Posts tagged Mad Men
Is ‘The Hour’ The British Mad Men?
Jul 21st
Well they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – so Mad Men, consider yourself suitably complimented.
Yep, since Don Draper and co pretty much single handedly launched a network here in the US, several other channels are trying to get in on the serialized 50′s / 60′s drama game! In the Fall we’ll be seeing Pan Am on ABC and The Playboy Club on NBC – but over in Britain they’ve already launched their ‘copycat’ show – The Hour, on BBC Two.
The Hour is set behind the scenes of a current affairs show in 1956, using television as the vehicle to chart the changing times and attitudes of the time. There’s a whole lot of smoking and sexism – of course – but the show has also grafted on a thriller element with a trail of murders and clues linked to the unfolding behind the scenes drama.
On board for the ride are Dominic West (Chicago and Mona Lisa Smile), Ben Whishaw (Perfume, A Love Story) and Juliet Stevenson (who’s been in a whole heap of Brit TV and movies). Early response has been mixed to positive – but you can bet that BBC America already have their sights set on this More >
An Open Letter To Mad Men Creator Matthew Weiner
Mar 29th
Dear Mr Weiner (or can I call you Matthew?)
I recently read that yourself and AMC were nearing a deal to continue production on a 5th season of your critically acclaimed series Mad Men. Phew – I think I speak for the millions of Mad Men fans across America when I say we were all getting a little worried there. Unfortunately I understand that due to the delay caused by your protracted negotiations we won’t be getting our annual summer Mad Men fix… please tell me this isn’t so.
Like many other people I rely on Mad Men to get me through the summer slump, that late August period where nothing airs except for endless repeats and new episodes of Wipeout. Last year I even considered watching some of the procedurals on USA – yep, it got that bad. But thankfully Mad Men came along to save us once again.
It’s now been almost 6 months since Season 4 came off the air and I’m still buzzing about the series finale. Sure it wasn’t as dramatic as Season 3, where you dismantled the iconic Sterling Cooper ad agency in the show’s paciest episode to date. But Don Draper’s spur of the moment engagement More >
Mad Men And Fast Trains
Mar 9th
Erm, does this video really belong on Funny or Die?
Check out Mad Men stars Rich Sommer and Vincent Kartheiser in this rather bizarre video appeal for high speed trains, launched on the comedy website today.
It’s great seeing the guys reprise their iconic Mad Men characters but you do kind of have to wonder why?
The clip is pretty rambling and pointless and for me struggles to make much sense – it’s only really at the end that I figured out what it was all about!
But what do you think? Am I missing something here? And do you really want to see the Mad Men guys hawking causes (or products) or does it kind of cheapen the whole show….
THE TOP 10 TV SHOWS OF 2010
Dec 31st
It’s that time of the year again – our chance to countdown the best of the 2010!
And while there was plenty of bad TV this year (much of it on E!) and several former favorites which disappointed (Glee, True Blood, American Idol), there was enough strong shows to prove once again we’re in a golden era of TV viewing…
Here’s my picks for 2010 – in no particular order!
MAD MEN: Hands down THE best TV show of the year was undoubtedly Mad Men, a show that’s pretty much TV perfection. I mean seriously, did the show even put a single foot wrong all season?
I’ve been a Mad Men fan from day one but I’d be the first to admit the first couple of seasons could be a tad slow at times. But since the sensational third season Mad Men hasn’t looked back. Season 4 offered us a new agency for a new era, the fall and rise of Don Draper, a triumphant and independent Peggy and a tragic Joan. Best episode of the series – undoubtedly The Suitcase – the Don / Peggy double-header which saw the duo fighting and bonding over the course of a single night. It’s why Emmys were More >
MAD MEN – A VINTAGE YEAR?
Oct 17th
Just a few hours to go before Season 4 of Mad Men sadly comes to a close. And what a year it’s been…
For me this season of the 60’s set drama has been undoubtedly the show’s strongest year to date. Gone were the teething problems of the past – the sometimes sluggish pacing, excessive talkiness and drifting silences – replaced by a show that’s literally gone from strength to strength each and every week. There honestly hasn’t been a bad Mad Men episode all season long and the show’s scripting, acting and direction are simply in a different league from most cable (and especially network) shows.
Each season of Mad Men takes place over the course of a year (Season 4 began in November 1964) – but what sort of a year has it been for the staff and partners of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce?
