At Matthew Weiner's request, and due to our hatred of spoilers, we can assure you nothing below will ruin your enjoyment of watching the two-hour season premiere of Mad Men this Sunday. But since we're entitled media d-bags, we got sent an advance copy and watched it the other night at the office while skateboarding in the Gothamist HQ half-pipe pounding promotional alcohol and Tweeting all about it. It's a really strong start, and very funny! Here are some juicy hints—mere intimations—of what you have to look forward to. Look at these not like spoilers, but like one of Don Draper's ladies slowly loosening one button of her blouse. more ›

Finally, we can get our mid-century fix again starting March 25th (10 p.m.), when Mad Men returns with all new episodes. Can you even remember where we last left off? Don is engaged to his secretary! Joan is pregnant! Peggy is mad about something! Betty fires Carla! more ›

In March, when new contracts and budgets were being discussed, we asked how many people on Mad Men would have to die in order for the show to go on. Eventually, the show's creator, Matthew Weiner, cut minutes in order to save the cast... and still got $30 million in compensation for signing on for three more years. Since then we've been focused on the important things, like turning Don Draper into a vampire and creating fake situations in which we'd be forced to choose between him and Coach Taylor. Summer! But little did we know there was a new war brewing in AMC land. more ›

While Mad Men won't be returning this year, Netflix has just announced that they'll be adding the series to their Instant Watch option starting July 27th. So at least we'll get to experience Don Draper's infidelities in syndication! more ›

While Mad Men may not be returning this year, we can all finally exhale knowing that we'll be reunited with the chainsmoking gang in March of 2012. Last night the show's creator, Matthew Weiner, struck a deal with AMC and Lionsgate for two more seasons, with the option of a third (which sources say is likely). According to the Wall Street Journal, the agreement has Weiner receiving $30 million in compensation for the three years. more ›

One of the only things worth watching on television these days is Mad Men, which delivers a detailed portrayal of a mid-century New York City, along with office politics and domestic drama. Plus lots of sex, smoking and dry martinis. Rumors surrounding the show's return have been making their way to the press in recent weeks, with word that the 5th season has been stalled, and the show possibly canceled, due to some unresolved negotiations. more ›

Marquee thinks the AMC cinema chain is going to tarnish their image—which allegedly didn't get tarnished during the whole abduction and rape thing? Or anytime before that just for being, you know, Marquee? Anyway, according to the NY Post, the nightclub isn't too keen on the chain using their name for their new Las Vegas restaurant, which will serve not-so-fabulous foods like hot dogs and breakfast. more ›

Last week a media analyst blamed theaters for the price hikes that boost some 3-D movie tickets just shy of $20, but they protest it’s not their fault. An AMC spokesman said moviegoers should blame James Cameron, and other deep-pocketed purveyors of new technology. "It is inevitable some of those costs will eventually appear at the box office," he said. Another expert used the “come on, it’s not that bad,” justification: "In New York, especially Manhattan, $20 for a couple of hours entertainment is relatively inexpensive," an NPD Group rep told the News. Be that as it may some cinema enthusiasts threatened they might not stand for it. "I probably wouldn't spend that much," said one, "The way the economy is right now, it's far too expensive." more ›

There is bad, if unsurprising, news for moviegoers who routinely stuff their faces with incessant handfuls of popcorn: Not only does your maddening snack rustling ruin the delicate movie magic, but you're making yourself morbidly obese and prone to heart disease, too. Lab tests conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest have determined that popcorn at the major movie chains has way more calories than cud-chewing plebes are led to believe. For cinema snack-hounds, these lab results are more horrifying than The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: more ›

The Oscars are in town! Well, at least some 8-foot Oscar statues for the official New York Oscar night celebration at the Carlyle hotel, where east coast industry folk will come together Sunday night as the show goes down in Hollywood. more ›

The Jews of New York (Sunday, 8:00 p.m., WLIW; Thursday, 9:00 p.m., Thirteen) Ed Koch, Russ & Daughters Appetizers, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the creative team behind Fiddler on the Roof are profiled in this one hour overview of the history and impact of the Jewish community in New York. The show has some great New York City history content, although it seemed like it should have been a bit longer so they could get a bit more in. Still it is an interesting look at the contributions of New York’s Jewish community through the years. more ›

Could Apple be planting a seed on a location near Lincoln Center? The Meatpacking district Apple store still has that new-store smell as Apple fever extends north. According to the Post, Apple is looking to take over space at the northwest corner of Broadway and West 67th, where there's currently a two-story Victoria's Secret store. more ›

