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[LisaLisa]

Mad Men Marathon on AMC. Now!

[LisaLisa]

Speaking of Mad Men--here's the EW recap of the season opener (this Sunday, xcdude. )

Mad Men

SUNDAY, JULY 25 10-10:55PM AMC TV-14-SLVD

SEASON PREMIERE--A year has passed since we last saw Jon Hamm's Don Draper and his glorious gang of ship-jumpers crowded together in a Manhattan hotel room. Tonight's long-awaited season premiere finds Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce in snazzy new digs on one (two if they're talking to the press) shining floor of the Time & Life Building. But it's not all a pretty picture: After a PR disaster, Don has to put on a show for a Wall Street Journal reporter; over in Westchester, January Jones' Betty isn't exactly basking in newlywed bliss with Henry, and daughter Sally is one year closer to a raging eating disorder. Also, Joan has an office, Roger still has the best lines, and, in a hilarious bit, the new office has chairs but no conference table. "Who is don Draper?" a reporter wonders at the start of the episode. He is our faithless, favorite man on TV. Welcome back, sir.

What? Betty's unhappy? NO! That's so unlike her.

Poor Sally. She's either going to end up a Manson-follower or a Grateful Dead follower. On the upside, she's totally going to be at Woodstock.

Can't. Wait.

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

Speaking of Mad Men--here's the EW recap of the season opener

This was kind of a spoiler. One of the fun things about Mad Men is not knowing how much time will pass in between seasons. I really wanted them not to jump and show them slumming it in the hotel room.

This post has been edited by SorryaboutthatWhoa: Jul 20 2010, 05:57 AM

[fishmeister23]

I scrolled past all discussion of the season premiere of Mad Men because I want to know NOTHING(I seem to be one of the only people in the world who like to actually watch the shows I'm watching and not find out everything possible that's going to happen before I watch- defeats the purpose for me). But all I have to say is this: FIVE DAYS. FIVE DAYS and Jon Hamm has to enter the cage to battle with Alexander Skarsgard for the role of my mind-boyfriend. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE.(Not really.)

What I'm trying to say is this: I. CAN. NOT. FUCKING. WAIT.

FIVE. FUCKING. DAYS. MOTHERFUCKERS.

[LisaLisa]

I scrolled past all discussion of the season premiere of Mad Men because I want to know NOTHING(I seem to be one of the only people in the world who like to actually watch the shows I'm watching and not find out everything possible that's going to happen before I watch- defeats the purpose for me). But all I have to say is this: FIVE DAYS. FIVE DAYS and Jon Hamm has to enter the cage to battle with Alexander Skarsgard for the role of my mind-boyfriend. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE.(Not really.)

What I'm trying to say is this: I. CAN. NOT. FUCKING. WAIT.

FIVE. FUCKING. DAYS. MOTHERFUCKERS.

Discussion? What discussion? There was a simple post of what was easily accessible in Entertainment Weekly magazine, godssakes. And it gives away nothing, nothing about what happens in the premiere or anything about the upcoming season. I happen to hate spoilers, too, so therefore I don't read them and I don't give them.

First, SATW bullshit whining, now this.

Hope that didn't spoil anything.

[fishmeister23]

Discussion? What discussion? There was a simple post of what was easily accessible in Entertainment Weekly magazine, godssakes. And it gives away nothing, nothing about what happens in the premiere or anything about the upcoming season. I happen to hate spoilers, too, so therefore I don't read them and I don't give them.

First, SATW bullshit whining, now this.

Hope that didn't spoil anything.

I wasn't trying to be a smart ass, I was just mentioning that I don't read anything in advance of something coming on. Sorry if it came across the wrong way

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

forget it, look at dancing things below. yay!

This post has been edited by SorryaboutthatWhoa: Jul 20 2010, 03:21 PM

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

This post has been edited by SorryaboutthatWhoa: Jul 20 2010, 03:21 PM

[teddyc]

I gotta back you up on both versions!

[fishmeister23]

All Mad Men talk

IT'S TONIGHT!!!

[LisaLisa]

IT'S TONIGHT!!!

HELLS YEAH! 10 PM, Bitches. Be there!

This post has been edited by LisaLisa: Jul 25 2010, 05:02 PM

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

Discussion? What discussion? There was a simple post of what was easily accessible in Entertainment Weekly magazine, godssakes. And it gives away nothing, nothing about what happens in the premiere or anything about the upcoming season. I happen to hate spoilers, too, so therefore I don't read them and I don't give them.

