'Mad Men' Creator Matthew Weiner Says Peggy Olson Will Be Back Next Season, Show Will Run Until Season 7
After season 5 of AMC's hit drama "Mad Men" ended with Peggy Olson leaving Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, fans feared her character, played by Elizabeth Moss, might be leaving the show for good. After all, she wouldn't be the first character to leave both the show and Sterling Cooper at the same time (Sal Romano, anyone?). "Mad Men" creator and showrunner Matthew Weiner, however, says that's not the case.
"When people leave Sterling Cooper, sometimes it is the end for [the character]," Weiner said in an interview with TV Line. "But I will spoil that one tiny piece of anticipation and tell people that Elisabeth will be showing up to work."
So rest easy, because Peggy Olson will continue pitching Virginia Slims and giving movie theater handjobs from the comfort of rival agency Cutler Gleason and Chaough.
Weiner says he faced similar fan concern when Don Draper and his first wife Betty divorced back in season 3. Betty Draper (now Betty Francis) has of course remained an integral part of the show despite the divorce, appearing throughout seasons 4 and 5.
"Everyone was like, 'I guess January Jones is off the show,' and I was like, 'Why would she be?' I never understood that," he said.
Weiner does understand concerns about the fate of characters like Peggy and Betty. Because the show takes so many creative risks, things are shaken up often. It can be difficult dealing with all of the fan reactions to the changes.
"You take a huge risk when you don't do the show you did the year before," Weiner said, referencing the ending of season 4, which saw Don and his secretary Megan get engaged. "People just hated her. They were like, 'She's manipulative! Is he really going to marry her? Hopefully she'll be gone.' But I was like, 'No, this is this guy's second marriage, and he's going to take it seriously."
Weiner closed the interview with one last tidbit of information: "Mad Men" will run until at least season 7. That's two more years of the show, guaranteed.
"We cannot rely on the official language of things. There will be a Season 7," Weiner said. "Jon Hamm is signed on for it, I'm signed on for it... I mean, if Season 6 has one viewer... but I don't think [ratings] is what it's about. I think Season 7 has already been internationally sold... It's going to happen."
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