MAD MEN (spoilers)

[Dobbin]

Matt Weiner is going to be on FRESH AIR on PBS today talking about this new season.

[Dan]

I thought it was a good premiere. There was some stuff, like Roger holding the baby in front of his face as he's smoking a cigarette, that stunk of that first season "Hey, it's the 60's, let's get politically incorrect!" vibe, but that was only a few parts and it didn't take away from the rest. I'm curious what Don's arc is going to be at this point. The show wouldn't have him just grow bored again, that would just be repeating the Betty storyline. At any rate, I'm excited.

And how lucky are they that the actress that plays Sally seems to be able to age perfectly along with the show's erratic timeline. They've already been through what, three Bobbys?

[Steve B]

I thought it was a good premiere. There was some stuff, like Roger holding the baby in front of his face as he's smoking a cigarette, that stunk of that first season "Hey, it's the 60's, let's get politically incorrect!" vibe,

Agreed (I did laugh though) but the attention to detail was amazing in the opening scene in the car.  The kids in the front seat.  The way he put out his arm when he broke. And more importantly.  That the door is too heavy for the kid to close so he had to lean over and re-close it. 
Also, as Sally went to bed, my wife said "I had those sheets".

[Chris G]

It seems like they did a lot to establish the date of the show whereas usually they're kind of subtle about it. I was really confused by the "Goldwater 68" poster on the window of Y&R until someone told me that it was a giant "fuck you" to the protesters. According to Weiner the waterbomb incident, including the "and they call us savages" line was based on a real incident.

All in all I really liked these episodes, particularly the fake smile motif they had throughout the first half. Also every minute that Joan was back in SCDP was fantastic and Roger's desperation to hold onto his position in the office when he knows that Pete has become more important than him was well played.

[Dobbin]

I thought it was a good premiere. There was some stuff, like Roger holding the baby in front of his face as he's smoking a cigarette, that stunk of that first season "Hey, it's the 60's, let's get politically incorrect!" vibe, but that was only a few parts and it didn't take away from the rest. I'm curious what Don's arc is going to be at this point. The show wouldn't have him just grow bored again, that would just be repeating the Betty storyline. At any rate, I'm excited.

And how lucky are they that the actress that plays Sally seems to be able to age perfectly along with the show's erratic timeline. They've already been through what, three Bobbys?

I have pictures of smoking people holding me as a baby. It is hard to believe how prevalent smoking was back then. Newscasters smoked WHILE DELIVERING THE NEWS.

The one "too cute" moment I thought that rang untrue was the black lady saying, "And they call us savages."

[Chris G]

The savages line was based on something that actually happened.

[Dobbin]

The savages line was based on something that actually happened.

Right, and so were almost all the lines in GAME CHANGE, though. There's a way of presenting it as just-so that rings false.

[Dobbin]

Right, and so were almost all the lines in GAME CHANGE, though. There's a way of presenting it as just-so that rings false.

Which is to say, that was a quote to a reporter, given in an interview. Saying the same thing in the lobby, as an isolated moment of dialogue with no one else speaking changes the feel of that quote.

[Chris G]

Okay, I see what you mean.

[Dan]

I have pictures of smoking people holding me as a baby. It is hard to believe how prevalent smoking was back then. Newscasters smoked WHILE DELIVERING THE NEWS.

Yeah, my mom is doing our family's lineage and it's shocking how many wedding pictures we have from then where the bride and groom are smoking. But, all that having been said, even though it probably did happen back then, I find it hard to believe nobody in the production worried that that would seem too "Mad Men"-y, whether it was realistic or not.

[Steve B]

I find it hard to believe nobody in the production worried that that would seem too "Mad Men"-y, whether it was realistic or not.

Yeah, it wasn't subtle at all.  Usually when they do stuff like that on the show they don't hit you over the head with it.  It's usually more organic.

[Dobbin]

Yeah, it wasn't subtle at all.  Usually when they do stuff like that on the show they don't hit you over the head with it.  It's usually more organic.

I think there's space for both things to be correct. Which is to say, accurately depicting how people didn't think about cigarettes and babies is naturally shocking to modern sensibilities; the same way ANY depiction of a baby being driven in a car, being held and not in a car seat is always a sort of provocation.

Like, they're aware of the shocking nature of it, but honestly, that was not shocking or unusual.

My mother used to do that "hand across the chest" move when we were driving, too.

[Chris G]

Wow, so they decided to go the Jane Leeve's route rather than the Shelley Long way to cover January Jones' pregnancy then?

[Dan]

They actually added additional makeup to make her look bigger, which was really distracting.

I would have been more than happy for Betty to have gotten on that plane with Henry and never be heard from again. January Jones did a fine job tonight, but last week really made me realize how much I don't think the show needs her.

Don and Harry hanging out is always fun. Pretty hardcore of Harry to eat 20 White Castles. "I thought those were for your family?!"

[Steve B]

They actually added additional makeup to make her look bigger, which was really distracting.

I thought it was funny how she gained and lost 30lbs from scene to scene