Emmys 2011: ‘Mad Men’s’ Matthew Weiner on surprises, good and bad

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It wasn’t a surprise to see ‘Mad Men’ win for drama series. But what was something of a surprise, at least for executive producer Matthew Weiner, was that he didn’t win the writing award for the same episode that won the best drama trophy for the show. It was a disappointment, he admitted.

But what really counts, Weiner said, is winning for drama series. “The prize for the main show -- this is the one that says people love what we’re doing.”

Weiner said, as so many do, that the win was a surprise. “I’ve heard a lot of ‘We loved the show more than last year, but you’re not going to win.’ And: ‘It can’t go on forever.’ So I had made peace with the fact that we might lose, and it turned out we didn’t. And I’m very happy.”

January Jones was notably absent. But costar John Slattery had just heard from her via email, reporting that she was home with her baby. “I had a superstition that her not being here was bad for us tonight,” Weiner said. “And we miss her a lot. We’re very close here.”

The only “no comment” of the evening came from Christina Hendricks. When asked about her “fabulous figure,” she said: “I’m an actress, and I love to talk about the work. I’m so excited to be here and that’s what I like to talk about.”

Weiner, however, was quick to jump in, happy to discuss his figure. “Don’t you want to ask me about that? I work out a lot I have a good stylist.”

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--Deborah Vankin