The reviews are in for the $180 million production of The Golden Compass, and they’re lackluster at best, which is a pity not just for fans of the novel from which it’s adapted but for New Line Cinema, which was banking on another Lord of the Rings cash cow. Times critic Manohla Dargis calls it flawed and cluttered, although her description of Nicole Kidman ought to sway any dudes reluctant to see a movie starring... more ›

MOVIE: The new Hairspray has set up special Sing-A-Long screenings! They begin nationwide today, and there will be three right here in New York. If you don't like rowdy theaters, skip this one! more ›

A look at some noteworthy television this week: more ›

With the mid-week Fourth of July holiday, an abbreviated work week practically demands an afternoon at the movies complete with giant tub o' fatty snacks and subzero air conditioning. New York is a real haven for movie theater aficionados, and we all have our favorites. Here's a brief breakdown of what to see, and where, this holiday. In the comments feel free to weigh in on the best and/or worst places to see giant alien vehicles attack earth or betrothed couples acting goofy. more ›

A look at some noteworthy television this week: more ›

The non-election-related water cooler question: Did you see Borat? Did you brave crowds of people (mad rush at multiplexes, lines around the block at smaller theaters) to witness a Jewish Englishman portray a hapless Kazakh journalist with a chicken in his suitcase? Did you wonder how the crew was not arrested? Everywhere we went, people were talking about Borat. At the restaurant. At the grocery store. In the subway. All. Talking. About. Borat. Hell, people were buying tickets to Babel and The Departed because they couldn't see Borat. Which proves that if you send your silly, controversial, anti-Semitic mustachioed character on every news outlet possible and you'll get a number one movie. more ›

this way, and sporting those Buddy Holly-esque free plastic glasses during a matinee was a blast. more ›

It probably says something pretty sad about the cost of living in Nueva York that we're excited about the prospect of paying only $6 bucks to go and see a first run movie, but there you have it. If only we didn't have to get up so early to take advantage of it... more ›

We know that watching a movie that consists of Al Gore giving a slide show presentation doesn't sound that intriguing. However, the former Vice President has got a lot to say, and it's all kind of...scary. After writing his book, Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit, the man decided to lead us all in a save the world campaign. more ›

Gothamist has been to way too many Tribeca Film Festival movies since it started a little more than a week ago. So many in fact that we almost dread having purchased all those tickets. Last night though, we were happy we purchased tickets for Air Guitar Nation, a wonderful documentary that chronicles the first US Air Guitar Championships and the quest to become the first American to be the world champion. The final screening of Air Guitar Nation is a midnight screening tonight at the AMC Loews on 34th St. While tickets are door sales only right now, Gothamist highly recommends heading over early and trying to get into this movie. It's easily the best movie we've seen at the festival this year (we've seen 5 at this point). more ›

On last night's WPIX News At Ten, there was the most amazing lead story. The news team touted it as an "exclusive": The AMC Bay Plaza in the Bronx is infested with rats. When Julinda Lee took her children to see a movie, rats were all over them for their food. In fact, one rat crawled up her 6 year old son's leg and grabbed his snack cake! (The son super-adorably told the reporter, "I said, "Hey! No way!") Lee said one rat sat next to them, waiting for food. The Health Department had cited the theater in the past, though a visit two weeks ago showed no signs of rodents. What was hilarious, in the face of the disgusting aspect, is that WPIX 11 listed the citations and they almost looked like movie titles - "Evidence of Mice" - rated R! You can watch the clip here, if you have Windows Media Player - click on "Rodent Theater." more ›

Firefighters are still working to put out the huge ten-alarm Brooklyn warehouse fire that started yesterday at 5:30AM. Fifteen buildings the Greenpoint Terminal Market were hit by the fire. The Fire Department used eight to nine million gallons of water during their work, and since there was no "immediate threat to life," the fire became a sort of clinic for the department to "plan strategy," according to the NY Times; the FDNY also used the "surround and down" tactic, with tower ladders on the streets and fireboats in the water. Of course, the fire's scale drew comparisons to September 11, especially with the burnt, acrid smell creeping across the Brooklyn and the rest of the city. Fourteen firefighters suffered minor injuries, with no civilians injured. more ›

-Speaking of precocious children... Our favorite story of the day has to be those of the poor families who went to a screening of the wretched Chicken Little only to find themselves watching a "foreign film that opened with a young man committing suicide." Good job AMC! more ›

. Lately, seems as if every studio or theatre is looking for a quick fix, as “anyone whose name was a derivation of Herbert” received, as the Wall Street Journal notes, sneak-peak preview tickets to Lindsay Lohan’s disaster, whereas Fox offers a “buy-three-get-one-free deal” to boost Star Wars, Episode III.
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