Breathe easy: ‘Mad Men’ season 7 not leading to spin-off

While this is a lesson that AMC may be having a hard time learning lately, sometimes when a show is done, it’s simple that: Done. We were okay with the idea of the “Breaking Bad” prequel “Better Call Saul,” but then the network announced their plans for a “Walking Dead” spin-off featuring new characters in the same world, and we wanted to cry a little bit. Isn’t this the sort of move to diminish the demand for your original show? It’s what happened to singing competitions when “The Voice” and “The X Factor” first arrived on the air.

Well luckily, we can at least confirm that “Mad Men” is not going to be pushing hard to have a spin-off of its own air at some point in the future. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, creator Matthew Weiner was kind enough to confirm that when Don Draper’s story ends in 2015 (which is somewhat ridiculous in its own way given the split-season format that was just announced), that really will be the end:

“There’s no chance. No judgment against anybody else — but this is it. This is the story. When it’s done, it’s done.”

There were rumors about a spin-off earlier this summer that started thanks to a comment from star Kevin Rahm (Ted), but we’re pretty sure that he was partially joking when he said it. This is a story about Don’s fall from grace in many ways, and it would be silly to shift the focus over. Plus, do we really want to see Ted learn how how to use a computer?

So complain all you want to about “Mad Men” season 6 being one of the weaker outings of the show since the very beginning, but at least Weiner has the foresight to know what his viewers have no interest in seeing.

If you want to read more about why we hate the plan to split “Mad Men” season 7 into two halves, be sure to click here. The new season will begin in the spring of 2014.

Photo: AMC