Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Buddy 'Friendly' Wachenheimer on October 19, 2007 at 7:31pm

A lot of people think I remind them of Don Draper. I now see why. We're both good looking, great admen, and chick magnets.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Victory Darwin on October 19, 2007 at 10:18pm

Loved Mad Men!

Gave me a whole new perspective on this industry. It really doesn't seem so crazy anymore.

**** I was going to ask this question below, but I think it could be negatively interpreted, rather than objectively/scientifically... so I won't. (just pretend it isn't there).
Do you think a significantly higher than norm percentage of sociopaths are admen?
I mean, I know I'm not... but are you?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Victory Darwin on October 20, 2007 at 1:42am

just watched the final episode now. wow. some serious angst for all the main characters in the final minutes. definitely leaves ya feeling something. looking forward to the next season.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Katie B on October 20, 2007 at 9:17pm

Well, Steve - I read your reaction to the guy - I think his name is Cleveland - who slammed the show. I agreed with his take. It was boring drama, soon to be digital garbage. In my opinion.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rita Cartwright on January 14, 2008 at 7:43pm

Katie B,

Mad Men won two Golden Globe awards. One for Best Drama TV Series, and Jon Hamm, "Don Draper", won for Best Actor in a Drama Series. I don't think the show will soon be digital garbage. I love the show because it an ad agency setting. Plus, I love old black and white movies, so I'm drawn to the time setting of the series.

Rita

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bill Green on October 20, 2007 at 10:27pm

Sorry Steve, hated it.

;-p

Watched three episodes to see if I was missing something. Agreed with Katie B. Wasn’t even good period drama let alone drama. At least have more humorous moments to balance things out, but it was as narcisstic, humorless and miserable as Thirtysomething was. Felt like a Smithsonian exhibit depicting everything wrong with society back then, and it was like, why would I want to watch that, you know?

Yes, nobody would want to watch a show on advertising if it was about copywriting or art direction. Yes, the profession now is different in many ways than back then. Still, I have a hard time believing the job was that miserable 24/7. Yeah, clients sometimes suck. But at least some of the best times you ever have in the biz are with the people you work with, no?

Where's even a little of that spirit?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kevin Glennon on October 21, 2007 at 2:25am

It was well written, acted, and directed. The cinematography was okay. the costumes were brilliant. So much was absolutely great.

the only thing that sucked was that there was no vision or purpose. The show basically had no soul or real interesting foundation. I don't really see a point for a second season. I ended up catching the final episode on "OnDemand" on Comcast three days before it aired "live." What's up with that?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jim Powell on October 23, 2007 at 4:05am

what am I missing out on - always the last to know Jim.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Glenn Highcove on October 23, 2007 at 4:17pm

I thought it was awesome, on several levels. Interesting in these PC days to see how sexual harassment was the norm back then. Also neat to see the golden age of advertising, and the genesis of campaigns and taglines still used today. Also, my aunt was much like that Peggy character (sans the out-of-wedlock child) in that she struggled hard during that exact period and later to make it in a male-dominated field. Finally, the character depictions are true both to the office environment and scumbag ad execs ;) I will definitely watch the next season.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Martin Jelsema on October 23, 2007 at 5:27pm

I may be the only person who's part of AdGabber who actually worked for an agency (BBDO) in the late 1950's I was a traffic co-ordinator, and just like the young lady in Mad Men, I "apprenticed" as a copywritter under John Jordan - the guy who later became BBDO's president.

I thought the secondary male characters in this show were artificial as cotton candy. I didn't see what they were doing , what duties they performed except awe at Draper's keen insights. Copywriters were as nerdy as art directors in the 1950's. Mostly aspiring authors wearing tweeds, not gray flannels. I knew one woman copy chief at BBDO (I can't remember her name) who has treated with respect. I was pretty young, but I wasn't aware of all the filandering that the show depicts. Most everyone was pretty earnest, hard-working and down-to-earth, even thought the execs wore tailor-made pin-stripes.

I've watched every episode and enjoyed it is entertainment, not as an accurate reflection of the times.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Abdol Rahim Mirza on October 24, 2007 at 8:30am

‘Mad Men’ had just started in our area with text translation in Arabic.

I agree with Kevin but in case of public TV series, they must fulfill the needs of different category of local/global societies. Otherwise, why it brought here?

In general, it is all about the battle (Dirty Game) of Lions to grab the scanty hunt rather than teaching us how to fight for daily bread. I always follow up such series because it gives me ideas to cope with different life aspects.

Those who are seeking about strategies, please detect the ‘lay’ behind the scene while enjoying the play.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lane Casteix on January 17, 2008 at 3:31pm

I approached Mad Men somewhat cautiously, absolutely sure I would hate it. But I liked it! Is it over-the-top in how it depicts the business? Yes, but that is par for Hollywood-types, and frankly necessary to make it more interesting as entertainment for the masses. Some of the secondary characters do seem pretty useless as someone pointed out, but I suspect they will get more play as the series progresses. I liked how they brought in actual situations and references to real campaigns. But in the end it is a prime time soap opera just like Dallas was. Each episode feeds you a little bit of information and makes you want to come back to see what will happen in the lives of these out-of-control characters.

It is so not PC, and if you were around then (I started in 1973) that part, including the cigarettes, is pretty accurate.

I am unfortunately addicted and looking forward to next season.

Lane

▶ Reply to This