One of the best part of the new streaming reality is binge-watching older television shows, particlularly some of the classics from the “peak TV” era of the 2000s and 2010s. Of course, that required a number of subscriptions, and few people bothered to get the AMC+ subscription. That left “Mad Men,” one of the all-time great television dramas, inaccessible to many fans who might love the show.

Now that is changing as of December 1, 2025, as “Mad Men” is now streaming on HBO Max. This arrival is part of a licensing agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery (the parent company of HBO Max) and Lionsgate (the studio that produces and owns the rights to “Mad Men”).

To make this specific run on HBO Max even more attractive, Lionsgate created a 4K remaster of the series. This was the key selling point: HBO Max can market it not just as “having the show,” but as having the best looking version of the show ever released. The have been some glitches with the 4K remaster, but overall this is a coup for HBO Max.

“Mad Men” had a huge cultural impact after it’s 2007 premiere, and it will be fascinating to see how the show impacts a whole new generation who can now more easily discover the show. We covered the show extensively here, including our “Mad Men” blog that started with the third season. The show was beloved by critcs and audiences as well.

If you haven’t seen “Mad Men” you should give it a try while the rest of us plan our rewatch binge.

“Mad Men” will be back soon, and here’s one the of the new promo posters. Mad Men fans will be thrilled and we’re expecting a great season, so get ready to break out the Canadian Club!

Oh, and one other note: in a further effort to avoid conceptual duplication, I’ve only written about each show once, so if you see a show’s title without anything written beside it, look back and you’ll find where I’ve already written about it. That, or I screwed up. Either’s possible, really. (I’m only human, after all.)

Best Shows to Come and Go within 2010

1. Terriers (FX) – It’s a testament to the quality of “Terriers” that FX president John Landgraf held a teleconference with journalists after breaking the news of the series’ cancellation in order to explain his actions, but I don’t think anyone really blamed the guy, anyway: the show’s ratings were as deplorable as the writing was phenomenal. Between the awful ad campaign for the show (no, it wasn’t about dogs) and the fact that many of the viewers who did tune in were kind of bummed out by too-real character traits and developments like alcoholism, infidelity, divorce, and mental illness, it’s not a surprise that it wasn’t a huge hit. But that doesn’t make it any less depressing.

2. Lone Star (Fox) – I’d like to think that this “Dallas”-esque series about a con man leading two lives would’ve been battling with “Terriers” for the top spot if only Fox hadn’t canceled it after only two episodes…but, then, if they can’t canceled it after only two episodes, then maybe viewers might’ve embraced “Lone Star” enough that it wouldn’t have been canceled at all. Oh, wait, never mind, I forgot: it was on Fox, so it probably still would’ve been canceled, anyway. Even so, Kyle Killen provided an intriguing concept and delivered it with the help of a top-notch cast. It’s just a shame we didn’t get to see more of it.

3. Warren the Ape (MTV) – So falls another network effort by one of our favorite fabricated Americans. Greg the Bunny couldn’t keep a show alive on either Fox or IFC, but it really seemed like a given that the shenanigans of Warren the Ape were tailor-made for MTV viewers. Not so, apparently. Frankly, the whole thing smacks of anti-puppetism. Warren himself has conceded that “fabricated Americans still have a very long way to go in this country, and I think it’s always going to be an uphill battle.” How right he was.

4. Happy Town (ABC) – Note to ABC’s publicity department: while I appreciate your intentions when you underlined the comparisons between “Happy Town” and “Twin Peaks” with a giant Magic Marker, you have to expect that “Twin Peaks” fans are going to offer up their equivalent of the old “I knew Jack Kennedy” line. Yeah, I know, you only meant it as a point of reference, and you never intended to imply that the two series were on even creative footing, but try telling them that. For my part, I thought it was a creepy little sleeper of a show…but, unfortunately, the other five people who agreed with me weren’t enough to keep it on the air.

5. Sons of Tucson (Fox) – I’m still not quite sure what Fox was thinking by trying to slot this poor live-action sitcom into the midst of their otherwise-animated Sunday night line-up. Maybe they’d hoped it would instill viewers with a bit of nostalgia for the days of “Malcolm in the Middle,” given the similarity in feel between that show and “Tucson.” If so, the plan failed miserably. In a perfect world, the network would raise the series from the dead and team it with “Raising Hope.” Now that’s a double bill I could get behind.