First, SATW bullshit whining, now this.

Hope that didn't spoil anything.

So, besides losing Hi-Line, and Don enjoying being slapped around, look back at your recap. It was EVERYTHING. Oh and surprise, they hired a new art guy.

We have very different definitions of nothing.

[xcdudesquadloves...]

I don't know how this episode sat with me. This is my biggest fear with any series that that the next season just flops from the start. I guess I just didn't like the end, eh whatever the rest was awesome and hopefully this is just first episode jitters.

[xcdudesquadloves...]

Oh and SATW its Jai-Alai. Not Hi-Line.

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

I don't know how this episode sat with me. This is my biggest fear with any series that that the next season just flops from the start. I guess I just didn't like the end, eh whatever the rest was awesome and hopefully this is just first episode jitters.

Are you serious? I LOVED the end. I thought the episode was fantastic, although I could care less about Henry, I wish he wasn't getting his own screen time.

The creators are smart though, they knew everyone wouldn't give a crap about Betty if Don wasn't involved so they have that bastard Henry living under HIS roof with his wife.

Brilliant.

[xcdudesquadloves...]

Are you serious? I LOVED the end. I thought the episode was fantastic, although I could care less about Henry, I wish he wasn't getting his own screen time.

The creators are smart though, they knew everyone wouldn't give a crap about Betty if Don wasn't involved so they have that bastard Henry living under HIS roof with his wife.

Brilliant.

I wasn't talking about that. I loved the whole house exchange.

I was talking about the interview.

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

Oh and SATW its Jai-Alai. Not Hi-Line.

Well, consider me America in the 1960s, I don't care.

Obviously you can see how relevant the sport is today. Next baseball indeed. It doesn't deserve to be adressed properly.

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

I wasn't talking about that. I loved the whole house exchange.

I was talking about the interview.

I know XC. I loved the end, sorry for not being clearer, the rest was additional.

[LisaLisa]

So, besides losing Hi-Line, and Don enjoying being slapped around, look back at your recap. It was EVERYTHING. Oh and surprise, they hired a new art guy.

We have very different definitions of nothing.

1. It's Jai Alai. It's a sport. Or was. I have no idea if it's still around.

2. I'm sorry, did I somehow make your cookie crumble? Your milk spill? It wasn't my recap, it was EW's. You had the free will to skip over it.

3. I barely remember the "recap" which is my fortune. Sucks for you that you did.

4. Man up and stop bitching about small sh!t like this!

The world didn't end because you knew a little bit about the season 4 premiere of Mad Men.

[xcdudesquadloves...]

I know XC. I loved the end, sorry for not being clearer, the rest was additional.

Gotcha. I dunno I just thought that he'd stick to his guns and say "fuck it" and pull a miracle client out of his ass as always. For some reason it just felt like he was selling out.

I can't wait for the fallout from the ham incident, because we all know its not over.

[toph]

If the end of the episode is any indication, I'm ready for Don to go into full-on badass mode.

Loved the first episode.

Plus, I mean, Don called a hooker for Thanksgiving. Television has reached its zenith.

[LisaLisa]

Gotcha. I dunno I just thought that he'd stick to his guns and say "fuck it" and pull a miracle client out of his ass as always. For some reason it just felt like he was selling out.

I can't wait for the fallout from the ham incident, because we all know its not over.

I agree with toph. The ending was about Don pulling out his golden balzack and telling everybody to kiss it. He threw down the "maverick" gauntlet. Now who's got the balls to challenge him?

Peggy gave him the wake-up call. Don tells Peggy she needs to think about the image of the agency. Really? After he gave a crappy interview he's lecturing her on the company image. Rightly, she tells him the company's image remains right where he left it, which is nowhere. Everyone's there because of him. Everyone's trying to please him. It's really all on him. He called for that interview because it finally sunk into him.

His "fuck it" moment was when he kicked Jantzen out. Small fish wasting his time and talent.

In other news--Betty is more of a spoiled child than her kids could ever be. Peggy looking good. Not enough Joan. Ham! No conference table? WTF?

Next November, I'd like the reverse edition of the Don Draper Thanksgiving Dinner.

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

Your Thanksgiving sucked compared to Don Draper's.

