"Mad Men" Creator Speaks Out
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“Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner responded to claims he was asking for $30 million Tuesday to produce the AMC show and spoke out about ongoing negotiations with the network. 
"Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner (Creative Commons)
“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," said Weiner, according to USA Today.
AMC and studio Lionsgate asked to shave two minutes off of the show to make room for more advertisements, as well as using product placement and removing regular cast members, reported deadline.com.
The negotiations have pushed back the premier of the show’s fifth season to 2012, and if Weiner ends up getting $30 million over two years he will become the highest-paid producer on basic cable, according to USA Today.
"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,” Weiner told fan blog Basket of Kisses.
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