'Mad Men' creator's message to critics: 'Fans don't run the show'

Published April 24, 2013

Associated Press

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  April 23, 2013: From left, Jon Hamm, Kiernan Shipka, Jessica Pare and January Jones from the cast of "Man Men," attend "Mad-ness Returns to the Paley Center" at The Paley Center for Media in New York.AP/Invision

NEW YORK –  "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner has a message for critics of season six of the AMC hit: "Fans don't run the show."

After waiting nearly a year for this month's premiere some viewers have expressed disappointment with the new season. Speaking ahead of a "Mad Men" panel event at the Paley Media Center in Manhattan Tuesday night, Weiner likened fan reaction to the show to the arcade game Whac-A-Mole.

"There's not enough agency advertising. There's too much advertising," Weiner said of previous fan gripes. "There's not enough Betty. There's too much Betty. Who is Megan? Why isn't there more Megan?"

Weiner noted people are still watching and advised fans to "sit back and enjoy where we're going." He said he opened the season in 1968 because he believes it was one of the worst years in U.S. history, and while he remained tight-lipped about where the journey is headed he did promise it "might be a little salacious, but that's what the show is."

Viewers did learn that ad man Don Draper (Jon Hamm) remains tormented and brooding and is now cheating on his new wife Megan (Jessica Pare). Weiner says he believes his lead character remains redeemable despite his flaws.

"We'll have to see what the world hands him and if he's able to confront a problem that's following him around that might actually be him," he said.

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'The Bible' creators, History Channel deny show's Satan resembles President Obama

Published March 18, 2013

FoxNews.com

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  Some viewers said it looked like actor Mehdi Ouzaani (left) was made up to look like President Obama (right) for his role as Satan (center).Cinemamarocain.net / History / Reuters

The creators of the miniseries "The Bible" and the network that airs it are denying reports that the character Satan intentionally resembles President Barack Obama.

The couple behind the show, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, dismissed what they called “foolish” reports that their show’s villain looked like the President.

“This is utter nonsense. The actor who played Satan, Mehdi Ouzaani, is a highly acclaimed Moroccan actor,” they said in a statement sent to FOX 411. “He has previously played parts in several Biblical epics– including Satanic characters long before Barack Obama was elected as our President.”

Downey added: "Both Mark and I have nothing but respect and love our President, who is a fellow Christian. False statements such as these are just designed as a foolish distraction to try and discredit the beauty of the story of The Bible.”

The History Channel set out to put an end to the rumors, saying the show aims to feature “a diverse cast of respected actors.”

“History channel has the highest respect for President Obama,” the network said in a statement. “It's unfortunate that anyone made this false connection. History’s ‘The Bible’ is meant to enlighten people on its rich stories and deep history.”

After Sunday night’s episode, scores of viewers took to Twitter to note a resemblance between the show’s Satan character and President Barack Obama.

“That guy playing Satan in ‘the Bible’… does resemble the president,” one user wrote. “I would hope it wasn't intentional, but who knows.”

Another quipped: “Did anyone else notice that Satan spoke like Nacho Libre and looked just like Obama? #thebible”

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