Mad Men

When "Mad Men" came back to AMC after a long break, the 1960s ad executives saw a 20% spike in ratings, and the reason why is as clear as a dry martini: Millions of viewers have streamed the first four seasons on Netflix.

The next time you find yourself bellyaching over your expanding monthly cable bill, don't blame your provider. Blame ESPN, the biggest offender when it comes to basic cable, setting distributors back $4.69 a month for every subscriber.

As Netflix signs a deal to stream every episode of "Mad Men," it's shining a light on the changing face of video...and affecting share prices across the media sector.

Sounds odd, but a fictionalized book mentioned on a TV show becoming a real book is nothing new for the publishing industry. In fact, tie-ins like Sterling's Gold have proven quite popular. That's because the shows have a built-in fan base that often numbers in the millions.

Why hasn't Mad Men been picked up for another season? Matthew Wiener, the show's creator, isn't sure. All he could say at the screening of the star-studded finale for the show was that it has something to do with money. Translation: Hey AMC -- pay up! You've got a blockbuster on your hands. This is one deal you want to close.

Prestige means a lot in Hollywood. TV companies use a show's Emmy Award to help sell commercials, and advertisers enjoy being linked with hot shows. Sometimes, an Emmy can even help a program avoid the ax.

It may not be the best $74.95 you'll ever spend, but Mattel's "Mad Men" dolls sure have a lot of possibilities for fun. That's the suggested retail price for one of four "Mad Men" dolls to be sold by Mattel in specialty stores and at amctv.com and barbiecollector.com, although I couldn't find them...