• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, March 26, 2012

It didn’t get the big Nielsen 7.6 million viewers score that MTV “Jersey Shore” grabbed on its seasonal debut – or the 9 million number among its own “The Walking Dead" finale --- but AMC’s highly-awarded “Mad Men” significantly improved on its seasonal premiere.

A two-hour “Mad Men” season five debut grew 21% in total average viewers to 3.5 million viewers versus its season four star -- the highest ever ratings for an "Men" episode.

The show gained in all demographic key groups  -- up 30% in adults 18-49 to 1.6 million; a 17% gain in adults 25-54 to 1.7 million; and 9% in household ratings to a 2.5 number.