Really, this was the one part of the episode I felt Weiner, got...lazy with? Maybe thats a bad word but the guy who has everything wants to be slapped around. He can't feel anything so he pays someone to slap him around.

It's almost too easy and stereotypical of what everyone assumes of people in don's position. I guess Don's always been somewhat of a stereotype, but it felt more like shock value than real.

[Eric]

For anyone who actually cares, Jai Alai is still around and it fairly big in the gambling sort of way in places like Florida. It's on the level of dog tracks and horse racing except even more sketchy.

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

I don't know how anyone couldn't like the ending, I too agree with the badassness of it.

This wasn't him giving in or not holding to his guns, he realized he WAS the guns and finally started using them.

Everyone got on him in their way but Peggy was the first one that cracked him ever so slightly by basically letting him know, "hey man, this is on you, everyone is in this building, in this space, because of YOU.

Don realized he had a responsibility to the company and himself to bring it. Then, after yet again having some client try to tell him what they should be doing, he finally snapped and had enough.

You can't look at that interview in a shell, you really have to look at him storming out and then kicking the clients out telling them to get out of his office.

SCDP is, I'm guessing, going to become a maverick ad agency. They are going to become bulls. No more begging for work, clients will be begging THEM to do their work and if you don't like what Don presents, get the hell out. We don't need you because we only work with the best.

Don did the interview so he could sell the company and himself and start establishing his image. Even though it went unsaid, I wouldn't be surprised if Don brought up throwing the clients out. In that time, some would view it as suicide, but these types of ad agencies do exist and need to start somewhere...there's also definitiely clients who want the best, want the chase, want what they can't have.

Don't look at the end as Don conceding. He's been in relative hiding his whole life because of his past. Now he's throwing it to the side and saying "Hey world, I'm don Draper, and I'm awesome"

[Sed]

For anyone who actually cares, Jai Alai is still around and it fairly big in the gambling sort of way in places like Florida. It's on the level of dog tracks and horse racing except even more sketchy.

We had a whole thread about it two summers ago.

EDIT: Yeah, summers are always kind of dark around here.

This post has been edited by Sed: Jul 26 2010, 02:05 PM

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

BTW, am I the only one that chuckled when NBC was the company that actually bought into the Jai Alai special?

With how dreadfully awful the company is now, and knowing about past sports ventures like XFL, I actually audibly chuckled when he said he sold it to NBC.

[Sed]

I thought that he said ABC - the whole thing kind of implied that it would be on Wide World of Sports.

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

I thought that he said ABC - the whole thing kind of implied that it would be on Wide World of Sports.

woops, did he?

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

Yeah, it was ABC, that makes California make a lot more sense to, as I'm sure he could have just sold it to NBC from New York.

I don't know why I heard NBC

[toph]

woops, did he?

Yeah it was ABC.

[xcdudesquadloves...]

Don't look at the end as Don conceding. He's been in relative hiding his whole life because of his past. Now he's throwing it to the side and saying "Hey world, I'm don Draper, and I'm awesome"

I watched it again and I will concede. I don't know why this took a second watching for me, but I'm excited to see where this is going.

[LisaLisa]

I hope Don doesn't fool himself into dating the girl (what's her name, Beth?) that Roger's wife set him up with. She's like Betty II.

And why haven't these guys discovered the Playboy Club yet? Wasn't it around at that time? Wasn't that the businessman's haven in those days?

This post has been edited by LisaLisa: Jul 26 2010, 04:35 PM

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

Something I think a lot of critics are missing with Mad Men (I like to read reviews) Betty wanted to get her sex on at night and Henry wanted nothing to do with her, he was "full"

Then the next day Don picks up the kids and he jumps her in the car.

I think this is very telling about Henry and Betty's relationship.

I also don't know why, but I'm convinced Sally is gunna get hit, and Don is gunna go off he deep end.

[toph]

When you're Don Draper, anything you do while drunk is not reality.

This post has been edited by toph: Aug 1 2010, 10:11 PM

[fishmeister23]

Is the next episode going to be how awkward New Years will be now that they're divorced and Don hates his life? And then Valentine's Day? And then Easter? And then Memorial Day weekend?

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

am I the only one kinda let down?

WHat happened to balls out Don Draper? Sterling completely bowing down to Lee? Why is freddy back? How much abuse does he have to take?

Regardless, this seemed to erase the entire final 10 minutes of last week and went back to square one of last week. it could have easily been the premiere of this season minus the intriduction of the new office.

