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Created by Matthew Weiner (“The Sopranos”) the series follows Dan Draper (Jon Hamm, “We Were Soldiers”), creative director for Sterling Cooper Advertising, and his co-workers through their business dealings, personal lows and highs and sexual exploits. It’s a highly stylized, slick and one of the best dramas I’ve seen in a very long time.

“I’ve always been fascinated with these guys who were glib, funny, drank too much, smoked too much and had as much sex as possible,” says Weiner of the Madison Ave. gang. “These guys had no respect for authority and lived their lives exactly the way they wanted. At the same time they were also very involved with their families. And the women of the time were also just as fascinating. For many of them the ultimate goal, whether they were in business or not, was to get married and have that home and family in the country house. But that was changing and you’ll see the women in this agency using their femininity to get what they wanted.”

Weiner will also be working in many of the cultural references of the time, without being kitschy about it. “We have a tendency to see this time as so innocent, but it wasn’t,” says Weiner. “In our minds it was the ‘Happy Days’ era, but in truth the country was far from that. It was a country divided in its politics and sex and drugs were a big part of our culture.”

Whatever you do, make sure you watch this one through to the end. There is an incredible twist. Also starring in the series are Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bryan Batt, Maggie Stiff and Aaron Staton.

On Sunday, July 22, “Eureka” is back on Sci-Fi with a brand new season. If you’re a fan, you won’t be disappointed. My favorite episode is where Eureka’s key players are trapped in the Marshal’s (Colin Ferguson) house. Fun stuff.

That’s also the same day as the new Spike TV series “Kill Point.” Donnie Wahlberg and John Leguizamo star in this drama about a hostage situation. Leguizamo plays Mr. Wolf, who finds himself in charge of a robbery gone bad. He has to deal with 12 hostages, the police and a crazy team member.

Wahlberg plays a hostage negotiator who tries to keep everyone calm. As events unfold both men realize they are playing a game of chess involving the lives of innocent people.

“Their past will play heavily in that they are both soldiers,” says executive producer James DeMonaco. “There’s kind of a political undertone, but it is primarily a suspense thriller.  They are both capable and formidable. …Slowly you’ll learn more about each of these men.” It’s an intense drama, and much better than anything I’ve ever seen on Spike TV.

Okay, I fully admit that “State of Mind” and “Side Order of Life” are both for chicks. Pure chick TV, but I really liked them both. The weird thing is, I can’t tell you why. There’s nothing terribly original about either show, but I laughed and cried. That doesn’t happen often.

I’m at the TV Critics Press Tour, so I’ll be bringing you the scoop on all the new fall shows. 

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