When Mad Men season four comes around this fall, the old gang from Sterling Cooper will be scattered to the winds. We know which characters helped found Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, but what about the folks who didn't join the revolution—are all those character gone for good?
We've got the scoop on the Mad Men folks who are not yet accounted for, including Betty Draper, Salvatore Romano, Ken Cosgrove and Paul Kinsey. Is your favorite character safe? Here's the latest:
• Looks like we'll have to say goodbye to art director Salvatore Romano, because Mad Men did not pick up Bryan Batt's contract for season four. Matt Weiner explained to TV Guide magazine that, "I felt it was an expression of the times that he couldn't work there anymore. [The sticky situation with the Lucky Strike scion was] the ultimate case of sexual harassment." AMC had no comment on the report that Batt was leaving the show. Ugh. Poor guy.
• In happier news, Aaron Staton's character Ken Cosgrove seems to be safe. Insiders tell us exclusively that Staton's contract has been picked up for season four. No telling if he'll join Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce or find employment elsewhere, but it looks like ol' Kosgrove lives to torture Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) another day.
• The fate of Michael Gladis' hippie intellectual Paul Kinsey, however, is less clear. We checked in with Paul about his future on the show, and he tells us exclusively, "Though I'm flattered and amazed that you've taken any interest at all, I just don't know. You'll have to watch season four to find out." Hmmm...
• Finally, Betty Draper's (January Jones) plane trip to Reno was not our last glimpse of the Grace Kelly clone. Mad Men boss Weiner has reassured us that Don's ex is still a part of the series, saying, "I don't like spoilers, but you will find out that January's contract has been renewed." And there you have it! From the sound of it, Betty continues to operate independently of both the Sterling Cooper action and Don himself, but remains a crucial part of the series. As Weiner tells it: "She's [still] raising Don's kids. And I also feel that she was always in her own show."
Which Mad Men characters must we keep, and which ones do you consider expendable? Take our poll below and then weigh in below with your point of view.
Mad Men Poll
How do you feel about Betty staying and Sal going? Do you suspect, as we do, that Paul Kinsey might be missing from the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce lineup in the fall? And are you stoked to see more Ken vs. Pete action in season four? Hit the comments!
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Follow Kristin Dos Santos on Twitter, @kristinalert.