Jon Hamm in Mad Men's Season Five finale.

At least that’s what season five’s viewership would suggest. Season five of AMC’s provocative drama, Mad Men, is the most watched season to date, and last night’s season finale was the most watched season finale in series history. Season five averaged 2.6 million viewers, a 15% increase from season four. The finale drew 2.7 million viewers. 1.4 million of these viewers drew from the show’s core demographic—adults 25 to 54-years-old.

AMC President Charlie Collier had nothing but praise for Matthew Weiner, the show’s producer and writer, and his entire team. Collier called the show’s increasing popularity “an uncommon television growth record and a testament to the ongoing quality and uniqueness of this rare property.”

On Netflix, the first episode of the first season of Mad Men is the most watched episode.  On iTunes, season five is ranked in the top five for cable dramas. Mad Men is the first basic cable series ever to win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series for four consecutive years.

“We make Mad Men for the fans,” said Weiner. That strategy certainly seems to be working.

Mad Men’s renewal contract also included a guaranteed sixth season, which will probably come out next year.

—Alissa Fleck