Thompson on Hollywood

Emmy Watch: Mad Men’s Matthew Weiner Talks Trend-Setting Future Seasons

Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner opened up during a Lionsgate-sponsored panel Wednesday at the Television Academy theater in North Hollywood that also featured cast members Jon Hamm, Elizabeth Moss, John Slattery, Robert Morse, Jared Harris, Kiernan Shipka and others. (We're getting closer to the June Emmy balloting period.) Amy Dawes reports:The news that two new shows steeped in early ‘60s style and social mores have made the networks’ fall lineup was not lost on Matthew Weiner. “For them to see that there’s some commercial potential in this area, four years after we got it going – that’s pretty brave,” he said sardonically, referring to ABC and NBC, which have picked up Pan Am and The Playboy Club, respectively.

By Amy Dawes
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May 20, 2011 5:29 AM
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Emmy Watch: Which New Scripted Series Will Make It to Emmy Contention? A Rough Ranking

Emmy Watch columnist Amy Dawes takes a hard look at the new shows that debuted this year, and ranks their chances of landing Emmy Nominations right off the bat.Nothing is more exciting – at least to an Emmy watcher - than when a brand new series not only entertains our socks off and reinvigorates the medium, but sweeps the awards its first time out. And despite a perception that members of the TV Academy are lazy and vote for the same ol’ same ol’, this has happened a fair amount in recent years.

By Amy Dawes
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April 28, 2011 8:28 AM
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BAFTA TV Award Nominations Include Danish The Killing, Mad Men, Glee, Boardwalk Empire

In TV news, BAFTA has nominated the original Danish The Killing as well as usual suspects Mad Men, Glee and Boardwalk Empire for BAFTA's best international show. Full list is below.

By Anne Thompson
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April 26, 2011 7:50 AM
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Time 100 for 2011: Colfer, Damon, Hastings, Zuckerberg, Poehler, Oprah, Wahlberg, Rudin, Lively

The Time 100 for 2011 illustrates how powerful media and movies are in turning folks into trending influencers.

By Anne Thompson
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April 21, 2011 7:06 AM
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Academy Premiering Digital Restoration of Bye Bye Birdie; Ann-Margret and Bobby Rydell to Attend

"I hate you Conrad, I really do," goes one of the many great songs in Bye Bye Birdie which stars singer-dancers Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke at their absolute best. The Motion Picture Academy is premiering a new digital restoration of the 1963 musical comedy classic on April 27 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Critic Stephen Farber will host the presentation, followed by an onstage discussion with stars Ann-Margret and Bobby Rydell. The film, which was an adaptation of the Broadway musical, was directed by George Sidney and was nominated for both Music and Sound Oscars. Jesse Pearson, Janet Leigh, Paul Lynde and Mary LaRoche also starred.

By Anne Thompson
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April 6, 2011 7:42 AM
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Netflix Lands Streaming Rights to Mad Men Reruns

Netflix has scored another coup, landing exclusive streaming rights to Mad Men reruns from Lionsgate TV, reports Variety:Episodes from the AMC drama's first four seasons will bow July 27. Deal covers all seven seasons of the Emmy-winning drama. Pact is believed to be worth nearly $1 million an episode for the series. It's believed that Netflix will be the primary off-net window for the series, given the high price tag.

By Anne Thompson
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April 5, 2011 11:20 AM
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TV Over Movies: from Mildred Pierce and Nurse Jackie to Shameless and Justified

Reading the papers Friday morning, I realized that I'm more interested in Camelot, The Kennedys, The Borgias, Mildred Pierce and the American version of Scandinavian hit The Killing than the new movie reviews. It turns out that I can skip Camelot and The Kennedys, which earned lousy notices. And I'm already watching Todd Haynes' gorgeously-mounted HBO mini-series Mildred Pierce, which is well-acted by Kate Winslet, Melissa Leo, Guy Pearce and Mare Winningham, but judging from the draggy first two episodes, didn't need to be stretched to five installments. And David Ulin's review made me want to go back to my fave James Cain paperbacks, which I read in my 20s. Time to make a pitch to my book group.

By Anne Thompson
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April 1, 2011 6:29 AM
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Weiner and AMC Make Mad Men Pact

Raise high the roof beam, carpenters! AMC, Lionsgate and Mad Men showrunner Matthew Weiner have made their deal to extend his contract for as much as $30 million if it goes to three seasons. He will remain in charge of the lucrative show starring Jon Hamm as Madison Avenue ad exec Don Draper. Variety's Cynthia Littleton has the details:The sides came to a compromise on the running time issue by settling in allowing the show to run at its standard 47-minute length for each season premiere and season finale. The 11 episodes in between will run 45 minutes, but Weiner will have the option of delivering a 47-minute version to be made available on VOD and ultimately on DVD. (There's also been chatter about Lionsgate cutting a deal with Netflix for streaming rights to "Mad Men.")

By Anne Thompson
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March 31, 2011 12:07 PM
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Mad Men vs. Advertising: Weiner, AdAge and the Greatest Movie Ever Sold

Mad Men has been all over the news, from showrunner Matthew Weiner's contract dispute with AMC to disputes about how advertising should be used on the show. Isn't Mad Men about advertising? Sure. But that doesn't mean Weiner should sacrifice his creative integrity.

By Sophia Savage
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March 31, 2011 6:00 AM
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Video Watch: Mad Men's Jon Hamm

For those of you mourning the loss of AMC summer series Mad Men (still mired in negotiations and pushed back to 2012), herewith for your delectation, some Jon Hamm hits. Here are some choice Don Draper quotes. And more videos are below.