So glad this will be on again at 11 -- I've been too busy watching my TRIBE trounce the Yankees!

Peggy wouldn't have put that thing on her stomach if she was pregnant, would she? She really is huge. And Jon Hamm is TOO gorgeous!

every housewife needs a good old-fashioned shaky washing machine, lol! :)

THE BOX! What is it? And I can't believe Pete stole it...it's coming out. I just hope Don is ready. I think it's going to have pictures, or some obvious physical memory of Don's past life, something to begin the unraveling of his lies. Oh, love it!

Peggy is NOT pregnant. Her roomate made the comment about her eating everything. She's just becoming comfortable around the office.

I'm glad she got to write copy again (and doing radio ads, too??) even better that it's a vibrator! Anyone watch the movie "Electrolux"? Same kind of theme

I think Rachel's going to get pregnant. I can't imagine what next season is going to be like, and 2 years from now? WOW so much can change!

Looks like a shoe box. Probably from Adam.

And, yes, I think Rachel will get pregnant, forcing Don to really come to grips with his own past and how he was conceived, etc.

Kind of reminds me of those "Messagers" advertised as an aid for relaxing tense muscles. Complete with the pretty young woman on the package.

And ugh, Pete has the package from Adam.

So sad to see how John Cullum has aged. LOVED him in Northern Exposure.

Why did Adam kill himself? What did he leave in the box for Don? When will Pete give it to him?

What was the music that was playing while Draper's wife was, um... "doing laundry"?

Wait - where did you hear that Adam killed himself?

What a fabulous episode. Don and Rachel break my heart. No way will he leave his kids.

Message to Rachel -- DON WILL NEVER LEAVE HIS WIFE.

Aremisia -- very beginning of the episode, Adam sent the box, then climbed on the chair and kicked it over, leaving his legs dangling in the air. He hanged himself.

Artemisia, Adam hung himself in the first scene.

Who is the salesman? He looks familiar.

Another great episode. The writing is so good - the moments of silence during the conversations are filled with such anticipation.

I wasn't crazy about Peggy's prosthetics on her face, though (to make her look huge). It was way over the top and very distracting.

Still loving John Slattery - this guy steals every scene!

Pete's got to be one of the biggest weasels ever. I love it everytime Don shuts him down.

Rachel's sister -- is she foreshadowing? Talking about the movie where the married guy gets the girlfriend pregnant then kills her.

Pete is a total snake with all his money he still steals.

I think Peggy is gaining weight from her frustration over Pete and the pill. When she looked in the mirror, I think she was finally aware of the toll that the "high glamour" Manhattan life is having on her body.

Don has real issues and when that package hits the fan I just hope he will survive.

Betty is turning out to be rather interesting, but it really is all Don's fault for spreading his love all over town and having none left for her when he gets home.

But the vibrator is awesome!!!

How would Don get away with murdering such a high profile business woman?

Either it will be a metaphorical murder -- loving him "killed" her, or it'll be an accident, like pushing her down the stairs, etc.

If Don's going to murder any one it will be Pete for blackmailing him (or for being a weasely pain-in-the-tush! Man, this show is great!

Thanks for filling me in on Adam's suicide- my TIVO MISSED THE FIRST SCENE! GAH!

Another question - where did you all read that each season will be two years later? I've read that in a couple of discussions but never found the source.

"Why did Adam kill himself?"

I guess Adam saw no future living when the only family he has doesn't want him around.

What was that bossa nova song that was playing when Betty encounters her washing machine, Tom Jobim & João Gilberto?

Pete is a swarmy rascal.

Looks like Peggy can pinch and inch, and then some.

To Jeff re laundry music.. Don't know name

of song but it's sung by Astrid Gilberto the Brazilian jazz artist who recorded in English with Stan Kenton mostly known for

"The Girl from Ipanema" top 10 hit late 50's I think. Was immensely popular around this time.. very sexy music and so

appropriate. Brilliant music selection for this series as in the Sopranos.

