Image Credit: AMCTurns out Mad Men has the wealthiest fans in all of cable TV land, according to The Hollywood Reporter: Nearly half of its viewers make a household income of more than $100,000 a year. Though other cable hits garner much higher ratings, none come even close to the acclaimed AMC drama in terms of what portion of their fan base is loaded. For instance, USA’s Royal Pains averages 6.9 million viewers each week, but only 29 percent of them make more than $100,000 annually; TNT’s The Closer garners 5.1 million viewers a week, with only 27 percent passing the $100,000 mark.
It comes as no surprise, really, that Mad Men would blow everyone else out of the water when it comes to its viewers’ bank accounts: It is the TV-taste status symbol of the moment. Drop a Mad Men reference at a cocktail party and watch people trip over themselves to show you that they get it; admit you don’t watch the damn thing, and you’re in for 30-45 minutes of people either implying you’re an uncultured boob or belaboring how you really should immediately consume every single episode lest you miss out on the cultural event of our times. (I have friends who have actually learned just enough about the show to “pass” as viewers, for the explicit purpose of avoiding these uncomfortable confrontations.) People who watch Mad Men are a small but impassioned and homogeneous bunch. It’s the kind of show that, if you watch it and hang out with people who do, you can’t believe it has only 1.9 million viewers. Doesn’t everybody who’s anybody watch it? Well, no — only everybody who makes 100-grand a year.
What do you think, PopWatchers? Any other theories as to why Mad Men viewers have so much cash?
I must be dragging down the average immensely.
You and me both.
Me too…
Ditto. And my unemployed son who turned me on to it.
What’s the percentage for the Bachelorette?
I’d say zero
Well, what does a mediocre Hooters’ waitress make nowadays?
I actually watch religiously and love (though the Bachelor/ette is more of a sick, co-dependent TV relationship for me at this point) BOTH of these shows – and so do many of my friends.
But yeah, I get what you’re saying. I mean, just watch what commercials they air during the shows you love – it’s pretty telling. And sometimes embarrassing.
This year, we passed that mark barely. And my in-laws, who my husband and I hooked on the show, also are past the 6 fig mark as well.
I can’t quite figure out what the reasons are that make up this statistic, however. I watch it as a beautiful, high-brow soap opera. I enjoy its art design, luscious costumes, and above all, thinking about what MY life would be like if I were alive in that decade. How would things be different for me? Would I be struggling with Peggy’s issues, or would it be Betty or Joan, etc.?
I wouldn’t be surprised if the age groups were skewed much higher, which, in turn, would skew the income higher.
Good question…
I’m 29, My husband is 31.
Hey, EW, what is the average AGE then of “Mad Men” viewers?
BTW, it’s pretty sad to PRETEND to watch the show to fit in at a party or the water cooler…
That was my thought. Probably mostly people who remember the 60s. I’d certainly hope they made that much more than me, as I wasn’t born for another 15 years. *Sigh* Someday…
Im 17 and a lot of my firneds, myself included, and very obssessed with mad men.
Zo, it’s not that sad to pretend to watch a TV show to fit in a party. What’s really sad is that I routinely have to pretend like I care about things like Darfur or the oil spill or whatever boring global crisis people are talking about when all I really want to do is talk about Mad Men or my other beloved TV shows!
same here, Katy. I’m also 17 and love the show…I actually started watching it before my mom and am the one who got her into it! haha
i hope i’m not messing up their demographics by saying i’m in my mid-20s, making less than 50k a year, and love the show!
If you are, so am I. I’m in my mid-thirties and I don’t make anywhere near $100K a year. And I live in CA!
Did this ask how much money you made? And people have it WAY worse than you do!!!!!!!!!!!! SOME OF US LIVE ON 10K A YEAR!
Huh. No wonder I’ve never been able to get into that show– I’m too poor for it.
I’m also pulling that average down….but I feel like we are the half that doesn’t relate our personal lives to Don.
The article says “nearly half of its viewers make more than $100,000 a year.” That’s not even majority…no one needs to worry about messing up demographics…the study’s already been done!
I think the point of the article was that the percentage of 6-figure earners watching Mad Men was much higher – often double – that of other popular shows.
And I do happen to think it’s interesting.
Its nice to know that my meager $15,000 salary tastes are the same as those I’m sure I’ll be working for someday
I live in a household where we make more than $100,000/yr and I can say that none of us watches “Mad Men”. And have no intentions of doing so. Also, this is a very random stat. How does one determine which cable show is being watched by the upper middle class? Reading the article, it brings up how much a commercial ad pays for a 30 seconds promo. I do not understand.
It’s based on certain statistics, extrapolated from polls given to specific pools of people. One of the questions of these types of polls is always “select your annual range of income”
I don’t think it’s meant to be just a random stat. I think they’re inferring that despite having relatively low ratings, AMC is able to have a successful show monetarily perhaps because more expensive brands are willing to shell out more money for ads if they think the intended audience is able to buy their Mercedes, etc., etc.
BMW is a huge sponsor.
clearly these viewers don’t work in advertising if they’re making that much money
Seriously. I work in Advertising, which is the main reason I started watching. Unless you’re a Director level or higher, you’re not pulling in close to 100k in this business.
Certainly NOT making $100k or more a year but LOVE this show. Great writing, acting, amazing attention to detail.
Some of the comments make me wonder about others imagination of lack there of. If you don’t like a show, then don’t like it. But what’s the point of saying things like “I’m not from the 60′s” or “I don’t relate to Don Draper” ? I have always thought that the point of fictional books, tv, movies, etc was entertainment, escape, and/or suspension of disbelief. I am not a vampire, from another planet, a hobbit, a wizard, an ad exec or from the 60′s but I love True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, lots of supernatural, sci-fi, fantasy novels, etc. I’m not a cop either but I like almost all the police procedurals.
Not only am I bringing the average down but I am also bringing down the ratings — I had to cut back to the most basic-of-basic-cable tiers. I don’t get to see any of my favorite channels any more — if only I didn’t have to eat!
Eating is overrated.
It’s nice that Jennifer Armstrong has so much contempt for Mad Men’s viewers. I watch every friggin episode of Real Housewives, but I have to feel like a jerk for enjoying smart writing and terrific acting? homogeneous bunch? Hardly. What’s the matter Jen, are the other EW writers not inviting you to their Mad Men viewing parties?
Love the show, wish i was making the average!