Waiting for a television show to get through hiatus is very painful for all of us TV enthusiasts and addicts. We think that this dreadful period of excruciating waiting and anticipation cannot be worse. Well, we are wrong. There are two scenarios that can make hiatus even less bearable. The first scenario is when you find out that your favorite show will not be returning at all because it is being canceled for disappointing viewership. And the second is when the studio is negotiating with the producers to reduce the quality of the program while increasing the profit, announcing that the show will not be returning for a while.
This is the case of AMC's Mad Men. Mad Men is one of the most critically acclaimed drama series on television and definitely a winner for AMC. Despite the show's success Matthew Weiner, the creator, gets a hard time from the studio, leading to a postponed premiere of the 5th season. According to the New York Times Weiner and AMC are currently negotiating the fate of the show. It is now certain that season 5 will run, but AMC demands 2 minutes to be cut for additional commercial time, more product placements and a reduction in the cast as a budget cutback move. Understandingly Weiner is frustrated with these demands and does not want to change the current set up of this massively successful show, stating that after these manipulations the show will not stay the same.
I fully support Weiner in his decision to stick up for the show, but at the same time I am very upset that Mad Men won't be returning this summer and we will have to wait until 2012.
All we can do now is hope that our favorite characters won't be cut in this money-saving operation.
You can read the report by the New York Times here.
 |
| Life Cereal product placement in Mad Men |
 |
| Smirnoff product placement in Mad Men |
I fully support Weiner in his decision to stick up for the show, but at the same time I am very upset that Mad Men won't be returning this summer and we will have to wait until 2012.
All we can do now is hope that our favorite characters won't be cut in this money-saving operation.
You can read the report by the New York Times here.
2 comments:
I have heard many controversial comments about this show myself and did not actually now that the 5th season is to be postponed. I have many friends who are absolutely crazy about this show and love the fact that it is different to the usual sit-comes in the states. I definitely also agree with Weiner and hope at the same time and the show wont have to change too much, as it just wont be the same after that anymore. It is so loved because it is different and cutting off 2 minutes for additional advertising is more than ridiculous.
Yea you should tell your friends to run a recap of season 4, because this hiatus will be insufferably long.
Its just sad that even this massively popular show that cleans out all award shows has to deal with this. I understand increasing product placement in shows that would struggle financially without it but that isn't Mad Men's case. I also hope these negotiations will end well.
Post a Comment