More comedy than drama tonight. Good mix of humor, pathos and fantasy. Everyone's been taking this much too seriously. Yay for ambitious little Peggy. She handled the presentation "like a man." And asked for a raise too. What a girl! But really you writers, Betty is just too vacuous. She's just a character but I really do not blame Don for tiring of her. She's a caricature. Not every 60's housewife was that simple. Nor would a "rejuvenator" be handled by a top Madison Avenue agency. Really. It's hard to take the "mystery" of Don's brother seriously now though. And Don and Rachel's scene was cold again but in keeping with prim 60s television, I guess that's how it would have been played. I liked the reference to Nixon's lack of makeup in the debates and the accuracy of the door-to-door salesman. People were that trusting. Can you believe it?

irememberitwell

You'd be surprised what a company would try to sell, it all depends on how you approach it.

I am crazy about this show--But I do have to admit that I spend most of the show saying, "Ohmygosh, Jon Hamm is so good-looking" -- and I sometimes lose track of the story line. My weakness, I guess.

ABG - Ditto!

ABG, I think that's why AMC replays it again right after. So we pay attention to whatever we missed the first time staring at Jon Hamm lol.

I guess the ladies don't need a vibrating belt as long as they've got Jon Hamm on TiVo

This show takes me back so much. I was 9 in 1960 and I recall when my folks had "central air" (conditioning) installed in our house in the spring of 1959. None of us could believe it when we didn't have to have fans going all the time. We were so astonished at the cool atmosphere in our formerly sweltering miserable house. I know I spent the first 9 years of my life dealing with the heat but this epi tonight made me recall how everyone just dealt with it because they had no choice. If we all had to go back to no a/c nowadays we'd die! Just a memory...this show is so great at capturing those small details...also hilarious about the "rejuvenator" Hope the newest spell of Roger's turns out to be due somehow to his ulcer and not heart again! The show needs his zingers!

What was up with Roger saying to Joan, "you're the best piece of a$$ I've ever had"? Did he sincerely believe that was a compliment to her?! Do you think this was a wakeup call to Joan and now she'll give Roger the cold shoulder?

"Why did Adam kill himself?"

Adam grew up in the same family that Don/Dick did - messed up and abusive. Who knows where and how he was scarred, but clearly, he was. Maybe his half brother's rejection was the last straw.

There were so many pitch-perfect moments in this episode. I loved Don picking a fight with Betty when he arrived home after spending the previous night with Rachel - partly to assuage his own guilt, partly punishing her for not being Rachel.

Loved Hilde's snotty remark to Pete. More and more, it's clear that his problem isn't that he's a little rich boy, it's that he has a crappy personality and so must rely on being the little rich boy. When he tries to be pleasant, he tries too hard, and is either oily (as with Don) or condescending (to Peggy). I love that the writers didn't cop out with 2D stereotype.

And don't we all hope to see the scene next week where Peggy announces her new position to Joan?

The laundry music sounded like the flip side of "The Girl from Ipanema".

Can you Believe what goes on in the office -

I get the ShuDDErs thinking about work life for a woman back then!

I'm tired of Betty and she's a fake character on TV!!! LOL! Also think Rachel may become pregnant. If that happens, it'll be interesting to see in which direction the writers take that storyline, if it occurs. Pete's a schmuck!! Why does Don look 3 inches taller than any other man on the show? Is he (Jon Hamm) very tall?

Peggy looked fatter in the scenes in her bedroom...more fullness in her face. Seems like there was a continuity problem between scenes.

Hi Visan - you asked if Jon Hamm was taller than the other actors. Maybe/maybe not, but since he's the alpha dog, I'm sure they make a point to make him appear taller than the other men.

That Pete is such a weasel. He's so envious of Don he's willing to do anything - as he proved by stealing that package. I hope Rachel does put the screws(no pun intended) to Don. He's quite reckless with his uhhh...affection. It's gonna catch up with him. Kudos to Peggy. Can't wait for next week.

Wouldn't it be funny if Don's womanizing caught up with him and he caught an STD (or did they call it VD back then?)! Think it might humble him a bit?

Can't get enough of this show - all the actors are great and the time goes so fast. It's like a dream you don't won't to wake up from - keep it going!

Thanks Deco_Gal! I thought the creators film Don in a way where he'll, literally, stand out from the pack of other actors....Glad someone's of the same mindset!

With a little research I found the song used in the washing machine encounter.

Agua de Beber (Water to Drink) - perfect for an Indian Summer in 1960.

