to 45 minutes per episode to accommodate more commercials. In the upcoming 13-episode fifth season, the season premiere and finale will be 47 minutes, while Weiner has the option to deliver the other 11 episodes in two versions: a 45-minute one to air on AMC, and a 47-minute one to run on other platforms, including VOD. On adding product placement on the Emmy-winning drama, I hear AMC will go ahead with its plan, but introducing brands will be done only when deemed organic to the story, with Weiner having complete creative control.
The only thing that seems to be unclear is whether or not cast members will be reduced. While the Hollywood Reporter says that “the cast changes will be made for creative reasons, not financial ones” while Deadline says that there won’t be any. I was kind of messed up after Sal left, and hopefully we won’t lose anyone else.
Mostly, I’m just glad things are settled, although I’m kind of bummed out I have to wait so long to return to the offices of Sterling Copper Draper Pryce. In the meantime, I’m gonna go drink some whiskey and bang some hot secretaries and marry them even though I was banging and emotionally crushing another women at the same time.