I figured now was a good time to take a look back at the rising (and falling) fortunes of the Mad Men guys and girls…
EMMYS 2010: THE OPENING NUMBER
Aug 30th
Here it is, hands down the BEST moment from this year’s Emmy Awards – as Jimmy Fallon, a few of the Glee cast and a ragtag of other celebrities take to the stage for a rendition of Born To Run…
I loved the Kate Gosellin gag (good for her!), seeing Jon Hamm’s comedic side again and the always fabulous Jane Lynch in action. All in all it was a great way to start the show – even better than Neil Patrick Harris’ terrific ‘Put Down That Remote’ last year…(see below!)
As for the rest of the show though – here’s a few thoughts from my end…
– Jimmy Fallon: Great guy but not such a hot host. Aside from the opening he hardly did anything, aside from some very lame Twitter gags and an okay musical parody later in the show that mocked Elton John, Green Day and 24 (including a ‘why doesn’t Jack ever go the restroom gag’ that was older than Elton’s last hit). Not a patch on NPH last year…
– And speaking of great hosts… how fantastic was Ricky Gervais‘ presenting speech. After a succession of awkward autocue moments (oh Matthew Perry and Lauren Graham how I feel for you) More >
15 TV LESSONS WE LEARNED THIS SUMMER
Aug 28th
Summer is almost over so it’s time to put away those BBQ sets and beach towels for another year. But before we settle down for the Fall TV Season – here’s 15 Lessons We Learned From Summer 2010…
Networks Execs take note!
1) Scripted Network Dramas Are Dead: Witness NBC’s Persons Unknown (aka Persons Unwatched), ABC’s Happy Town and the Sunday night snoozers The Gates and Scoundrels. All four struggled to attract more than 3 million viewers a week and barely made it through their runs. And the only real scripted ‘hit’ of the summer, ABC’s Rookie Blue, was a middling 5 million rated cop show.
2) …But Scripted Cable Shows Are Hot: Where to begin – Rizzoli and Isles, Covert Affairs, The Closer, Haven, Melissa and Joey, Hot In Cleveland… this summer audiences switched over to cable big time, a cultural shift that will only continue in years to come… fact is viewers are loyal to shows NOT networks. If you want an audience now you have to work for it!
3) Weight Loss Shows Are On The Way Out: The Biggest Loser is still a hefty hit but too many copycat formats failed this summer… Dance Your Ass Off was down year to year, Vh1’s Money Hungry was an outright bomb More >
GUEST STARRING: CHRISTINA HENDRICKS GETS ‘UNDRESSED’
Aug 27th
Check out Mad Men’s voluptuous office manager Joan Harris as you’ve never seen here before…
Here’s actress Christina Hendricks back in 1999, playing Rhiannon on MTV soap opera Undressed… wow, Christina looks so different with short hair and a far less curvy figure! Interesting to see how much sexier Hendricks is now with a more years and pounds on her…
Funnily enough, Undressed, which ran from 1999-2002 also featured several other soon to be big names among its cast over the years- including a pre-Superman Brandon Routh, geek favorite Katee Sackhoff, OC star Adam Brody and One Tree Hill’s Chad Michael Murray. Not bad for a show that hasn’t exactly stood the test of time!
DON DRAPER’S COLLEGE ORIENTATION
Aug 23rd
The guys at College Humor strike again…
Check out this really cool Mad Men parody that imagines Don Draper as a college student – complete with drinking, smoking and his trademark bleak perspective on the world…
It’s a cool idea and well executed though it does take a little while to get going. I have a feeling this video is going to go viral pretty fast – and that Jon Hamm himself would probably get a kick from it too…
BTW if you’re a Mad Men fan be sure to head over to The Atlantic every Monday morning for my recap of the previous night’s episode (I’m just loving the current season – the show truly is at its peak)
Anyway here’s Don Draper Jr in action… enjoy!
MAD MEN: EVERY CIGARETTE SMOKED!
Jul 27th
Here’s a great little video making the rounds at the moment – a remix of every cigarette smoked over Mad Men‘s first three seasons!
Like everyone else, I remember the first time I saw Mad Men and was stunned by all the huffing and puffing – at work, on planes, at the doctor’s surgery – and in front of the kids. With what we now know about the effects of cigarettes and second hand smoke it was frightening stuff!
Well now you get to relive every single puff along the way. The video is cleverly put together by the guys at Whirled Creative – and I love the end shot of Betty hacking up! Yuck!