Don hates his life, Sally hates her life, they are desperate for business, and we reintroduced a character.

Eh, I'm overly bitching, I didn't hate it, but Don seemed to go backwards

[xcdudesquadloves...]

am I the only one kinda let down?

WHat happened to balls out Don Draper? Sterling completely bowing down to Lee? Why is freddy back? How much abuse does he have to take?

Regardless, this seemed to erase the entire final 10 minutes of last week and went back to square one of last week. it could have easily been the premiere of this season minus the intriduction of the new office.

Don hates his life, Sally hates her life, they are desperate for business, and we reintroduced a character.

Eh, I'm overly bitching, I didn't hate it, but Don seemed to go backwards

I agree about being let down, but it wasn't a horrible episode.

[toph]

Yeah, I agree, I thought last night's Mad Men was a bit of a letdown. I think the episode existed to basically show that Don is losing it.

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

Yeah, I agree, I thought last night's Mad Men was a bit of a letdown. I think the episode existed to basically show that Don is losing it.

To me it just wasn't consistent. We end last week with Don throwing clients out of his office and then announcing himself to the world to completely kissing Lee's ass to ridiculous levels. I realize what he represents to the company, but everything just seemed so off.

As hot as Joan leading a conga line is, weren't we meant to believe shes above such antics now? something just seemed of with everybody. I'm also confused about Pete. I know they all hate him but they didn't have to take him, what was up with that no comment? Did Don make him? He hates him as much as anybody.

Everything seemed just slightly off

[Sed]

Is the next episode going to be how awkward New Years will be now that they're divorced and Don hates his life? And then Valentine's Day? And then Easter? And then Memorial Day weekend?

The awkwardness reaches a head sometime around Flag Day.

[Eric]

I think he'll finally break on Arbor day.

[hoser]

Geez, after seeing how hard up Don was on Christmas, I'm afraid to see where he'll end up on Father's Day. I see him passed out in one of those pre-Giuliani peep show booths near Port Authority.

[LisaLisa]

To me it just wasn't consistent. We end last week with Don throwing clients out of his office and then announcing himself to the world to completely kissing Lee's ass to ridiculous levels. I realize what he represents to the company, but everything just seemed so off.

As hot as Joan leading a conga line is, weren't we meant to believe shes above such antics now? something just seemed of with everybody.

Everything seemed just slightly off

I was talking to a friend about this today. He said the same thing. But business is a roller coaster, isn't it? Especially for a new agency that's trying to make as big a splash as this one is. In the first episode, Don was gold. Now he's a waste. The agency was ready to take a step up. Then Lee what's-his-name Jr. shows up and slaps everybody back down to earth. Way down. I hope the agency grows huge--so they can tell Lee to take his Lucky Strikes and shove it. I mean, do you ever see anybody smoking Lucky Strikes? Besides, Don does have that business between Lee and Sal in his back pocket. I wonder if he'll use it against Lee at some point?

I'm also confused about Pete. I know they all hate him but they didn't have to take him, what was up with that no comment? Did Don make him? He hates him as much as anybody.

Maybe it's a case of keeping your friends close, but your (potential) enemies closer? 1) Pete knows about Don's past; 2) he's a whiny, little prick who could turn (potentially) vengeful and; 3) he does have a knack for seeing what's coming next. Maybe all three reasons contributed to Don bringing Pete along? Don's the only one who seemed to want him. On the other hand, there's room for Pete to stop being a whiny, little prick with a potential for vengeance.

[teddyc]

This latest episode of Mad Men is a stepping stone towards the revised messages of the times.

Freddy comes in for 2 reasons...to highlight the drinking debauchery of the times culture and the culture of the company...finally someone is saying that this is not a healthy way to conduct yourself and...your business. Don Draper spiraling into drink every night to the point he can't find the keyhole and bangs his secretary is the prime example of the episode. For the most part, the show has glorified this behavior, but now they are introducing some resistance and ...disappointment in this.

Freddy is also highlighting the old fashioned behavior towards women and their goals in life. "Barefoot and Pregnant" was the primary cultural opinion of the times as far as women's goals were concerned. It was right about this time in our society that these things changed. And this is the brilliant concept of the show. They are slowly approaching a major cultural revolution and holy shit if they keep going there is going to be some fun stuff happening.

