FIRST LOOK: "DARLING COMPANION" TRAILER STARRING DIANE KEATON AND KEVIN KLINE

Still from Darling Companion

His first Film in over nine years, Lawrence Kasdan - the acclaimed Director of The Accidental Tourist, The Big Chill, Silverado and Bodyheat - now brings us Darling Companion. With an impeccable Cast which includes Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins, Sam Shepard and Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss, the Drama centers around a Woman named Beth (Keaton) who saves a Dog from the Freeway one day.  With her Husband Joseph (Kline) growing increasingly distant from her, she finds herself forming a strong bond with the Dog, until he winds up losing it one day while on a walk.  With the help of a few Friends, Beth and Joseph go on an search through the Rockies for their beloved Dog, reaching unexpected places emotionally.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

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)

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)

THE LEADING LADY OF AMC'S MAD MEN

Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss, January
Jones and Christina Hendricks

Make no mistake about it,  I love AMC's Mad Men.  In fact, it is one of the few shows on Television - albeit Cable Television - which I have watched religiously from beginning onwards as my limited attention span hinders my loyalty to other programs.  Despite my hectic schedule, there is always that one weekend where things calm down a bit which I dedicate to catching-up on the series.  This weekend I managed to zip through the first 11 of 13 episodes of Season Four and I must say that the show is better than ever; beautifully developed story lines and truly interesting, complex characters who incessantly we want more from.  

The ensemble cast on Mad Men is magnificent.  They keep pushing each other to dig deeper with every Season and Jon Hamm, who I got to meet only briefly during TIFF last month, is devastatingly good still as Donald Draper.  We take joy in watching him throw jabs at anyone who dares challenge his authority, yet at the same time are entranced by his downward spiral, even though he always gets saved just when he seems to hit rock bottom.

But let's be real here for a moment.  Although the Men might be at the forefront of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, this show is really about the Women.  The many, many, many gorgeous love interests of Donald Draper - some weak, some strong, yet all vulnerable when it comes to his hot-and-cold habits of affection.  One by one, they each peel a layer off his enigma of a character and in Season Four we meet Dr. Faye Miller played by Cara Buono.  Despite being strong, independent and in-control of her life, even she is not immune from the poisons of Donald.

GET HIM TO THE GREEK REVIEW

Second time director Nicholas Stoller already has accomplished more in two films than many directors will in their lifetimes. Get Him to The Greek from Universal Pictures is a spin-off of the hit comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall from 2008, written by Jason Segel, who takes on a behind-the-scenes role here Producer/Writer. The story follows British Rock Star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), a man with many vices, on his road to a comeback after a having reached a critical and commercial slump with his offensive last album.

Aaron (Jonah Hill) is a record company intern who reports to label executive Sergio Roma (Sean "Diddy" Combs) who helps construct Aldous' tenth year anniversary comeback concert at The Greek theatre in Los Angeles. There are many challenges though along the way as the head-strong Rocker battles his addiction to drugs, alcohol, a lack of self-love and lingering feelings for his ex-girlfriend Jackie Q. (Rose Byrne). Meanwhile, Aaron's career has pulled him in a separate direction from his sweet girlfriend Daphne (Elisabeth Moss), resulting in their decision to break up. At the same time he must prove to his boss that he has what it takes to successfully complete his assignment, even if it means sacrificing what he believes in for his job. Also, we are in a constant state of worry whether or not Aldous will actually make it to his own show or if he will just self-destruct.