Cable net wants second season for '08

AMC is picking up its critically acclaimed series "Mad Men," ensuring a future for original shows on the network.

The cable channel is set to order 13 episodes of the show, set in the world of advertising circa 1960, to premiere next summer. AMC isn't commenting on the deal, but the showbiz trade papers report that a renewal is all but sealed.

Created by "Sopranos" writer and producer Matthew Weiner, "Mad Men" has earned strong critical praise since its July debut, although that hasn't translated to huge ratings. The show has averaged about 1.1 million viewers on its initial airings, with slightly less than half those people falling into the adults 18-49 demographic.

The show stars Jon Hamm as Don Draper, the creative director for a mid-level advertising agency in New York with a mysterious past. The cast also features Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks and John Slattery. It's AMC's first homegrown original series; the network also airs the British import "Hustle."

AMC is coming off four Emmy wins for its miniseries "Broken Trail," including honors for outstanding miniseries, lead actor Robert Duvall and supporting actor Thomas Haden Church. It also has several other original projects in development, including the Bryan Cranston-starring "Breaking Bad" and a project from "Oz" and "Homicide" writer Tom Fontana.