Ratings Review: MAD MEN (Season Seven)

MAD MEN has long been an acclaimed series that critics and viewers seem to love. There are many cultural references to the series and just as many fan podcasts devoted to talking about each episode. But with this much popularity, why doesn't anyone watch the show?

After seven seasons, and 85 episodes, one two episodes of the series have attracted more than three million viewers. This seventh season is one of the lowest rated since season two.

Other, less hyped AMC dramas do better numbers than MAD MEN. HELL ON WHEELS averaged over two million viewers, last summer, despite being placed on Saturday nights. This spring's new series TURN had a series premiere that was nearly equal to MAD MEN's season premiere.

For the short, seven episodes of the seventh season, MAD MEN averaged just 2.01 million viewers and a 0.7 rating in Adults 18-49. Season eight will air in 2015, but I do not expect the huge ratings surge that BREAKING BAD experienced in it's last season.

MAD MEN (Sundays at 10 p.m., on AMC)

Date	Viewers*	A18-49	Notes	L+7
04/13/14	2.27	0.8	3.70 (1.3)
04/20/14	1.89	0.6
04/27/14	2.02	0.7
05/04/14	2.14	0.8
05/11/14	1.86	0.6
05/18/14	1.93	0.7
05/25/14	1.94	0.7	3.60 (1.3)

* - in millions