Betty Draper
Bertram Cooper
Trudy Campbell
There may be a few less “Mad Men” next year.
Fans of the highly addictive TV series about the advertising business in the 1960s learned yesterday that AMC, the cable network that carries the show, is demanding cast cuts — of at least two characters.
But the show’s creator and guiding light, Matthew Weiner, is so far refusing to oblige.
At the heart of the dispute is a long-festering salary battle between Weiner and AMC that has already pushed the start of the upcoming season to next year.
Members of the core cast — including Don Draper (Jon Hamm), Roger Sterling (John Slattery), Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) and Joan Harris (Christina Hendricks) — would be the last to go, insiders say.
A source close to Weiner yesterday said the show’s creator “has no idea” which characters to drop if he is forced to pare down the cast.
The network also wants to cut back each episode by two minutes, in order to sell more commercial time.
The only reason AMC is asking for the cuts is to raise the money to pay for Weiner’s new salary demands, sources at the cable network said.
The network has reportedly already agreed to a pay raise for Weiner — a two-year, $30 million deal.
“The numbers we’re looking at would make him the richest show-runner in TV history, and I think the two minutes is the smallest measure of contribution to that,” said the source.
Meanwhile, AMC yesterday threatened to move ahead with a new season of the series with or without Weiner.
“AMC has officially authorized production of Season 5 of ‘Mad Men,’ triggering our option with Lionsgate [Mad Men’s production company],” the company announced in a press release.
“While we are getting a later start than in years past due to ongoing, key, noncast negotiations, ‘Mad Men’ will be back for a fifth season in early 2012.”
The delayed season had fans in a fury yesterday.
“2012? Are you kidding me??” wrote Gracia Wiroreno on NYMag.com. “Just do something! Get it on the air, now!”
“NOOOOOOO! Now what am I supposed to do with my Sunday nights?” wrote another fan, Roxanne Jones.
A panel of TV pundits at The Post came up with odds on which characters might be cut.
The odds of Don, Joan, Peggy or Roger being cut? Astronomical. 50-1, if not higher.
Others — like Don’s ex-wife, Betty, or the agency’s founder, Bert Cooper — are nearly out of the series after four seasons anyway.
The odds the ax will fall there are 10-1 or less.