Mad Men’s story line is set in the backdrop of the advertising industry flourishing in New York of the 1960’s and at the centre of attention is Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency situated on Madison Avenue and the men and women working there. It tries to put forward a realistic purview of the industry and how the top names in business who work in the Sterling Cooper Agency handle their personal, sexual, professional and social lives and how often all these facets of their lives get mixed or messed up.

The 1960s’ was an imperative time for the advertising industry as it was within this time period wealth, status, prestige and glamour were at its highest point. The industry was largely male dominated with females just looked down upon as sex objects. The series showcases the changes in perspectives since then and now through different issues confronting the society like, adultery, drinking, racial bias, sex, tobacco smoking, homophobia, prejudices against the Jews and also against other nationalities etc. From the 1960’s till now, lots of changes have come in the society and approaches to all these issues are now different. It is this contrast which makes the show very enlightening.

The main lead character of the show is Don Draper [Jon Hamm], a very capable and clever top executive of the Agency. He can sell any thing to any one with his wit and different tricks that stun many. Also he is a ladies man, who in order to satisfy his lust has not even spared his own company’s female secretarial pool. The position he is at, is envied by many who desire the same for themselves and can do anything to bring him down. Though he always appears cool and smooth but beneath this soft side are veiled many dark and ugly secrets. Other characters playing prominent roles in the script are Agency CEO Roger Sterling [John Slattery], Head Secretary Joan Holloway [Christina Hendricks], Secretary Peggy Olson [Elizabeth Moss], Junior Accounts Manager Pete Campbell [Vincent Kartheiser], and Don’s wife Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Draper [January Jones].

Mathew Weiner, known for his work on Soprano has created ‘Mad Men’. The AMC cable network airs the show which has been produced by Lionsgate Television. It was launched on nineteenth July, 2007 with the episode "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and “The Wheel” was the finale episode aired on eighteenth October, 2007. The Second season begun on 27th July, 2007, with the episode "For Those Who Think Young" and on twenty – sixth October, 2008 completed its second season, the last episode being "Meditations in an Emergency". Both the seasons contain thirteen episodes each, and the running length of every episode is somewhere near forty seven minutes.

For its realistic portrayers, uniqueness, innovativeness and great styling the show has received applauds and cheers from all quarters thus getting ‘Mad men’ several awards including six Emmys and two Golden Globes. It also has achieved the distinction of being the first basic cable series to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and the second cable series generally.