“Mad Men” star Jon Hamm seeks creative fulfillment in more places than the alpha-male, womanizing life of Don Draper. Whether he’s in budget giants like the upcoming “Top Gun: Maverick” or festival titles like “Lucy in the Sky,” he gravitates toward projects he’s passionate about. In the world of television, too, he prioritizes creative alignment over adherence to a consistent personal brand, landing recurring roles in shows like “30 Rock,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and “Saturday Night Live.” As the distinction between TV and film has grown more and more blurred, Hamm’s versatility has been an important asset.

Continue reading Jon Hamm Talks ‘Wild Mountain Thyme,’ ‘Top Gun 2’ & The Changing Landscape Of TV [The Fourth Wall] at The Playlist.

We’re approaching the end of the traditional TV season for this year (something that’s becoming increasingly irrelevant in the era of small-screen disruption from streaming services and cable, and now mostly used as an Emmy-qualifying signifier), and as finales land or get near, showrunners are keen to go out with a bang. And so often in television land, going out with a bang means killing off a beloved character.

Almost as long as serialized TV drama has been a thing, the death of a character has been a way of amping up the stakes (and, more often than not, of also granting the wishes of an actor who wants off the show).

Continue reading The 15 Most Shocking Deaths In TV History at The Playlist.

David Chase has had to explain the ending of “The Sopranos” far too many times, but a common theory posited among fans is that the show’s opening sequence – in which New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano suffers a panic attack and faints after witnessing a family of ducks congregating in his backyard pool – is thematically analogous with its wildly divisive and much-discussed finale. In other words, Tony begins the show with a panic attack, and the American viewership of “The Sopranos” ended the show with one.

Continue reading Watch: Supercut Of The First & Final Scenes Of Iconic TV Shows at The Playlist.

'Spotlight' & 'The Big Short' Take Top Prizes At WGA Awards

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'Mad Max: Fury Road,' 'The Big Short,' And 'Inside Out' Win Top Prizes At ACE Eddie Awards

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The 25 Best Directors Working In TV Today

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Elisabeth Moss Talks ‘Queen Of Earth,’ ‘Mad Men’ & A Possible Second Season Of ‘Top Of The Lake’

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Predicting The 2015 Emmy Award Nominations

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The 25 Best TV Shows Of The 2014/2015 Season

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Creators Of 'Orange Of The New Black' And 'Mad Men' Aren't Keen On Binge TV Watching Trend

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"It’s Not The End Of Anything": Jon Hamm Talks The Finale Of 'Mad Men'

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Watch: Say Goodbye With The Trailer For The 'Mad Men' Series Finale Plus Over 2 Hours Of Talks With Matthew Weiner

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Watch: Don Draper Joins Social Media And Gets Divorced On Facebook In Hilarious Video

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Listen: Chuck Klosterman Hosted 90-Minute Talk With 'Mad Men' Team Matthew Weiner, Jon Hamm, & More

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AMC Considered 'Mad Men' Spinoffs For Peggy, Sally And More During Contract Negotiations

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10 Movies Matthew Weiner Assigned As Required Viewing For The 'Mad Men' Cast & Crew

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Watch: 13-Minute Documentary Investigates 'The Real Don Draper'

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ACE Eddie Awards Nominees Include 'Boyhood,' 'Gone Girl,' 'Inherent Vice,' 'Whiplash,' 'True Detective' & More

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AFI Names 11 Best Films & 10 Best TV Shows Of 2014

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Interview: Elisabeth Moss Talks 'Listen Up Philip,' Ben Wheatley's 'High Rise' & A 'Mad Men' Spinoff

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The 20 Best TV Shows Of The 2013/2014 Season

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Continue reading Watch: 1 Hour Q&A With Female Leads Of ‘Mad Men,’ ‘Homeland,’ ‘American Horror Story’ & More at The Playlist.

The 10 Best Episodes Of 'Mad Men'

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Watch: New Teaser & Images For 'Mad Men' Season 7 Take Flight

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New Images From 'Mad Men' Season 7 & 'Orange Is The New Black' Season 2

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