You've read Allison's review and Joel's take on the Mad Men season finale, and I'd just like to add that I think it was the best episode of any TV series I've seen in years. Brilliant, dramatic, funny, even exhilarating. Here's a behind the scenes look at the episode, including interviews with Matthew Weiner and the cast.

Actually, two pieces of big news.

First, everyone has been wondering when season three of the AMC show would start. A lot of people have been speculating late summer, and then the network said it would be August, but now we have a definite date. The third season will bow on Sunday, August 16 at 10PM.

Yesterday, to be exact. Rich Sommer (Harry) is Twittering about it, and Variety has a story.

The Variety piece says that AMC has "delayed" the show until August 16, but I don't think it's really a delay since the show just started filming this week. Who wants them to rush things? Sure, it's a month later than usual (the show usually premieres in July) so I guess it's a delay, in general, but contract negotiations with Matthew Weiner and other things factored into that. It's still pretty much on target with its season opener, though the show will now go even deeper into the regular seasons of the major networks. The show remains in its Sunday night at 10PM slot.