It’s said so often the words start to lose meaning, but it remains true: We’re in a golden age of television. And as we edge up to the final season of Mad Men, surely a crown jewel of our television renaissance, Matthew Weiner, show creator, sat down to share his thoughts on ending one of the great TV shows of all time. With him was Josh Sapan, President & CEO, of AMC Networks.
During the interview, Weiner touched on the importance of the lower barriers to entry facilitated by new talent and a more diverse participation in television. Cable created less pressure for large audiences and writers, actors, and directors were – and still are - free to create niche programming. Weiner said it’s The Sopranos that pioneered this boom and it’s a show that doesn’t have “one thing that would get past a focus group,” yet has become a multi-billion dollar machine for cable.
Weiner seemed to lament the end of this phase in his life, but is surely looking forward to a little more free time with family and friends. In the full interview, he goes on to talk about the changing cable business and why he thinks so much great TV is being funded and created. But for fans of Mad Men, the real story is how, after 14 years, Weiner will lead Don Draper and company to close out their saga. Full interview here: