Category: TV

This episode begins with Betty and Carla working on a grocery list. Betty says that they need apples, but that they should come from Rodney Farms. Carla says that the farm is near her church, and that she’ll pick some up on Sunday. Sally then asks why the Drapers don’t go to church’ Betty says that they do. Sally says “on Christmas… Carla goes every Sunday”. Betty says that they don’t need to go every week. Don walks in and kisses the kids. He asks Sally how her day at school was; Bobby ass why Don never asks him how his school day was. Don says that he does, but that Bobby’s answer is always longer, so he asks Sally instead. Bobby then asks when Halloween is; Betty says that it’s “before Thanksgiving”, then mentions a Halloween party that Carlton and Francine are having, but says that they’ll probably have to miss it, as they will be in Philadelphia selling Gene’s house. Betty brings Don a drink, then asks if he’s sleeping there that night. Don says that he isn’t, which causes Betty to say that he’s working too hard.

We next see Don knocking on Suzanne’s door. She answers, and he leans in to kiss her. She steps back and tells him to come inside first. He asks if she was grading papers, because she has a gold star on her cheek. The two embrace, but just as Don goes to kiss her, she says that his service called and said that Hilton had called him, but that he (Hilton) was probably in an airplane by now. Don says “thanks Miss Farrell” in his best 3rd grade student voice. She leans in and says that she wants him to spend the whole night with her. Don doesn’t say anything, only pulls her back to the bedroom.

Continue reading “Mad Men: “The Color Blue””

In the “Souvenir” episode of Mad Men, the mayor of Ossining was listed as “Andrew  Johnson” on a name plate during a meeting. I searched the Internet high and low to see if that really was the name of the mayor at the time. Finding nothing, I sent an email to the Ossining Public Library to see if they could help.

It took a few days, but “Cheryl” of the Library’s Adult Services Department got back with me to say that a man named Jesse A. Collyer was mayor of the town in 1963.

Just so you know!

This episode begins with Betty lying on the chaise longue, being caressed by an unseen man. Just as he leans over to kiss her, her dream is interrupted by a ringing telephone. It’s Connie, who asks Don if he ever prays over difficult problems. Don, confused by the late call and a now screaming Eugene, takes notes as Connie offers him all of Hilton’s international business. Connie sees Hilton as an outpost of America everywhere, and says that he wants Hilton Hotels all over the world, even the moon. He tells Don to write up a proposal for the the New York hotels as convention centers and get it to him by noon the next day.

Don can’t sleep, so he gets dressed and starts driving to work. He only gets a little way from home when he sees Suzanne Farrell jogging down the road. He asks what she’s doing, and she says that she likes jogging in the early morning because it’s quiet and no one bothers her. He offers her a lift home, which she accepts. On the way to her house, she listens to Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech with rapt attention. She says that she’s going to read the speech to her students. An amazed Don then asks if she’s “dumb or pure”. Don then invites her to get a cup of coffee; she declines, saying too much coffee might be the reason he can’t get to sleep.

Continue reading “Mad Men: “Wee Small Hours””

This episode kicks off with Pete sitting at his desk, reading a copy of Ebony. Hildy comes in to drop off some papers, and only then does he realize that it’s 5:00 and time  for her to go. He asks what she’s getting into that weekend; she replies that she’s gotten a cabin in Saltaire with some friends. Pete mentions mosquitoes’ Hildy says that they don’t bother her. Harry and Paul then walk in the office, and ask her if Pete’s making her work since he’ll be alone this weekend. She says no, then leaves. Pete wonders why a man alone is something to be pitied, while Hildy is really the one you should feel sorry for. Harry says that he doesn’t feel sorry for her, since “those girls” get to do what they want. Ken then walks in, and asks Pete if he’s still working, and if so not to, since none of the senior partners are in town. Pete says that Don isn’t on vacation, that Conrad Hilton sent him to “Dallas or Denver or something… every armpit he has”. Harry wishes he could get out of New York in August just once. Pete says that he likes the quiet. He then offers to take the boys out for a drink.

