Jon Hamm on his 'Landman' end, what it means for Demi Moore and that Jerry Jones cameo

Jon Hamm spent his final "Landman" episodes in an intensive care bed and hospital gown following the fifth heart attack (and third heart bypass surgery) for his character, oil titan Monty Miller.

All the oil money in the world couldn't save Monty in Sunday's season finale of the Paramount+ show. The dashing, daring CEO of the private oil company M-Tex, too weak to accept a heart transplant, died in a hospital bed surrounded by his two daughters and his weeping wife Cami (Demi Moore).

The death at the top of the "Landman" hierarchy enhanced key themes in the series, created by Christian Wallace (based on his podcast "Boomtown") and Taylor Sheridan, from family to the perils of the oil business on every level.

"We forget that in the pursuit of the almighty dollar, this is the consequence," Hamm tells USA TODAY. "We've seen all season the danger of what these guys do in 'The Patch.' But it's not only the imminent danger of getting blown up, it's taking this work home with you, managing people, money, stress and life. How many heart attacks had Monty had? He was very much playing with fire."

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Hamm, 53, drilled down on key "Landman" points:

Monty Miller (Jon Hamm) receives a hospital visit from oil man and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in "Landman."
Monty Miller (Jon Hamm) receives a hospital visit from oil man and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in "Landman."

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Did Monty Miller die in 'Landman'?

While it's not definitively stated, Monty died in the hospital bed. The character will not return for an expected Season 2, although Paramount+ has not confirmed plans for a new season.

"You don't come back from that," says Hamm. "He's no longer with us."

Hamm shot his entire season in six weeks between projects. The "Mad Men" actor and Sheridan agreed to one "Landman" season from the start. "We were running into issues with availability, and contracts and things like that," says Hamm. "I was working on a few shows, and I don't think they take kindly to spreading the wealth."

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Jon Hamm as Monty Miller and Demi Moore as Cami Miller in "Landman" Episode 3.
Jon Hamm as Monty Miller and Demi Moore as Cami Miller in "Landman" Episode 3.

What does Monty's death mean for wife Cami (and Demi Moore)?

Hamm calls Moore's somewhat ornamental Season 1 role as Monty's wife a "head fake" to critics. Cami is already stepping up in the business to take the reigns and will flourish in future seasons.

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"It's pretty cool that Taylor said to (Moore), 'Trust me, I'm going to take care of you. This will be worth your while.' To say the least," says Hamm. "Cami's got so much room to grow and show who she really is. It's going to be fascinating to watch."

"Landman" is part of the burgeoning Moore revival (the actress won a Golden Globe for the movie "The Substance" this month).

"Demi's having this resurgence in her own right," says Hamm. "I'm super happy for her."

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' cameo 'weirdly, perfectly' fit into 'Landman'

Jerry Jones might not be the most popular pro football owner right now with his Cowboys floundering. But Jones' hospital bedside cameo, in which the real oilman talks about family, was powerful TV and startlingly true to Jones' life story.

Hamm says Sheridan, who was on set that day, didn't write a script for Jones. "Taylor wisely said, 'Tell your story. Impart this wisdom to somebody who you think needs it.' And then he just ran three cameras," says Hamm. "And it just weirdly, perfectly fit into the world of the show."

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Hamm is clear that Jones "is not an actor. He's not going for an Emmy. It would have been very different if there had been four pages of dialogue for him to memorize." But the truth (and tears) that came to Jones' eyes were real. Even the parting joke about putting on a rubber glove to inspect Monty was Jones' improv.

"It was a great idea, brilliantly rendered and then delivered by Jerry," says Hamm. "He's an interesting dude. Fascinating day."

Monty Miller (Jon Hamm) rips into his fellow oil drillers in "Landman."
Monty Miller (Jon Hamm) rips into his fellow oil drillers in "Landman."

The party is ending for the 'Landman' oil business

In Episode 5, Monty gives a straight-talk speech at the Petroleum Club about focusing on drilling and the current need for oil over alternative energy sources that would make Gordon "Greed Is Good" Gekko from "Wall Street" proud. Afterward, Monty is reminded by a fellow driller that the oil "party" is ending.

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"Everybody knows oil is a finite, non-regenerative resource," says Hamm. "It gets made once. That's the reality of it. Now getting it out of the ground is the tricky part."

Hamm will stay rich in 'Your Friends and Neighbors'

Next up for Hamm: The AppleTV+ dark comedy "Your Friends and Neighbors" (due April 11) along with Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn. Hamm will still have money and problems as his hedge fund manager steals from his rich neighbors to maintain his opulent lifestyle. Even without dropping a trailer, the show has been picked up for a second season.

"Somebody likes the show somewhere, which is a nice vote of confidence," says Hamm. "It talks about materialism, our culture and many cool themes. It's going to be fun for people to dig in."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jon Hamm's 'Landman' finale death is boon for Demi Moore in Season 2