Good first try. Your editor is real good.

Not a win!

Dear Mike - you're amazing - a wonderful Actor - KUDOS:)

Avis Wrentmore

It looks like he's reading the lines off a cue card...

Mike-You have the most exquisitely expressive face! That was a beautiful performance to watch; I thoroughly enjoyed it!
If you are not picked up through this competition, I really do hope I will see you perform again!

Fat slob. Why would anyone want to put this guy on TV? Looks like he should be auditioning for The Biggest Loser......
Don't quit your day job, Porky.

Mike, you held my attention with your great expressive eyes and sincere delivery. Good luck in the finals!

Mike is an excellent actor and certainly deserves a role on Mad Men. He would be terrific and would fit the period wonderfully. Nora, based on your comments regarding everyone in this final, you're obviously a bitter, wanna-be, know-it-all who can't get any real work. I looked you up on IMDB.com. Hmm, most of your TV work seems to be "uncredited," meaning you work as a background extra most of the time. Shame on you. Do you really think industry professionals can't tell you're padding your resume with "extra" work? FrankD - you're just a jerk. That comment was totally uncalled for.

Wow, I'm disappointed on how harsh the Mad Men community is. Mike, I think you are endearing. It takes real guts for anyone to enter a contest like this one. Especially non actors/amateurs. C'mon people, let's just all have some fun with this contest, and celebrate a wonderful show we're lucky to have on TV. Keep in mind that the nonactors on here = amateur = for the love of it (loosely translated). For those who think this is the shot of their career will be sadly disappointed and are completely missing the point! Congratulations to everyone who has made the finals. You all deserve to be here. Thank you for spreading the Mad Men word!

Mike You a great Actor - I can see you on the Big Screen - that's for sure:) Great presence:)
RG

Mike Kimmel holds character beautifully.

Mike I would love to work with you too one day - maybe on Mad Men:) You're just wonderful & a superb Actor. You're getting tons of Votes - Right On:)
Avis Wrentmore

FYI, cowardly and shameful Nora Paradiso is now going by the name "justwondering" with a new photo.

NICE WORK, MR. KIMMEL!

Good luck in the finals!

I am, however, put off by how foolish and rude some of the community comments are here. It reflects more on the 8 year-olds who make such comments than on the this performance.

Mike, congrats on making the finals! I said it before and I'll say it again...a really sincere, heartfelt performance. You nailed it!

Not bad. Editing was annoying. I mean why cross fade? Did time pass in between your lines? Still, good performance, though the editing got in the way of it. As far as your comment as good writing being a lost art in television... may I offer the following for consideration:
Sopranos
Deadwood
Entourage
Weeds
Nip/Tuck
Rescue Me
Rome
Six Feet Under
The Riches
and the list goes on...

Television is where the only real writing is these days, especially drama.

This “contest” was like something Pete Campbell would have contrived, straight out of a Mad Men script. Its only purpose was to serve its host (AMC TV) at the expense of most of those involved. This was not a contest that was based on talent, creativity, originality or quality in any way. It was a shameless MARKETING CONTEST and should have been advertised as such.

The majority of the finalists in the “contest” are there for one reason only; they are networked to hundreds of people who cast votes for them based solely on relationship. It was obvious and everyone knows it. If these people had submitted videos of a dog taking a dump in the park, they still would have gotten their 400 to 1000 votes from their connections/networks.

A lot of the show’s fans and supporters who worked hard to produce quality submissions never stood a chance in this “contest”. I think I can see where the inspiration for the characters on the show comes from. Don Draper may not have slept with any of the “contest” entrants’ wives, but a lot of talented people got screwed. But congratulations AMC; you got your webpage hits. Mission accomplished. SHAME ON YOU!

This Kimmel guy is a tremendous actor..He runs rings around 90% of these horrible actors i see on television nowadays..

Hollywood..attention casting directors and producers--- discover this guy fast...he will be one of the biggest charactor actors if given the opportunity..

Wonderful work Mike. Very nicely done.

Maddest Girl- I actually agree with you on a lot about this website. First they wouldn't air my video, then they took off my comments. This is from a member who created a video FOR THIS SITE!

You can watch my censored video (with Finalist Mike Kimmel) here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0uDbzxl6y0

Good luck to everyone of the finalists.

HE'S READING OFF A CUE CARD! THAT'S NOT ACTING! And the cuts in the video make no sense. probably they did this because he could remember his lines, so he had to do one line at a time.

Gosh, I made a mistake, you are a winner! Good job on getting lots of votes!

With a little directing you could star as a Tony Soprano double.

Next time try to be a little more scary.
Good Luck!!!

Are you Tony Soprano? I apologize for any inconcistencies in my behavior. Gulp!

