BANANA REPUBLIC TO RELEASE "MAD MEN" COLLECTION IN AUGUST

Banana Republic Mad Men Collection

Banana Republic has just announced that come August 11, 2011 they will be introducing a line of Mad Men-inspired clothing, based on the Mod looks seen on the AMC Series. The Capsule Collection will feature a total 65 pieces including Suits, Dresses, Ties, Sweaters, Hats, Skirts, Coats and Blouses.



Originally the Collection was to launch in tandem with the Premiere of Mad Men's Fifth Season however ongoing Contract negotiations have pushed the Season Premiere to early 2012.

It was also just announced that Lead Actor Jon Hamm has signed a new three-year Contract with Lionsgate, which potentially could mean he'll be starring in the Series up until its seventh season. With the Contract, it is said that he will now be paid $250k per Episode. Well-played!

(Photo credit: Banana Republic)

JON HAMM TO DIRECT SEASON FIVE PREMIERE OF "MAD MEN"

Jon Hamm - TIFF 2010

Although we won't be seeing any new episodes of AMC's Mad Men until Spring 2012, this latest bit of news will have Fans of the Drama Series excited.  TVLine has confirmed that Donald Draper (Jon Hamm) himself not stars in the Series, but also will be directing the eagerly-awaited Premiere of Season Five.  

Hamm tells TVLine, “I watched Slattery do it, and he handled it with such grace and ability and ease,” he continues, before adding with a laugh, “I figured if he can do it, shitt, I can do it too.”.  Co-star John Slattery directed two episodes of the Show last season.

The handsome Actor has been making the most of his time off from filming, with appearances on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock.  He currently can be seen in the massive hit Comedy Bridesmaids, opposite SNL's Kristen Wiig.  He also has been busy producing and acting in his long-time partner Jennifer Westfeldt's  her upcoming directorial debut Friends with Kids, which also stars Bridesmaids Co-stars Wiig and Maya Rudolph.  

Westfeldt and Hamm were seen last September in Toronto schmoozing on the Party Circuit during TIFF.  Perhaps we'll be seeing their collaboration in Toronto this Fall?

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

ENTER TO WIN A SIGNED PHOTO BY JON HAMM OF "MAD MEN"

Although AMC's Mad Men won't be back til 2012, that thankfully has left Don Draper himself some spare time to sign a few Autographs.  Straight from Mr. Jon Hamm himself, is a guaranteed authentic 4x6 Photo signed up for grabs to one lucky Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven reader.

To qualify for the win, answer for me in the Comments section - True or False - Jon Hamm won a Golden Globe Award in the category for Best Actor - Television Series Drama in 2010.  One Winner will be chosen May 15, 2011 and all are welcome to enter.  Good luck, Mavenati!

Maple Pictures releases Mad Men Season 4 in Canada on DVD - now in stores in Standard and Blu-ray Editions.

AMC & MATT WEINER REACH "MAD MEN" DEAL

Still from Mad Men

And order was restored. It was announced earlier today that AMC and Mad Men Producer Matt Weiner have struck a deal which will renew the series for a fifth and sixth season. Adweek reports the possibility of a seventh season is strong.

On the Docket during negotiations were issues such as Weiner’s Salary, Cast reductions and the length of Episodes. It is said that despite being the most expensive show on Television in costing $3 million per Episode to make, its third season brought in less than $2 million in Advertising Revenue. Maybe AMC weren’t the Bad Guys after all.

It was finally agreed upon that no Cast members will be cut in the upcoming fifth season of Mad Men, set to air March 2012 and that Weiner will allow a total two additional minutes of Advertising per Episode, which hopefully won’t be too noticeable. Yay.

(Photo credit: AMC)

JESSICA PARÉ IN TORONTO FOR "MAD MEN"

Jessica Paré

Montreal native and now Santa Monica-resident Jessica Paré flew in last night to promote Season Four of AMC's Mad Men's DVD release.  Doing a round of Press today which included appearances on CityTV's Breakfast Television, followed by an appearance on Jian Ghomeshi's Q Radio on CBC, the Actress' timing couldn't have been better considering all the controversy surrounding the future of the Series right now.

As mentioned earlier today, Mad Men's Producer Matthew Weiner is currently in heated negotiations with AMC, which in a profit-minded decision is said to be ordering a reduction in Cast Members and also  a shortening of Episodes to allow for more Advertisements during its Airtime.  With Production at a standstill right now and no new episodes slated for the 2011 Calendar Year, the future of the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Period Drama is uncertain.

Good logic surely will prevail from AMC perhaps based solely on Mad Men's ardently loyal following and hard-earned status as a Critical Darling.  And did I mention what a big Mad Men Fan I am?  I absolutely adored Paré's performance as Megan, Don Draper's level-headed Secretary-turned-Love Interest.  To me, she is one of the brightest highlights of the past Season.

I did catch Paré on her way into an appearance this evening at a fittingly Period-appropriate Club in the  City's Entertainment District, but surprisingly was denied a Photograph upon her arrival after asking kindly.  Although it doesn't happen often, it does happen occasionally and it's unfortunate that it had to come from a fellow Canadian. She had spotted a Camera on one Fan and immediately asked him, "Where are these Photos going to be appearing?", before elaborating "I'd much prefer to be photographed inside without my coat on".

I myself however, did not possess a $150 Ticket to be "inside" the intimate event for Globe & Mail readers, but mind you I am no less a Fan of hers.  Making the most of my wait in the Cold, I was reduced to asking if she could sign a Photo or two in the v. least, including one for my Readers.   The request was met with general disinterest and a "Sorry, we've gotta go" as one of her Handlers gave me a genuinely apologetic look.

I was then relegated to waiting outside the venue where Paré could be heard speaking about her role as Megan and her experience on the Series, speaking with enthusiasm on her Microphone.   She could be heard mentioning Christina Hendricks' character Joan and how tough she is.

Upon exiting the event, she proceeded to enter her Town Car.  Once again I requested a Photo with good intentions and seeing that she was in a rush earlier, I gave her the benefit of the doubt that her initial rejection was a result of time constraints perhaps. "I'd rather not", she said to the Photo request, before personalizing the above Photo begrudgingly.  "I appreciate you Guys waiting, but I've got to go to Dinner", she said clearly with more pressing concerns on her mind as she seated herself in her Town Car for a short duration before heading off.  

WILL AMC'S "MAD MEN" BE CANCELLED?

Matt Weiner, Producer of Mad Men

In a devastating bit of news, there are rumours of AMC's Mad Men possibly being cancelled. Before we overreact, negotiations are said to be heated right now the network looking to boost profitability by cutting three Cast members and reducing Episodes further by three minutes to allow more Advertisers spots on the program.  Producer Matt Weiner who has been an integral part of the Show's success, vehemently is against this move.

The irony is killing me as this struggle sounds like a Modern Day episode of the Advertising Agency-centered Period Drama.  The Huffington Post has more on the ordeal which has halted Mad Men's fifth Season for now.

Hopefully sooner, before later.  The thought of Mad Men: The Movie - Sterling Cooper in Abu Dhabi does excite me though.  LOL

(Photo credit: AMC)