Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Series

Mad Men

Mad Men is an American period drama television series created by Matthew Weiner for AMC.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Mad Men is an American period drama television series created by Matthew Weiner. Set in 1960s New York, it follows advertising executive Don Draper and his colleagues on Madison Avenue.

What it is

Mad Men is set primarily in the 1960s and follows the work and private lives of staff at a New York advertising agency. The series uses the advertising world as a lens for examining identity, ambition, gender roles, and social change.

Why it matters

Mad Men received strong critical praise and numerous awards. It won multiple Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards, including the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, the first basic cable series to do so. The show is often cited as one of the defining television dramas of the 21st century and a key part of the Golden Age of Television.

Key details

The series was created by Matthew Weiner and produced for AMC. It aired from July 19, 2007 to May 17, 2015, spanning seven seasons and 92 episodes. The main character, Don Draper, is played by Jon Hamm.

In short

  • Set in 1960s New York advertising world.
  • Created by Matthew Weiner, aired 2007–2015.
  • Won multiple Emmys and Golden Globes.
  • First basic cable series to win Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.
Canadian angle

Mad Men aired in Canada on television and has remained popular with Canadian viewers through broadcast and streaming availability; it is also commonly studied as part of television and media history in Canadian English-language contexts.

Quick questions

What is Mad Men about?
It follows advertising professionals in 1960s New York, especially Don Draper, and explores their work, relationships, and the social changes of the era.
Who created Mad Men?
Mad Men was created by Matthew Weiner.
Who plays Don Draper?
Don Draper is played by Jon Hamm.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Men
    Supports: Series creator, premise, run dates, episode count, awards, cultural significance.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mad-Men
    Supports: Series overview, creator, setting, critical reception, awards.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mad_Men_episodes
    Supports: Premier date, final date, episode total, season count.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mad_Men_characters
    Supports: Don Draper character details and role as protagonist.