Best Shows I Discovered in 2010

1. Parenthood (NBC) – Although I was on board with this series since the first time I read the names of the cast members (which, at the time, still including Maura Tierney rather than Lauren Graham), I admit that I’m way late in officially joining the “‘Parenthood’ is awesome” club. What can I tell you? Too many shows, not enough hours in the day. Having finally had the time to devour Season 1 on DVD and begin to dig into Season 2, however, I just can’t say enough good things about the series. It’s about as realistic as family dramas get, full of strong performances and writing that’ll make you laugh and cry, sometimes even simultaneously.

2. Boardwalk Empire (HBO) – I used to be kinda iffy about period-piece series, but “Mad Men” effectively threw that issue out the window for me, so it was pretty easy to embrace this tale of sex, crime, and politics set in Prohibition-era Atlantic City. Frankly, the mere presence of Paz de la Huerta was more than sufficient to inspire me to tune in every week, but it’s been fascinating to see Steve Buscemi step into the role of an unlikely power figure, and Michael Shannon’s eye-popping performance as Agent Nelson Van Alden has been a blast to watch. I’m already ready for Season 2.

3. The Walking Dead (AMC) – It’s based on a comic book, it’s about zombies, and it’s helmed by the dude who did “The Shawshank Redemption,” “The Green Mile,” and “The Mist.” Basically, I was always going to tune in for the first episode…but, holy crap, what a first episode it was. Even if the subsequent installments didn’t always match the premiere, the exploration of humanity through the prism of a zombie invasion has proven consistently intriguing and deliciously gory.

4. Raising Hope (Fox) – Not everyone enjoys the taste of Greg Garcia’s comedies, but I saw a lot of people I recognized in the characters of “My Name Is Earl,” and I’m seeing the same thing with the Chance family. The show could almost coast by on reaction shots from Hope herself, who may well be one of the cutest babies ever to grace the small screen, but the comedic trifecta of Lucas Neff, Garret Dillahunt, and Martha Plimpton – aided ably by the legendary Cloris Leachman – have great chemistry together. Here’s hoping Fox finds the right companion show for the series, because “Hope” deserves the chance to grow up.

5. Justified (FX) – Here’s another one I need to play catch-up with, but I’ve seen more than enough to fall in love with the show already. Timothy Olyphant was the perfect casting choice for US Marshall Raylan Givens – who better to play a modern-day cowboy than an alumnus of “Deadwood”? – and Elmore Leonard’s sensibilities are firmly in place throughout.

Best Sitcoms of 2010

1. Modern Family (ABC) – Given that this ensemble comedy emerged fully formed from the womb, it shouldn’t really be a surprise that it’s managed to maintain its consistency in its second season, but you never like to take these things for granted. It’s a rare sitcom that earns appreciation from the viewers, the critics, and the Emmys, but “Modern Family” deserves every bit of the praise that’s been heaped upon it.

2. Raising Hope (Fox)

3. Community (NBC) – Another second-season series, but one which definitely has taken its time to figure out what it wants to be. When “Community” first kicked off, I didn’t get the impression that creator Dan Harmon actually intended for the driving force of the show to be its pop culture references (I figured the goal was to find the middle ground between heart and snark), but both the show’s ensemble and its writers have found their respective grooves, transforming the show into…an eventual cult classic, probably, since it’s definitely playing to the cool kids rather than the huddled masses. But you don’t hear me complaining.

4. Parks and Recreation (NBC) – Like “Parenthood” above, this is another case where I became a full-fledged series supporter as a result of DVD. If you weren’t impressed by Season 1, fair enough, but you should still check out Season 2. The show really takes off in a big way, fixing the issues from its freshman year and coming back smelling like roses. P.S. I’ve already seen the first few episodes of Season 3, which kicks off in January 2011, and if they counted in the final tally, “Parks and Recreation” would’ve ranked even higher.

5. How I Met Your Mother (CBS) – Last season was somewhat hit or miss, and executive producers Craig Thomas and Carter Bays freely admitted as much, but this season, while still not entirely up to the standards set in the show’s earliest years, has shown a comeback. Jennifer Morrison has begun to settle in as Ted’s friend / nemesis, Zoey Pierson, but the best part about her character is really her husband, The Captain, played to perfection by Kyle MacLachlan. Meanwhile, I don’t know if we’re actually going to see Marshall and Lily get pregnant or if it’s destined to occur in the mists of time beyond the run of the show, but the process of getting there has been an enjoyable one. We’ll see where the rest of the season takes us, but right now I’m enjoying this creative upswing.

