October 17th, 2008 2:06 pm

Another Mad Year

Basic cable network AMC has officially optioned a third season of Emmy award winning drama Mad Men, but behind the scenes things aren’t so hunky dory.

Production base, Lionsgate currently don’t have a deal in place with creator/executive producer Matthew Weiner for the third season. So while the show wraps up it’s second season over the next two weeks, negotiations will continue between the studio and the head honcho.

Sources claim, however, that Weiner is also fishing for a significant pay rise and over all deal with the studio, and with Mad Men’s increasing popularity and critical acclaim it seems rightly deserved. It’s also believe that Weiner made rounds with several other major studios leading up to/and after the drama’s Emmy win.

So the question is, will Lionsgate step up to the plate or will Weiner be forced to look elsewhere for a home?

For the sake of the show, let’s hope Lionsgate nail down that contract and sign Weiner up for several more years to come.

Mad Men concludes it second season next week on AMC.