At the Draper home, we see Betty going through some Junior League paperwork about saving the reservoir. Don walks by with some dirty laundry, and Betty mentions that she’s poured him a beer. Don stops to have a sip of beer, then looks at all of Betty’s paperwork and says that she should be getting paid for her work. Betty says that there’s a hearing about the reservoir coming up, and that she’s “paid” plenty. Hearing a commotion outside, Don asks what’s going on. Betty says that the kids are catching fireflies and that he should join them. Don puts his beer down and walks outside to play with the kids.

Continue reading “Mad Men: “Souvenir””

Hey folks! I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been slack on the Mad Men recap this week (in fact, I didn’t even watch last night’s episode until this afternoon!)

I hope to get the recap started in the morning and posted late tomorrow night.

This episode begins with three mysteries: Peggy in bed with an unknown man, a radiant (but sad) Betty lying back on a chaise longue, and a bloodied Don lying on the floor of a cheap motel.

We immediately skip backwards in time a few days and see a more dapper Don getting ready for work. He puts his tie on, brushes his shoes, and carefully combs his hair. He walks downstairs, where Betty and her interior designer are looking at the newly redecorated sitting room. The designer asks him about it, and Don jokes that “it’s hard for me to judge when I can’t see a price tag”. She shows him the pieces she has chosen, then Betty asks what will go directly in front of the fireplace. The designer says nothing goes there, that the heath is the soul of the home, and that people gather there regardless of whether there’s a fire or not. Betty asks Don what he thinks; he says it’s “fine”. She counters that all he does at his job all day is “evaluate objects”. He looks around the room again and suggests that they move the end table a lamp to the other side of the sofa. He kisses Betty and walks away, and after he’s gone the designer agrees with his assessment.

Continue reading “Mad Men: “Seven Twenty Three””

This episode begins with Don walking in to Sally’s room. He goes to turn the light off, but Sally begs him not to. Don says that it’s 10:30 and asks why she’s still awake. She says that she’s afraid of what will happen when he turns off the light. Don says that nothing will hurt her… except for the mess in her room. He then picks up her desk lamp, turns it on, and puts it on the floor. He tells her that if she cleans up her room, he’ll buy her a night light. He kisses her goodnight and walks out of the room, turning off the overhead light on his way out.

The next morning the guys at Sterling Cooper fret over a memo that has been circulating throughout the agency:

Pete, Paul and Harry wonder what the meeting is all about. Pete laments that Ken hasn’t arrived yet. John, Lane, Roger, and Bert emerge and stand on the steps. Lane announces that the director and chairman of the board of Putnam, Powell and Lowe will be visiting Sterling Cooper, both as a friendly visit, and to also “evaluate our performance”. John says that the men are due to arrive tomorrow (Tuesday, July 2) at 10:00 am, and that they will stay through Wednesday, July 3. He then apologizes to the employees, because July 3rd was originally meant to be a holiday, but neither he nor the PPL employees were aware of the holiday. Lane then urges everyone to work “at the height of their productivity” and that everything  be in perfect order.

Continue reading “Mad Men: “Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency””

Congratulations to Matthew Weiner, AMC, Lionsgate, and the cast and crew of Mad Men for winning the Emmy Award for Best Drama for the second year in a row!

The show is simply amazing, and the sheer depth and care everyone puts into it is obvious. Congrats, guys… you deserve it!

Set your DVRs! Jon Hamm and January Jones will be on The Oprah Winfrey Show this Monday, September 21st. I don’t know exactly what they’ll be talking about, but the theme of the show is “Oprah Goes Back in Time: The 60s”, so expect a lot of nostalgia about the Cilvil Rights Movement.

Also, media buyers and planners have predicted that Mad Men will not only win the Emmy for Best Drama, but that Jon Hamm and Elizabeth Moss will win Emmys for Best Actor and Best Actress, too. They also have predicted that 30 Rock will win for Best Comedy, and that Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin will win for Best Actress and Actor in a comedy series as well.

Fingers crossed!