Best Dramas of 2010

1. Breaking Bad (AMC) – Vince Gilligan continues to take Walter White and transform him slowly but surely from Mr. Chips into Scarface, but he’s not the only character going through a transition. In fact, Season 3 found just about everybody on “Breaking Bad” suffering through growing pains of some sort, with Jesse struggling to maintain equality in his relationship with Walt and stay clean and sober, Skyler dealing not only with a disintegrating marriage but the recent changes in the man to whom she’s been married for all these years, and Hank having to conquer obstacles on the way to emotional and physical health. Throw in the enigmatic Gus, the ridiculous Saul Goodman, and the terrifying Cousins, and you’ve got the best season of “Breaking Bad” to date.

2. Mad Men (AMC) – When Season 3 ended, the Sterling Cooper agency was no more, and when Season 4 kicked off, we said “hello” to Sterling Cooper Draper Price. Living up to the previous season’s finale was tough, and it took awhile for “Mad Men” to really build up a head of steam this year, but as America evolves in the ’60s, so have these characters, and creator Matthew Weiner continues to keep us guessing about where their paths will lead them.

3. Terriers (FX)

4. Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

5. The Walking Dead (AMC)

Best Reinvention of a Classic Property

Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated (Cartoon Network)

Like many members of Generation X, I have maintained a soft spot for Scooby Doo and his teenaged mystery-solving companions for many years, but virtually all of that sentimentality comes courtesy of “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969 – 1970) and “The New Scooby-Doo Movies” (1972 – 1973). With all of the damage done to the franchise with the addition of Scrappy-Doo, the ill-begotten attempt to infantilize the Scooby gang (“A Pup Named Scooby-Doo”), and the consistently disappointing live-action films, it’s no wonder that my adoration of the original series had dissipated considerably. Thank heavens, then, for “Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated,” which plays both as a direct sequel to the events which took place within the episodes of “Where Are You” and a love letter to those who loved the original series and have spent 30+ years waiting for the magic to return. Inevitably, the characters have been modernized somewhat, but their back stories have been expanded to make them less two-dimensional. Another nice tribute to the old-school shows: although Matthew Lillard voices Shaggy, the voice of his dad is provided by Casey Kasem. Stalwart Frank Welker continues to play Fred as well as capably filling the shoes of the late Don Messick as the voice of Scooby himself.

Best TV-DVDs of 2010

The Six Million Dollar Man
Every episode of the series, all of the TV movies that preceded and followed it, plus more special features than your brain will be able to process. If you grew up in the ’70s, it’s worth every penny.

The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series
First they gave us Season 1, then they didn’t give us anything else for a very long time. Then, instead of Season 2, they gave us a best-of set, which – while awesome – still wasn’t what the fans wanted. Now, at last, Shout Factory cuts to the chase and just gives us the whole damned series…which is all we ever wanted in the first place.

Guiltiest Pleasure of 2010

Hellcats (The CW)
There’s no good reason why a grown man should feel comfortable about watching a drama about college cheerleaders, but surely you can at least understand why I find it hard to avert my gaze.

Best Drama: Friday Night Lights (Direct TV/NBC)

There was a lot of great drama on television this year (“Southland” was exceptional, “Lost” went out in glorious fashion, “Men of a Certain Age” was moving and effective), but I would be remiss if I didn’t place “FNL” at the top of my list, just where it has been since the show premiered in 2006. It’s hard to believe that this will be its last season. No other show has me cheering and laughing and crying week in and week out. Even during the cringe worthy moments (Julie’s affair with the TA) I can’t bring myself to raise the remote and fast forward through them. I’ve stated time and again on Popdose that this show is the most realistic portrayal of small town life I’ve ever seen on television, with beautifully written and acted characters, smart direction, and perfect music selections to create the mood of each scene (not to mention W.G. Snuffy’s poignant score). I love the Taylors; I love the community of Dillon, Texas; and I love Friday Night Lights.

Best Comedy: Modern Family (ABC)

A tough category. There are so many strong comedies on television right now, including NBC’s Thursday night lineup and ABC’s Wednesday shows. Of all of them, “Modern Family” makes me laugh the hardest; so hard that my wife and I have to rewind to hear the second and third jokes of each scene. With a great cast and insightful writing, “Modern Family” is a modern classic.

