The Indulgences of Ad Men
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
"We're not exactly sure how he arrived at such a startling conclusion, but Matthew Weiner maintains that in 1960, advertising was a "national obsession." How times change, huh?
In his production notes for the new television series "Mad Men," debuting tonight on the AMC cable channel, series creator, writer and Executive Producer Weiner goes on to assert the prototypical ad man of that era was slick, handsome, glib, anti-authority and easy-going, yet tough. But most importantly, Weiner writes, the ad man of that time loved women and indulged himself at every turn."
Continue reading on Chicago Sun-Times site.
Just watch the first episode. You nailed it. I had forgotten how degrading it was to be a "secretary". Can't wait to see how this theme progresses!!
Just saw first episode. Had an idea from previews what show would be like. I was pleasantly surprised that my idea of "Madmen" wasn't even close.
Madmen is bold and shines, has appeal not seen in any present day productions.
Thank you AMC
RE Oilmen, Admen, Ugly Americans, and The Future...
http:syog.blogspot.com/2007/03/oilmen.html
hang onto your hats, Kids...here we go
Steve Smyth
SmythSpace
Is Don Madman is he a Don in this
episode like has a mafia in all series
of MadMan can you make it come true
like he's sometime his violent outside
his job and nice inside job.On the
second season of MadMan he killed pete
for screwing up his job and shot him
twice in the heart at the club with
his people. Thank you!
After one thoroughly engaging episode where characters are already tightly drawn, I am hooked! The attention to detail of the era was jaw dropping: Styles, decor, sexism, racism, the indifference to office smoking and cocktailing. My only disappointment occurred when the closing credits began to roll --where'd the hour go? It's been a long time since I've looked forward to the next episode of a new series this much. Thank you AMC!
What a show,, I have never seen an hour go so fast. Some shows when you watch them the first time, reach out and pull you in, never to let you go. This is one of them, cannot wait until the next episode. The attention to detail is wonderful. Don't ever let the show leave.
Very interesting look back to the halcyon days of (among other things) tobacco advertising--this was the beginning of its television heyday.
On the other hand, the research could have been better--"It's Toasted" was a slogan for Lucky Strike dating back to 1917.
I was born in 1958. My Dad started his own agency in New York just after WWII. He was a closeted Jew, which I never knew until he'd been dead for over 30 years because Madison Avenue was a white-shoe WASP privileged place. I could make a dry martini by the time I was 6. All our family vacations were business trips. Doyle-Dane, BBDO, Thompson, Grey, Foote-Cone were the names bandied about our dinner table, whenever Dad actually made it to dinner. By genetic defect, I grew up to be a copywriter. This show is dead-on accurate for it's time, smoking in elevators, while eating, pregnant, basically whenever conscious. Men in suits (swoon). Where are the HATS! In defense of an industry based on the collision between art and commerce, advertising has always been ahead of the social curve. Women executives came to the fore in the late 60's (Mary Wells, for one) homosexuals were certainly more tolerated than in, say, banking, law or Wall Street. We were still smoking in the 80's, but the drug of choice became cocaine. It was the most exciting, inspiring,
self-destructive, disillusioning, challenging career I could have imagined. I skipped my college roommate's wedding for some stupid client. Hopefully, this show will branch out beyone advertising and take advantage of it's pivotal place in American history...just before all hell breaks loose. Can't wait to see what happens.
I worked for BBDO from 68-71 and alot of the show is eerily similar. Clients:Right Guard, American Tobacco etc. I'm straining to comeup with a real life parallel person for the creative director but the account people are not far off the mark. I remember many AE's were world champions at some obscure sport/game but pretty average at advertising.
Finally, the sixties without the usual "summer of love" spin that seems to permeate the networks mindset.
Thank you Matthew.
Madman is genius.
The best writing on the tube today.
The attention to detail has me hooked.It looks & feels like 1960.
My request is if the writer's & producer could tie into the 1960 World Series between the NY Yankees & Pittsburgh Pirates.
I would think that the subjects would be following the Yankees somewhat closely at that time.
It would be great to see their reaction to Bill Mazeroski hitting the series winning homerun to lead off the 9th inning in game seven.
I just tuned in to watch a woman have sex with a washing machine on basic cable.
talk about complete moral bankruptcy.
oooooooh, really stretching the bounds are we... IT'S ALL PART OF HUMAN EVOLUTION.
yes indeed, this is the cusp, and it's fairly obvious which direction we'll fall.
One other question ... Is this show a creation of Jews?
Simple answer, yes or no.
I'm beginning to think Hilter was right, and believe me... this is a new opinion for me, as of the last 48 hours.