It's the beginning of the end for AMC's Mad Men.  The critically acclaimed series will begin its seventh and final season on Sunday, April 13^th at 10pm.  AMC made the announcement on Saturday at the 2014 Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena, California.

Following its strategy for the last run of Breaking Bad, AMC is splitting Mad Men's final season into two seven-episode parts, spread across two years. The first seven episodes, dubbed "The Beginning" will air this spring and the last seven known as "the End of an Era" air in the spring of 2015.

Series creator Matthew Weiner, explained to Rolling Stone magazine last fall,

"We plan to take advantage of this chance to have a more elaborate story told in two parts, which can resonate a little bit longer in the minds of our audience. The writers, cast and other artists welcome this unique manner of ending this unique experience."

Production on season seven began back in November.  As with previous seasons, mums the word on any storyline developments.

Mad Men is a drama series that revolves around the complicated life of Madison Avenue ad man Don Draper, his family and chain-smoking, womanizing, heavy-boozing colleagues.  It premiered in July of 2007.

For its first six seasons, the series has received widespread critical praise, particularly for its writing, costume design, acting, directing, and historical accuracy.

Mad Men has won numerous awards including fifteen Emmys and four Golden Globes.  It is the first basic cable series to win the Emmy Award for

Outstanding Drama Series winning it in each of its first four seasons.

The program stars Jon Hamm, January Jones, Christina Hendricks and John Slattery