Are you Tony Soprano? I apologize for any inconcistencies in my behavior. Gulp!

What do you teach? Are you going to start working as an actor? You should.

I keep watching this video. It's so good.

I have to tell you, your emotional life is there.

I bet Matt Weiner already has a part for you in mind. I hope you win.

I looked at all of the videos, and I really liked this one!! Your face was expressive, and I liked the way you said the lines from the script! Very believable! Good job! Good luck!

A note to the comments about cue cards and editing:

You say he is reading cue cards as if its some fact that you are leaking from set. You were not there, you know who was? ME. There was NO cue card. Mike had it all memorized and showed up ready to go like a pro.

The editing was necessary to make the time restriction. This was the longest of all the monologues and the Mad Men clip itself was over 1 minute. They cross dissolve is used because straight edits would have been too jumpy.

The desired effect is that of discomfort with Betty's state. The movement and edits are an attempt to heighten that discomfort and confusion.

Mighty Mike,
Gotta say... Loved the video! I watched this show last season, and really think you would be a tremendous addition! Keep doing what you are doing! I see that you are pulling from the incredible powers of the Eye of Wakamatsuson...
Bynx

ashman,
Thanks for your explanation. I know it was hard to keep it down below a minute. I saw your video and it was very well produced and it affected me. Sorry it didn't have a view trial. As for Mike, boy he really does look like Tony Soprano, Matt would have a field day introducing him on the show!

Pathetic example of over-the-top over-acting. Not believable at all. I've seen better acting in community theatre productions.

And despite some of the comments posted here, this contestant has nothing in common with "Tony Soprano". James Gandolfini, the actor who potrayed Tony Soprano so magnificently on television for all those years is a large, heavyset character actor with a somewhat upscale feel and essence. This contestant has none of those attributes. Looks like he could only play someone's fat, retarded old uncle who lives in the attic and drools on himself.

Give me a break.

A very sincere performance, Mike. You're an absolute natural - Great job!

Honestly I didn't see what most people saw. First off for the character...even if the viewer is the doctor, he shouldn't be looking straight at the camera. That entails confidence, when the character is supposed to be nervous, uneasy, and confused. While the facial expressions were great, they didn't fit the character read very well, nor did the way it was read, seems too monotone. I could definitely see him being a good actor, but for this situation it wasn't conveyed well.

Ditto.

Mike also does not fit the look and period of the show.
MadMen is a highly stylized period piece with STYLE and CLASS. Mike doesn't evoke anything like that - which is why I earlier said that he is in no way similar to Gandolfini. Gandolfini is more of an UPSCALE performer - in the same vein as Paul Sorvino. This guy just looks like the "time to make the doughnuts" guy.

Oh yeah, one other thing Gandolfini can ACT!!!!

Oink, Oink, Oink !!!!!

I'm also really turned off by the nasty comments... calling someone names like you're a 9-year-old bully in a school yard? Get over yourselves. I loved this one. I was immediately drawn in by Mike's expressive face and his delivery was flawlessly disturbing. And I don't know the guy... I do know someone else in the contest who's campaigning like crazy, which is why I came to the site in the first place. This one deserves its popularity, as does the other male Betty Draper that received over 1,000 votes. Wardrobe and make-up people exist for a reason--he doesn't have to look like a slick 60s ad exec in person. Who says they'd write that kind of role for him anyway? He could play a guy who runs into Don Draper and recognizes him from his past life or he could be one of the guys at the country club. Whatever.

Mike - Yours is my favorite "Betty" clip. Sorry, I can't give you my vote - that's probably going to one of the "Joans". I can't get past your resemblance to James Gandolfini, but I loved your acting in this clip and I hope you get some work out of this. Thanks!

I like the sincerity of your video. Good job.

Goodluck, Mike! I agree, Mad Men is a lost art! We are lucky to have it!

Dear Mr. Kimmel,
I think you are a delightfully charming fellow and I would love to be your secretary!
I was quite the fan in the last round and I continue to be so in the finals. I also enjoyed your cameo role in Ashman's film.
I am quite horrified by some of these uncouth commentators.
Vulgarity is never appreciated in the work place!
Best of luck Mr. Kimmel and I hope to serve as your secretary on Madison Avenue.
Dutifully Yours,
The Perfect Secretary

People, people, you are ruining the fun of the contest with these disgusting comments. Why in the world would you say these things? I thought he did a great job!

I didn't know Tony Soprano had a twin brother

Hi Mike!
Now that the show is going mafioso, you and Ashman could be on it. Good Luck!

Mike & Ashman,
Both of you could be on the coming episodes with the mafiosos!

Mike - you were believable, you made it very real and drew us in. You have found an ability that makes a contribution to the rest of us, so I say thanks Mike. I'm rooting for you.