is there going 3 season?

All of the Hollywood movie and TV trade publications carried articles even before the end of MM Season 2 that AMC ordered Season 3 from the studio.
However, that studio still has not reached a deal with Matt Weiner. Apparently the major cast only signed contracts for the pilot and Season 1 plus an option for Season 2. For Season 3 all contracts would be subject to reneogtiation.
Chances are a complication is the possibility of the SAG strike. MM is made under SAG contract, not AFTRA.
Of course every studio in the world wants to be in business with Matt Weiner. He has stated in many interviews he wants to be the show runner on MM to the end of Season 5, but at the same time he never promised to work on MM for free.
Yes, these are difficult financial times for most people and firms, including AMC. It remains to be seen if the audience for MM is vital enough to justify AMC paying a significantly greater license fee to carry MM. Facts about foreign MM license fees are not clear. MM is said to be popular in other countries, but how much income is this to off-set production costs.
Could the devoted fans deal with the difference in the distinctive look of MM if to save money it had to originate on digital to qualify for an AFTRA contract? Would we be willing to see favorites in the cast deleted?
Their roles on MM are the high point in the distinguished carriers of the cast. For us the downside is all of the cast are getting tons of other offers. Agents and managers get a percentage of the deal, so advise asking for maximum money.

Personally if AMC wanted to become a premium service like HBO, I would pay extra to have AMC without commercials. I would pay more than I do for HBO. This, however, is not the business plan of AMC, Bummer.

So, you're saying MM may NOT see a third season?! Who owns the show? If AMC can't afford it, can it be sold to another network? For that matter, who owns AMC? Trembling fans want to know!

Please GOD let there be a season 3....on AMC...If anyone hears the latest....LET ME KNOW!!!!!!

To our resident PhD, C.C.Adams: why do you think AMC is not marketing the show more? Everywhere I go I see DVD gift sets for TV series but nothing for MadMen. I search online and find there is more MM merchandise for sale from these outside venders than on the AMC website. I'm sure AMC is getting a kickback on it all but if an all out exclusive campaign on MM merchandise be more profitable for the station and hopfully offset some of the cost for the show? Or are those days gone forever in this economy. Also, how about loyalty on the part of the actors to Mr. Weiner and the show itself? Does that play a part or am I being a pollyanna here? Personally, to answer your question on dealing with a change in the look of the show because of reduced funding.......I couldn't. It's the distinctive 'look' of the show that brought this gal to watching TV again. And thanks so much for you enlightened take on the whole picture; very informative!

The "Buzz" on this show is palpable and at a higher level than last year. After the economy, MM is one of the topics of coversation at cocktail parties. Several people I have spoken with have the season 1 set on que at netflix or on their Xmass list. More people are currently aware of the show. Frankly it is very hard not to be exposed to the show- Jon Hamm is ubiquitious, January Jones is on the cover of Town and County, Peggy Moss is on Broadway and Christina Hendricks has given several interviews and participated in a few photo shoots. We may be getting to the point where the show seeps into the mainstream consciousness, meaning that the audience may be on the verge of a substantial broadening in size.

AMC has signed a contract to pick up MM for S-3 and crucially, already have a contract in place to distribute S-2 and S-3 in Japan. You don't resell what you don't have....

Many have pointed to a viewhship figure of less than 2mm per episode as proof that the show may not generate enough revenue. What this number represents is total viewership at 10om EST on Sunday night. It does NOT included viewership at 11:00pm or 1:00 AM when the current episode is reshown, nor does it include Tivo/DVR downloads. By some estimates, when all of the above is taken into account, viewship rises to as many as 7mm per episode. Personally I think 7mm is a bit high, but several commentators have cited a figure of 5mm as probably representantive of the actual weekly audience.

At 5mm viewers, AMC and Lionsgate are able to make money. Unfortunately in this economy nothing can be taken for granted and most companies are looking for ways to cut costs wherever possible. If the contract negotiations occured 2yrs ago, I think and equitable deal would have been concluded prior to the airing of S-2-13.

I think a deal will ultimately get done, but we may see a delay in when S-3 finally debuts as a result of the protracted negotiations. On another site, it was reported the Matt Weiner is frustrated with the pace of negotions and and noted that he originally had planned to begin wriing S-3 in January of 2009. That start date may be in jeopordy- though I am sure that MW has or will have a fairly detailed outline and seaon arc that will be revealed once the ink is dry on the new contracts.

If I were a betting man, I would wadger that Matt will be on board for S-3 and beyond.

I'll take that bet rl1856.........the odds look tight though....almost even........and the squeezed economy is a big part of it all. Besides Mr. Weiner getting what he wants how about the actors... now that they've been given such great exposure..........plus all the awards the show is getting.......is it possible the star's salary demands could also doom the show? Don't they all have to be under contract separately? Perhaps you could talk about that.

About the contract for S-3 being signed, we saw that posted on AMC earlier, but then it was removed. BTW, please tell us where ".....on another site"......you read about Mr. Weiner's frustration........thanx. As for Mr. Weiner's detailed outlines, well, considering how long MM has been his 'baby', I would bet myself that he's way ahead of the curve on that!

"Don't Believe The Hype" - Anyone in this business in their right mind would not tamper with a gold mine. I believe that AMC is going to do what they need to do if they are as smart as I think they are and that Mr. Weiner and his excellent writing staff will prevail! With the recognition that the writers, actors and MM team has set before their television audience and peers, to stop this show for a season 3 would be MAD! No matter what the economy is doing it still would be in their best interest because it is essentially a damn good invesment and they are bound to get a hell of a lot more out of it than they could imagine. It's a win win situation. The show hasn't been on for weeks and people are on the internet daily and talking about it all around globe. They are raving Mad for is MAD MEN. If I'm wrong about this I'll do like Howard Hughes, I'll leave the country and never return.

That is definitely a RUMOR, not a FACT

Thank you so much Clay... Neuman!!! I was waiting for you to respond to this. Happy to hear RUMOR. Its so many people that love this show and actually watch it to make sure the ratings hit the roof and of course the hardcore/sentimental signature of MadMen. I wish it was a trillion clones of me and each one will watch it every Sunday that will take away any unanswered questions. LOLOLOLOL