Quick Answer
Clue: “Show on which Jon Hamm had his breakout role”
Answer: MADMEN
Answer length: 6 letters
Clue number & direction: 6-Across
The New York Times crossword clue “Show on which Jon Hamm had his breakout role” is answered with MADMEN.
Why “MADMEN” Is the Right NYT Answer
- Jon Hamm’s major breakthrough came playing Don Draper on the AMC drama Mad Men, widely described as his breakout role.
- NYT Mini answer keys for January 24, 2026 list MADMEN as the official 6-Across solution for this exact clue.
What “MADMEN” Means in Plain English
- Mad Men is a critically acclaimed TV series about 1960s advertising executives on New York’s Madison Avenue, with Jon Hamm starring as ad man Don Draper.
- In the grid, the title is written as a single, space-less entry MADMEN to fit standard crossword formatting.
Crossword-Specific Help and Patterns
- MADMEN appears as M A D M E N, so you might see patterns like MAD__N or M_DMEN from partial crossings.
- The show title is a frequent crossword entry, often clued with references to advertising, Don Draper, or Jon Hamm’s breakout role, making it a good go-to answer when you see a Hamm-themed clue.
- For this Mini, across entries like PLOW and SAUNA plus downs such as PADTHAI and LUMIERE help confirm each letter of MADMEN at 6-Across.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue mentions a performer’s “breakout role,” think of the show or film title, not the character name; here, that points you to MADMEN rather than DONDRAPER.
TV-title entries often drop spaces and punctuation, so be ready to enter MADMEN, WESTWING, or GOODOMENS as solid blocks depending on crossings and length.
