Mad Men

This cool info-graphic has been created by Wired to show how the big American broadcast networks – NBC, CBS and ABC – lost their stranglehold on Emmy nominations following the rise of cable networks.

With the introduction of the likes of HBO, AMC, Showtime and FX, who aim to produce a handful of quality “hits” as opposed to the broadcast network’s tactic of developing as many shows as possible to attract a wide audience, the Emmy landscape has changed dramatically.

Fry joins Rupert Grint pilot

Stephen Fry has joined the new Rupert Grint pilot called Super Clyde, which centres on a fast food worker who decides to become a superhero. Fry will play the role of a butler.

Mad Men actress cast in The Good Wife

Mad Men actress Cara Buono has been cast in The Good Wife. She will play a “woman who hires Lockhart Gardner after her husband dies on the job under questionable circumstances (and is being hustled to keep quiet)”. Continue reading »

WGA awards handed out

Girls, Breaking Bad, Louie and Mad Men were among the shows honoured at the Writers Guild of America Awards this week. Breaking Bad claimed the top drama award while the best comedy gong went to Louie. Girls was awarded the best new series title with Mad Men picking up the award for the best single episode of a drama.

Zellweger’s new pilot canned

Renee Zellweger has had her new TV drama pilot Cinnamon Girl turned down by the Lifetime network. The project was set in Los Angeles in the late 1960s against the backdrop of the Hollywood movie and music scene. Continue reading »

Cole returning to The Good Wife

Gary Cole will return to The Good Wife again to reprise his role as ‘The Marlboro Man’ Kurt McVeigh. Cole has been on and off the series since season one.

Mad Men actress joins Castle

Mad Men’s Cara Buono will make an appearance in Castle playing a bar owner who crosses paths with Castle (Nathan Fillon) and Beckett (Stana Katic). Continue reading »

New Seth MacFarlane series ordered

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane has had his new comedy project Dads picked up by the Fox network. The live-action comedy series was picked up on the strength of its pilot script.

Mad Men creator confirms time shift

The creator of Mad Men says the full cast aside from Jared Harris will be returning for the sixth season of the drama. Matthew Weiner also noted that the series will move forward in time to the late 1960s. Continue reading »

Some of New Zealand’s top TV talent will be on show in the new Jane Campion series Top of the Lake alongside a strong international cast.

Robyn Malcolm, Madeleine Sami and Jay Ryan are all involved in the series, which is building as one of the most-anticipated Sundance debuts at the distinguished film festival this year.

Below are a bunch of photos from the series, which was shot near Queenstown last year. Continue reading »

Hamm and Slattery to direct Mad Men episodes

Jon Hamm and John Slattery will both direct upcoming episodes of Mad Men. Slattery (Roger Sterling) will direct two episodes in the sixth season while Hamm (Don Draper) will be in charge of one.

Fellowes discusses recasting Downton role

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has dismissed the idea of recasting the role of Matthew Crawley in the show’s fourth season if actor Dan Stevens does indeed decide to depart. “I can’t see us doing that,” he said, “If they don’t want to come back, there’s nothing we can do.” Continue reading »

Good news for Mad Men fans

According to the Hollywood Reporter, January Jones, Vincent Kartheiser, Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss are in negotiations for two-year contracts that would take them through to the end of Mad Men season 7. American network AMC has only renewed Mad Men for Season 6, but Creator Matt Weiner said recently: “There will be a Season 7. “Jon Hamm is signed on for it, I’m signed on for it … I think Season 7 has already been internationally sold … It’s going to happen.”

The second season of New Girl will see Cece (played by Hannah Simone) get a new boyfriend (played by Nelson Franklin), and Winston’s tough-as-nails mum (played by Anna Maria Horsford) will come to town – and she won’t be able to stand Schmidt.  Continue reading »

Eric Dane is leaving Grey’s Anatomy

Eric Dane (who plays Mark Sloan) will appear in a handful of episodes in season nine, so that his character’s story can be wrapped up, but he will be leaving Grey’s Anatomy after that. Dane said in a statement: “I am extremely grateful to everyone at ‘Grey’s,’ ABC and Shondaland for the experience and memories I have had over the course of this run. It has been wonderful to work alongside and learn from a creative force such as Shonda Rhimes.”

Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss will return for season six

For those of you who have been worried that Elisabeth Moss (who plays Peggy) might not be returning to Mad Men, after her character left Stirling Cooper Draper Pryce last season, breathe a sigh of relief, because Matt Weiner, creator of Mad Men, has confirmed that she will be back for season six. Continue reading »

Family Guy video game confirmed

A Family Guy video game entitled Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse has been confirmed by Activision for PS3 and Xbox 360.

$25,000 for Beatles song

Mad Men reportedly paid around $25,000 to use the Beatles’ song ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ in a recent episode. Continue reading »