Matt Weiner 'Quit' 'Mad Men' During Season 5 Negotiations

Matt Weiner: Yes, I 'Quit' 'Mad Men'

While we've spent the past 500 days complaining over the lack of "Mad Men" in our lives, we should be thankful Season 5 (premieres, Sun. Mar. 25 at 9 p.m. on AMC) is happening at all.

In a shocking interview with The New York Times, the series' creator Matt Weiner revealed that the show almost didn't go on.

"Yes, I quit ... during the negotiation. I had come to terms with the fact that it was over ... In the most protective and demanding way, I did not feel that it was worth going back to work to make a show that was not the show I'd been making. I had this argument with my wife, where I said: 'You don't understand - it's not just a matter of changing the show. I don't want to go to work and do it different. I just figured out how it works' ... [But] in the end, everything worked out."

A year ago, in March 2011, "Mad Men" fans were biting their fingernails, wondering what would come of the beloved AMC '60-set drama about the advertising age. At the time, Weiner said that he was unwilling to surrender on numerous creative and budget issues, even if it meant a larger contract. The network reportedly wanted him to cut cast members and agree to a shorter running time to allow for more advertisements and more prominent product integration.

During the negotiations, Weiner said that he was "fighting for the cast and for the show," adding that AMC was attempting to throw money at him the more he stood his ground. He also said that the delay was not his doing and that, if it were up to Weiner, "Mad Men" Season 5 would have kicked off in 2011.

For more inside information on the Season 5 negotiations, read the first part of Matt Weiner's interview with The New York Times.

Also, check back with HuffPost TV next week for Maureen Ryan's extensive interview with Matt Weiner on the struggles with Season 5 and what fans can look forward to.

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