I believe its by Antonio Carlos Jobim sung by Astrud Gilberto

here are some versions although not as good as the original

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naNyqZVMrJI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chsfoyVavU8

The real damage done to a marriage when an affair has begun is that the injured party is left in the dark and the one who is doing the injuring actually begins to pity the other for their lack of knowledge. They are not on equal terms anymore.

This is showing in Don's pseudo concern for Betty with the salesman and the psychologist. He also notices her drinking alone. He's concerned but his heart and mind are not really there.

On a different note, did anyone notice the rustling sound outside the bedroom window before Betty turned out the light? No sound shall be left unturned!

I can't see the video, should I be downloading a program to view video's?

When I saw last week's sneak peek for this epi., I couldn't help but wonder if Rachel's sister was foreshadowing Rachel's fate by bringing up the movie where the husband kills his pregnant mistress. It's hard to imagine Don thinking he could get away with such a thing, with Rachel being from a prominent family. I'm just glad now we can all agree that Peggy is NOT pregnant...she would not have put the vibrating belt on if she were!

The video should play without having to download any program

Maybe we shouldn't come to conclusions when watching sneek peeks. Like Don says "Don't think about it too much"

Was Peggy actually promoted to be a copywriter? I'm pretty sure that she is just receiving more copyrighting assignments in addition to being Don's secretary, and that she will have someone to cover her regular work when other projects are assigned to her. I hope that she is promoted, though. They desperately need a female voice in the old boys club. Ironically, even though the show takes place in 1960, most of my male friends from college who went to single sex prep schools speak just like the men on this show do. So nothing has changed. Love this show !!

I doubt Don will kill Rachel if she falls pregnant. As someone said, she's from a well-known family and she's a famous businesswoman. So he may send her on a "vacation trip" to handle an unplanned pregnancy. But all of this is speculation!

Oh, and Bertram Cooper is Yoda!!

It's October and literally feels like an Indian summer here in Philadelphia tonight. The scene with the Lucky Strike people, brilliant. Pastrami sandwiches and a smoke filled room. I felt my chest tightening just watching this. Oh, and kudos to you writers for creating some interesting female characters with some balls!

Whew!!! Peggy deserves a raise for all the blubber they're putting on her!!! Campbell taking the box was intriguing...It's getting really good. I think Dan has found his soulmate..for now! Just as he starts rising to the top, I foresee everything start threatening him at once. His wife has yet to show her true colours, and Campbell is a viable nemesis who'll pull any trick in the book!

What a great episode! 1st let me say that Pete is a weasal and I dislike him more with each episode. Also, Betty allowing a complete stranger in the house reminded just how innocent people were at that time. It never occured to her that that man might hurt her.

Betty - We see the beginning of her liberation. She is having fantasies of another man. And she notices Don's disinterest in her. Her unhappiness as alluded to by Don, is really her getting in touch with what is really bothering her.

Peggy-Another soon to be liberated woman. She is standing up for herself more and more. I can't help wondering if she purposely put on weight for the show or if maybe the actress is pregmant.

Rachal-Poor Rachel is crusin' for a bruisin'. I don't see how this affair with Don can continue happily for long.

This is driving me crazy, when I try to view a sneak peek nothing happens.

Is anyone else having this problem, can someone help fix it?

This is driving me crazy, when I try to view a sneak peek nothing happens.

Is anyone else having this problem, can someone help fix it?

Lets make something very clear, I DONT WATCH PRIME TIME DRAMA TV. In addition to this I gave up on movies some time ago as well, I enjoy the History Channel, Discovery, Science Channel, Military Channel etc... I don't watch any prime TV anymore. AMC has given me a reason to re-establish faith in prime time TV. The last TV I ever really watched religiously was the Sapronas...This truly is excellent drama /Television...cheers to who ever makes this happen, you have restored my faith in the medium of drama story TV programming. I am not only engaged but a proponent and champion of this program, I tell as many people that are willing to listen that this is the greatest achievement in TV since the Sopranos first came out. Cheers and I look forward to the next episode.

I am becoming more and more impressed with the performance of the actress that plays Peggy.

I'm glad that the writers had her character gain weight. Instead of relying on her looks, she uses her brains to get ahead. However, I hope that next year when the actress returns to the set, a fat body suit isn't waiting for her to get into :) Draper admires her because she is talented but she also comes from limited means like himself. But, hey, give credit to the guys that gave her a chance to shine.