Best Reality: The Biggest Loser (NBC)

I generally hate reality shows on network television, however there is something truly inspiring about “The Biggest Loser” that grabs me every week. Here is a series about people seriously having to take back their lives otherwise they could die. The money at the end never seems to be as important as the health benefits they receive. Unlike most of the reality competitions shows, the inspiration that comes from watching “The Biggest Loser” occurs from watching every contestant, not just a select few. Obesity has overtaken our country and the men and women of “The Biggest Loser” prove that you can take back your life and that you are in control of it.

Best Supernatural/Sci-Fi: The Vampire Diaries (The CW)

Each week I think that the new episode of “The Vampire Diaries” is going to be just like every other teen soap; and each week I’m surprised that an hour has passed so quickly. “The Vampire Diaries” isn’t just about pale skinned heart throbs and the women they love; it wouldn’t work if it was just about some dude who pines for the human chick (like a certain book/movie series). With consistently written and well drawn characters, cinematic visuals and terrific acting, “The Vampire Diaries” is romantic, yes, but it’s also true to life with the way it handles human emotions. Most impressive is the pacing. Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, the co-creators,take their time developing their story arcs (something “The Walking Dead” should learn) allowing the details of their supernatural/small town world to filter out as needed.

Best New Show: Raising Hope (Fox)

This blue collar comedy may have had a high concept premise, but it quickly settled into one of the most delightful (and wacky) comedies on television. The way it handles parenthood and family with an abundance of laughs and heart have not only made Greg Garcia’s comedy my favorite new show, but easily one of my favorites of the year (the Halloween episode is already a classic). Newcomer Lucas Neff is a true comic discovery; Garret Dillahunt finally receives a chance in the spotlight after years on strong supporting roles, and Martha Plimpton reminds us that she’s one of the funniest actresses of her generation. All this, plus Cloris Leachman!

Best Animated series: The Regular Show (Cartoon Network)

Subtle and funny, creator J.G. Quintel’s show about a blue jay and a raccoon who work at a park, managed by a gumball machine and a yeti, uses animation like it should: with no boundaries. This isn’t some animated sitcom; “The Regular Show” is what I’d imagine “The Mighty Boosh” would be if the guys on that show were cartoons. Subversive and surreal, it’s a series that kids and their parents (and those stoners in college dorm rooms) can all enjoy for different reasons.

Best Comeback: the ladies of Hot in Cleveland (TV Land)

Viewers may have tuned in to TV Land’s throwback sitcom (taped before a live studio audience!) because of 2010’s “it” girl, Betty White, but they returned (making it a surprise summer hit) because of the chemistry and comic timing of the three leading ladies. We haven’t heard from Jane Leeves since “Frasier”; Wendie Malick has been relegated to thankless small roles on sitcoms and bad comedy movies ever since “Just Shoot Me” ended, and Valerie Bertinelli was known more for her Jenny Craig ads and her divorce from Eddie Van Halen. How great that all three shine in this sturdy, but very funny sitcom and that they don’t have to rely only Betty White zeitgeist to succeed.

Best Canceled Show: Rubicon (AMC)

At least AMC let this low-rated conspiracy series play out all of its episodes before they pulled the plug. “Mad Men” was good this year, but I was more excited to find out what happens next on “Rubicon” when Sundays rolled around this summer. James Dale Badge deserves another shot at being a star; it was great to see Arliss Howard again, and Michael Cristofer gave a scene stealing performance worthy of an Emmy.

Best Cast: Community (NBC)

The success of “Community” as a comedy series and a cult hit stems from the superior acting from their eclectic cast. It would be easy to credit the writing and direction, but without the right combination of actors to gel as a team and pull off whatever is thrown at them, the show wouldn’t work. Moreover, as the producers saw what they had in their cast of Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover and Chevy Chase, the stories got more outlandish as their trust in their cast grew. Season 2 has been even more insane and the actors haven’t missed a beat.

Worst TV moment of the year: Fred: The Movie (Nickelodeon)

As a parent, I was subjected to this monstrosity when my children wanted to watch it. You may say, “Dude, all you had to do was leave the room.” Nope, not possible. Fred’s voice carried throughout the house and drove me to the point of insanity. It would’ve have been nearly acceptable if the movie was even remotely funny. It was not. It sucked. It made me wish that Fred was at the tail end of the human centipede. Am I just being a grumpy old man out of tune with the youth culture? Well, my kids didn’t laugh either, if that tells you anything.

