So I did me a little snooping. The official AMC Mad Men blog has been awful quiet lately; probably because AMC isn’t showing as much as one episode of their gold star series in the entirety of this merry month.
I looked at June’s schedule, and saw this.
Which looks like this:
So good, at least they’re prepping. There are no episodes slated for June, which tells me that they are putting all their money (so to speak) on DVD sales (July 1st July 1st July 1st!!!) and if there is a marathon, which everyone says there will be, it will be later in July, closer to the Season Two (late July late July late July!!!).
Again, it all worries me. Because yes they are running this special several times but it’s still only running on AMC, so the chance of people stumbling on it are ‘eh’ (an official measurement standard).
Look. We’re gonna buy the DVDs. (Buy ‘em now, before the price goes up.) Pretty much, everyone who writes and reads this blog. But will these ’specials’ be enough to generate the heat that AMC needs?
People won’t want to watch mid-season. If they aren’t ‘in’ by the time Season Two premieres, then the show could get un-renewed for a third. The only way to prevent that is for them to show Season Two marathons like, all through the season. So people can get caught up in time to boost ratings for September and then November sweeps.
Look, I will speak blasphemously. I don’t see this show running for seven years. It’s not sexy enough or violent enough. I hope I’m wrong, but I see 3-4 seasons.
If AMC doesn’t wreck it.
May 22, 2008 at 12:51 pm
That’s good news, (the special) and eyebrow raising news (the scheduled times). Nothing for prime time? Makes me think that it’s not new material. Maybe just a rehash of “The Making of…” show. But still. 11:30 am, June 15? Is that Father’s Day? That’s the best they can offer?
I have to say, all the executive shuffling and corporate changes going on at AMC have made me a little uneasy. Nothing endangers good creative like new management. They have to prove their value, so they put their hands into everything, which just messes stuff up. Let’s hope that’s not the case this time.
The thing is, Mad Men has a chance to really put AMC on the map. As a summer show, it’s not really competing with all the big fall and mid-season programming, so it can grow some feet, you know? Plus, Emmy nominations come out as it’s airing. That means it’s fresh in people’s minds–it’s not something that has to spark a memory. People are watching it at the same time they’re submitting their ballots. That has to benefit the show somehow?
May 22, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Every article I read says that Mad Men HAS put AMC on the map. Most of these articles are about other shows on other cable channels, and site Mad Men as the source of the shift towards “premium” basic cable.
So maybe the fact that none of our friends (outside of BoK) watch is not as indicative as we think it is.
May 22, 2008 at 4:02 pm
MM is always grouped with other original Summer cable series such as The Closer and Damages, as examples of how the big networks’ hold on original series is slipping … that combined with a slow migration away from big Fall launches is changing the face of television.
That said, how special is a special that premiers at 11:30a? If I have to hear about small fruit vs. big fruit again I’m gonna blow a gasket.
AMC has done everything they can to hide this series and it’s pathetic.
An Emmy would be great – a network programmer that values the show would be nice too.
May 22, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I have pre-ordered the DVDs for my sister and her husband. I think they would love the show, but they’ve never watched it.
Maybe we all need to have Christmas in July and give the DVD set to all our friend and family!
May 22, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Sunday morning on Father’s Day when we’re in church? Then 5:30 AM or 1 AM? Why all the sidestepping?
May 23, 2008 at 1:15 pm
My guess is it’ll be season 2 promos similar to the pre-Season 1 promo stuff, but setting up the new era and situation.
June 9, 2008 at 6:42 pm
[...] Best of Mad Men” Posted on June 9, 2008 by Roberta Lipp Okay, so remember this? AMC was going to be showing something innocuously called ‘Mad Men Special’ starting in [...]