Peggy is woman.....Hear her roar. She doesn't have to settle for any man; especially when equipt with her trusty "orgasmizizer" :) But, hey, give credit to the guys that gave her a chance to shine.

I think that Betty should get a real estate license. After the scene with Betty and the washer, I was hoping that when they cut to a commercial I'd hear: "this episode of Madmen, brought to you in part by Maytag....."

Don, Don, Don....Unwilling to bone his wife on a hot night. Yet, he'll steam up the sheets with Rachel....Don Draper's such a man-whore!

E-roc, that's funny--maybe you should write to the producers and suggested better advertising! "this episode of Madmen, brought to you in part by Maytag!!"

LOL

You've easied my frustration about not being able to view the pre-view.

LOL

Somebody please explain to me why the audience should see Don and Rachel as some great love. Their bed scenes are mundane, and their dialog together is just as vapid and unstimulating as Don's and Betty's. Rachel's already had the "where's this relationship going" dialog - YAWN. In fact, tonight Rachel's voice even literally sounded exactly like Betty's. My prediction for Rachel - preggers by Don; abortion by Joan's doctor, with possible screw-up and dying from it.

For Marlene and anyone else that hasn't heard: The actress playing Peggy is wearing padding similar to a "fat-suit for the part and some type of prothesis on her face and neck. Guess the writers wanted an excuse for the men to continue giving peggy a chance to do more copy-writing. They had already mentioned that they all noticed her putting on weight a couple of weeks ago in one of their male gossip sessions.

Also for hey222: Are you having trouble with all videos? It could be a security server blocking the sneak peek.

What a house of Cards Don Draper is Building. And Betty is incredibly naive or stupid when it comes to letting strange men in the house when no one is home. I'm sure they had a rape probem back in the 60. Was 60 before or after the Boston Strangler? Anyway, I think Don was right in getting angry; especially if he would have known that Birdy had a passing thought on the stairs at balling this "salesmans" brains out, and the only reason she didn't go through with it is that I think it even shocked her that she could actually become sexually aroused at the thought of screwing a stranger. Guess, she is gonna start to realize that she doesn't have to just sit around waiting for "Don Corleone" to come home like she said a few eps back. Oh my,is peggy blowing up or what? I saw her for a moment there in the restauraunt and she sat there looking like a little tank compared to a few eps ago. She has gotta be preg but are the writers trying to keep it out of the storyline? They better explain her weight gain soon because its to obvious now. Im so glad that, Oh wait! Oh my God! I just finished watching the spin cycle seen! What did I say? Did she want that little Don clone who came to the door or what? Can't wait until she decide to act on it to give Ol Don a taste of what good for the Goose is good for the gander. Like I was saying before I was interupted by the spin cycle, I'm sure glad peggy was successful at the round table. Pete sure didn't like that. I can see her becoming one of his peer's. God I was so glad to see Don get the promotion but why does he have to screw it up by having, Oh shit Pete just picked up the Box, I am so pissed at that little prick. I smell blackmail coming.......I'm out of here....

jingles, thanks for the suggestion.

I can see video's on other sites, ie;martha stewart.

I downloaded snag it thinking this would solve the problem but the only thing it seems to do is take a copy of the screen.

Dying to know what's in the pre-view

Love the show.

P.S. Is it normal for a blog not to keep updating automatically? I keep having to go back and re-load the blog page.

I'm not very computer savvy!!!

Loved tonight's episode again too. Don is no killer. If Rachel does have his baby he will probably pay for it being partner now. Betty does seem to be unhappier but not due to psychiatrists' work but Don being non-understanding of her needs and problems. Why did they not celebrate his partnership in the city with Dinner out? Looking forward to next 2.

This episode left so many loose ends it makes one salivate. Betty is definitely on the verge of something. Pete just stole Pandora's Box. Joan is left temporarily hanging. Peggy's weight gain---so many possibilities and potential explanations. Rachel and Don---the edge of tragedy or dispair. This is better than anything the fall season has to offer IMO.

About the two year gap between seasons---this came from several other blogs or media oulets about when it came out the show was being renewed. About the jazz: This was a Stan Getz album with Astrud Gilberto (who was married and having an affair with the famous sax player while her husband worked and sang on the Bossa Nova albums). Perfect. Betty's fantasy: when did Fear of Flying come out?

