Matt Weiner is on a short vacation with his family, but wanted to make sure to get a statement out through Basket of Kisses. Here’s what he said.
“There’s been a lot of speculation and misinformation in the press about what is going on. I want the fans to know directly from me that I had nothing to do with this delay and it is not about money. I am fighting for the cast and for the show. And I appreciate the kindness and concern of the fans.”
Matt then assured us that no matter what happens next, Basket of Kisses will hear it first (so watch this space).
Although time was short, we had a couple of follow-up questions. We asked about negotiations with AMC; how long had they been going on?
Matt: “We didn’t have an actual conversation until three weeks ago.”
Then we asked about the thing about cutting two cast members. Matt confirmed (as reported by The Wrap) that the actual request was to cut two cast members per season, so it would have been at least six people. (Roberta and I then started joking it would be the “Don and Sally Show.” Oy vey!)
Matt: “Even though people have left the show, none of that has ever been about money…I’ve brought the show in on budget. I’ve been a good producer.” We had a little chat, at that point, about the ways in which a producer trims the budget, with some interesting examples which we won’t get into now.
I asked Matt about the $30 million dollar number that’s been floating around, and generating gossip. Which is more important, I asked, the number or the cast?
Matt: “First of all, the number that’s been published is not true. Second of all, I offered to have less money, to save the cast, and to leave the show in the running time that it’s supposed to be. The harder that I’ve fought for the show, the more money that they’ve offered me.”
We asked, if there’s anything the fans could do, what could it be?
Matt: “Everyone can hold on, and we’ll see if it’s necessary, but of course I would want them to express their feelings. I can’t even tell you what it’s meant to me to have intelligent people who care about the show, who reflect about it, who obsess about it, it’s been a total surprise to me. It’s surpassed everything I would ever have expected.”
So, again, whatever happens next, you’ll hear about it first here, at Basket of Kisses, and Matt wants you all to know that you have made this creative endeavor a true joy, one he really, really hopes will continue.
120 Responses to ““Don’t worry, I’m fighting for the show””
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I would hate for this show to move to HBO or Showtime. I can’t afford those channels, it’s too expensive. This is my favorite show on television, and would feel terrible if it went off the air.
What the actors need is a date when the new season will start work. That way, they could do other projects, and still be ready for the new season.
I have to agree with Anne B@107 – the unpalatable but surprisingly* reality-based assessment – the show most probably won’t be coming back, at least not in the style and quality we’ve become accustomed to expect.
True it’s not expensive in general, but the economics clearly don’t work for AMC and MW probably shouldn’t concede to a smaller budget per episode (though I think the challenge in making that work might be interesting to watch). A No MW Mad Men would have some train wreck gawker appeal for me but your time is probably more valuable than mine.
If it’s over, it’s over. But she’s 100 percent correct, that won’t ever diminish the chewy goodness of S1-S4.
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*”surprisingly” was deployed here because of that link to Goodman’s post. I thought it was going to be reflective of your critical thinking AB on this topic. He’s a great reviewer, read him every week, but “pay the man!” without any reality-based argument from a grown adult living in America in the 21st century is a waste of pixels. It’s like shouting at the Pentagon, “Stop the War!”
PS – I’m fairly certain David Chase doesn’t have anything to do with Boardwalk Empire, that’s Terry Winter.
Thank you so much for the info ladies. I was thinking (obsessing) about this last night, and this is a bit of a tangent but . . . it be clear that a lot of time has passed because of Kiernan Shipka, and I would think they would have to advance time enough to keep up with her.
Whoops, LOM. Sorry about that. All those big-budget pay-cable guys are starting to look the same to me.
Heading out for a lunch date. What’s yours? Bacon-infused old fashioned, for old times’ sake?
Turn the lights out when you leave, okay? We pay our own bills around here.
yum. . . bacon.
(non sequitur added strictly for old times’ sake!)
another PS though, maybe The Sisters know, – Has MW ever mentioned any other project he may have simmering on back burners anywhere? I’ll certainly follow him to his next gig.
Deb, Roberta: You need to cut that Tina chick off at the IP address.
Joe, already handled.
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