The first season of the American television drama series Mad Men premiered on July 19, 2007 and ended on October 18, 2007. It consisted of thirteen episodes, each running approximately 47 minutes. AMC broadcast the first season on Thursdays at 10:00 pm in the United States. Actors Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, Bryan Batt, Michael Gladis, Aaron Staton, and Rich Sommer receive main cast billing. Season one takes place between March and November 1960. It introduces the fictional advertising agency Sterling Cooper. The season begins with the new secretary, Peggy Olson, starting her first day with the firm. As the season unfolds, the mysterious backstory of enigmatic ad man Don Draper is revealed as is the growing confidence and success of Peggy Olson. The first season was highly commended for its excellence in writing, acting, and art design, as well as for its faithfulness to the era it depicted. It was acknowledged with numerous honors from industry awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, the Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series, and a Peabody Award. Cast Main cast Jon Hamm as Don Draper Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell January Jones as Betty Draper Christina Hendricks as Joan Holloway Bryan Batt as Salvatore Romano Michael Gladis as Paul Kinsey Aaron Staton as Ken Cosgrove Rich Sommer as Harry Crane Maggie Siff as Rachel Menken Recurring cast Guest stars Deborah Lacey as Carla Darren Pettie as Lee Garner, Jr. Plot The first season opens in March 1960, as genius advertising executive Donald "Don" Draper meets Peggy Olson, his new secretary. They both work at the small but prestigious agency Sterling Cooper. Though Don is welcoming towards her, Peggy is subject to passive-aggressive hostility from office manager Joan Holloway and sexual harassment from her male colleagues. Junior accounts manager Pete Campbell, who is about to get married, takes a liking to Peggy and the two have sex the night of his bachelor party. Don, meanwhile, has trouble balancing his life as he cheats on his wife, Betty Draper, with a beatnik artist named Midge Daniels. Roger Sterling, the acerbic son of one of Sterling Cooper's founding partners, cheats on his wife, Mona, with Joan, of whom he is enamored. Sterling Cooper begins working for the 1960 Richard Nixon presidential campaign, gratis and unbidden, as they believe Nixon's success against