TV News: ‘Mad Men’ Receives Highest Ratings in Show History

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CHICAGO – “Mad Men” was back and bigger than ever last night, as the two-hour, two-part premiere set a record for the most viewers of any episode in the series history. With 3.5 million viewers, 1.7 million of which were in the 25-54 demographic, “Mad Men” was up 21% from its season four premiere.

The big numbers also included 1.6 million viewers in the coveted 18-49 demo. This was up 30% in ratings from the season four premiere, the biggest jump in any demo. The episode garnered 4.4 million viewers total for the night when including the replay of the first two episodes after the premiere.

AMC president Charlie Collier praised the show in a press release today:

“Almost five years ago, with a focus on distinction and quality, AMC launched ‘Mad Men’ as the first series in its commitment to original scripted dramatic television. ‘Mad Men’ is the only cable drama to ever win the Emmy award for outstanding drama series four years in a row and the Golden Globe for best television drama series for three years in a row. ‘Mad Men’ set the bar high and we are incredibly proud that it continues to engage audiences looking for unexpected, unconventional and uncompromising television,” said Collier. “For each of the five ‘Mad Men’ seasons Matthew Weiner and his team have crafted a beautifully told story and each season a larger audience has responded; a rare accomplishment. We couldn’t be more proud of this program, the brilliant writers, cast and crew, and the entire team on each side of the camera.”

By TIM MARTENS Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com tim@hollywoodchicago.com