I think the Lee thing is incentive to change their business model and not be so reliant on one customer and depending upon the "party" culture as a business asset. Sure this stuff seems simple enough to understand, but they do need to show the process and how it encourages change. So Lee forcing his agency to dress up as Santa and snap Polaroids shows everyone in the agency (and us) that they are puppets and slaves...explaining to everyone why they need to change and join the coming revolution.

We're not going to get our doors blown away in every episode of ANY show. They have a very long story to tell and need to methodically craft the story, building reasoning and details to explain why the future makes sense. Sometimes this can be poorly presented, but I think this episode was brilliantly written. We were shown Women revolting against the status quo (Peggy with Freddy and Sally expressing her disappointment openly with her Dad and Glen) Showing people REJECTING drink as a social and business lubricant and reminded of how the current behaviors are becoming unacceptable. Also I liked that Sally was getting some Beatles records...one of the huge symbols of the coming revolution! Their worlds are changing and we are the witnesses.

True Blood is not quite as complex.

[SorryaboutthatWh...]

everything you said

I don't know, i really understand everything your saying, and I get what the show is trying to do here, it's just silly to me to have Don throw down a gauntlet as strongly as he did with the Bathing suit people only to follow it up by laughing at Roger as he has to dress up for Lee.

I too am waiting for the shoe to drop for Lee. It's supposed to be 64 now correct? Marlboro Country was established in the early 60s and in the mid 60s the commercials started running. By the end of this season Lucky Strike should be in trouble.

However, Mad Men already hasn't been historically accurate with Lucky Strike so who knows. The term "It's Toasted" was coined in, wait for it, 1917, not the 1960s.

[teddyc]

I don't know, i really understand everything your saying, and I get what the show is trying to do here, it's just silly to me to have Don throw down a gauntlet as strongly as he did with the Bathing suit people only to follow it up by laughing at Roger as he has to dress up for Lee.

There's a big difference between bringing down the hammer on a prudish bathing suit company and big tobacco. Don might be a genius drunken stud with a troubled past and daddy issues, but he ain't stupid.

That's Right!!!! Marlboro totally blew away the non filtered smokes by making it manly to use a filter. Too lazy to look it up, but are they they same parent company? Would be cool if they came up with the campaign.

[toph]

Oooh, a shiny new thread for us.

Anyway, after thinking it over for a night, I think the reason they showed badass Don at the end of the first episode and loser Don for the entire 2nd is that Don just doesn't have it anymore, he can't just flip a switch and be awesome again. He's not closing with women, his company is handcuffed, he's paying for the house his wife is sleeping in with a different guy, and he's cripplingly dependent on alcohol.

I have a feeling Don is going to really bottom out in a handful of episodes and maybe try to build himself back up. It's weird, but it's almost like Betty was holding his life together before they broke up. Without her, nothing in his life is as simple as it was.

[LisaLisa]

Oooh, a shiny new thread for us.

I have a feeling Don is going to really bottom out in a handful of episodes and maybe try to build himself back up. It's weird, but it's almost like Betty was holding his life together before they broke up. Without her, nothing in his life is as simple as it was.

This is where I think the show is headed with Don. He invented himself. He can reinvent himself.

He took his family for granted. Now he's adrift without them.

[bloodorange]

OK, I finally caught up on my Tivo'ed second episode so I could read the thread!

Oh, but before I go there, I should just add that I found Don's penchant for getting slapped around during sex totally hot. heh.

Freddy comes in for 2 reasons...to highlight the drinking debauchery of the times culture and the culture of the company...finally someone is saying that this is not a healthy way to conduct yourself and...your business.

Freddy is also highlighting the old fashioned behavior towards women and their goals in life.

On the first point... yeah, potentially. I mean, his abstinence certainly does challenge the culture of the company. We'll see if it lasts, and if so, if Freddy will be able to continue to fit in. Interesting that his AA "brother" was derailed by lunch with Roger.

On the second point, I think Freddy's more importantly highlighting the obsolescence of "the old guard" in advertising. Plenty of men at SCDP have old-fashioned/belittling views toward women; however, they recognize the need to keep up with the desires and aspirations of the public. Freddy's problem is that his creative direction isn't shifting--his actual views on society are less of an issue. Or should be, anyway.

Peggy's boyfriend is such a creep. She should date the new cute co-worker instead. And have sex scenes.

Also, Allison, what the hell were you thinking?? You think Don's going to, like, fall in love with you?


Such a soap opera, really! But I love it...