(NOTE: These musings can also be found at Popdose.com.)

1. Terriers

Clever, funny, dark and provocative, “Terriers” may have wowed critics with its flawed characters and rich storytelling, but that didn’t change John Landgraf’s recent decision not to renew it for a second season. I don’t blame the FX President for the low ratings (most networks would have given up after only a few weeks), but I do blame the rest of America for failing to tune in to the best new show of the season. Yes, you heard right. Although I enjoyed “The Walking Dead” and the overrated “Boardwalk Empire,” the buddy detective drama delivered better acting and writing week in and week out. Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James had unparalleled chemistry as the scrappy private investigators (the titular terriers, if you will) caught in the middle of the case of a lifetime, so it’s a shame that we won’t get to tag along on any of their further adventures – especially since the season finale left things wide open. Another brilliant but cancelled television show that, ten years from now, will still be missed.

2. Modern Family

It hasn’t even completed its second season, but “Modern Family” already seems destined to become a comedy classic. It’s that good, and anyone who says otherwise should get an X-ray to see if their funny bone is broken. Of course, considering that it’s one of the most-watched shows on TV, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t agree. But for those who still haven’t experienced the funniest half-hour of television, it’s about time that you do, because there isn’t a single show that even comes close to matching the number of laughs in an average episode. And although the writing staff certainly deserves some credit, it’s cast members like Ty Burrell, Ed O’Neill and Sofia Vergara who make every joke that much funnier. Even the kids are funny, and that’s saying a lot from someone who isn’t particularly fond of child actors. It’s almost unbelievable the way the show fires on all cylinders so consistently, but that’s what separates a great show from a good one, and “Modern Family” is nothing if not that.

3. Sons of Anarchy

The third season of FX’s outlaw biker drama may not have been its best, but after a sluggish start, the series redeemed itself by getting back to the kind of top-notch storytelling that fans have come to expect. Many of those fans were quick to criticize the ambitious Ireland subplot that dominated most of the season, but along with fleshing out some of the club’s back story, it also set the stage for what turned out to be a killer finale. Many of the supporting players got lost in the background this year, but Charlie Hunnam gave the performance of his career, guest stars Paula Malcomson and James Cosmo proved themselves worthy additions to the cast, and Ally Walker put the finishing touches on what might just be the best TV villain in quite some time. The show may have stumbled a bit along the way, but no matter how you felt about the season as a whole, those who stuck around for the long haul were given plenty of incentive to come back next fall.

4. The Walking Dead

Robert Kirkman’s survival horror comic, “The Walking Dead,” is tailor-made for the hour-long TV format, so its success shouldn’t really come as a surprise to many. Still, fans had to be excited at the prospect of seeing Kirkman’s story brought to life – especially with names like Frank Darabont, Gale Anne Hurd and Greg Nicotero involved. Brimming with great writing, first-rate zombie effects, and a talented ensemble cast including Andrew Lincoln, Laurie Holden, Darabont regular Jeffrey DeMunn, and scene-stealing newcomer Steven Yuen, “The Walking Dead” isn’t just a show for horror buffs, but an edge-of-your-seat drama about a group of people struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. In fact, the only complaint that can be made is that the first season only consisted of six episodes, so it’ll be interesting to see if Darabont and his team can maintain that same level of quality when the show returns for a full, 13-episode second season next year. Here’s hoping we won’t have to wait until October to find out.

5. Mad Men

As a resident of Columbus, OH who couldn’t care less about the town’s college football team, it’s easy to become a little annoyed by the fervent, unrelenting worship of the Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s kind of how I feel about “Mad Men” as well. Although I’ve been a loyal viewer since Season One, I still think that the show has received more acclaim than it probably deserves. But while previous seasons have run a little hot-and-cold for my taste, this year really took things to the next level with the opening of a new agency, the financial struggles that plagued its growth, and the personal changes that developed as a result. Don Draper is a much more likeable guy now that he’s not boozing or womanizing (and Jon Hamm’s performance should finally net him an Emmy), Elisabeth Moss continues to deliver strong work as the cute but headstrong Peggy, and Kiernan Shipka was nothing short of incredible as Don’s psychologically complex daughter, Sally. So yeah, I’ll admit it, “Mad Men” was pretty damn good this year, but one has to wonder how much longer Matthew Weiner can keep it going.