I think whatever is in that box from Don's brother, (money most likely) Pete will have something to hold over Don's head. Don seems to be trying to get Betty independent so he can leave her. But Betty is playing games too, by telling Don about the salesman that came into the house. But I don't think he was pissed that a man was alone with Betty, he was just upset that someone was in HIS house.

Does anyone know how many episodes this season is going to have? Don't most one-hour dramas do 12 episodes per season? Does that mean next week is the season finale? So many questions!

Peggy is getting fat cuz that's the only way to avoid being a sex object and get taken seriously in her career. Unfortunately it's self-destructive...And doesn't really protect her from the guys' comments. She has to stand there and listen to them talk about how one of the wives looks like Jayne Mansfield.

Will Pete blackmail Don into giving him the job? I feel sorry for Pete, don't feel like he's any slimier than Don, but nobody on this blog says they hate Don the way they spit bullets about poor Pete.

Good lord, I love this show!

ilikeitlikethat - There are two episodes left this season, 10/11 and 10/18.

Then, we have to wait eight months until June.

thanks Jessica! OMG 8 months - that's going to be A LONG DRY SEASON am I right ladies!!!

There will be 13 episodes. We have two more to go. I'm ready for 13 more right now. I understand from an interview with Hamm that there is a flash back scene for Don when he was in the war. So we have a really juicy revelation coming up. Hamm broke his hand doing some sort of stunt for that scene. Another great episode. Girls night in!!!!!

Peggy is getting fat because she's pregnant. She'll have to cope with it in future episodes, probably by having an illegal abortion and dealing with the consequences. Her semitough personality will change drastically and she'll become a hardcore ballbusting copywriter who works her way up by doing a good job.

Joan will go to work for Draper, and will have plenty of meaty scenes with Peggy, who will sort of become her boss in the same way the men behave.

Don's a slutty whore and a male chauvinist pig, a man leaves his timid wife at home with the kids while he sleeps with multiple partners, a man who thinks nothing of setting his wife up with a psychiatrist who will violate her trust and privacy to spill the beans to her husband.

Pete isn't nearly the weasel Don is. He's going to figure out eventually that Don is a phony, who has gotten by for years with it.

Rachel's character is not very dimensional--what is the attraction she and Don have for each other? Do they recognize a kindred selfish spirit in the other? Is it that she's rich, or smart, or Jewish? Single? Brunette? We as viewers, aren't told.

More Joan. More Roger and shared epiphany. He loves her deeply and she rejects him because she's a realist.

Especially more Robert Morse. He's fantastic, as always. He owns the screen.

I was not born until 1970, but the thing about this show that gets me is that in my childhood there were still some remnants of this world. My parents had people in for cocktails (I remember Alexander Brandy, like Peggy had at dinner), and we had ashtrays (and the accompanying haze) in the living room. At age six I knew how to drag the step-stool into the kitchen and mix a Manhattan. I also had a menagerie of little plastic cocktail markers my mom saved for me when they went "out for drinks" with friends, wrapped in napkins from her purse. The mermaids were my favorite.

My parents just don't drink anymore, and haven't allowed smoking in the house in so long I almost forgot!

I remember them still occasionaly playing Brasil '66 by Sergio Mendes on the stereo, even into the 70's.

That said, the minute I heard the Samba in the washing machine scene I recognized the singer as Astrud Gilberto. However, I only really know her from the song Agua de Beber, but that wasn't it. I was grasping even for her name, thanks Visan.

I truly believe this is the best written show on television! I just hope it gets the ratings and acclaim it deserves.

Personally, I think Peggy is definitely pregnant - and I have no doubt Don is going to get blackmailed by Pete. Did you ever wonder about the opening credits...does it foretell that someone is going to jump out a window to their death?

I wish there were more than 2 episodes left until next June! God - way too long to wait!!!

OOPS!! Sorry Point of Purchase, and Visan...I misread the posts.

Peggy could also be gaining weight partly because she's on The Pill.

Love this show. Interesting to see Don blame the psychiatrist for his wife's unhappiness. I like Don and Betty as a couple and look forward to seeing them hopefully figure themselves out over time.

Now I doubt myself...maybe that was Agua de Beber...I hate the thought of spliitng hairs with others...but that voice was familiar, not the song though...hmmm

I've lost my mind. I'm talking to myself on-line...AND answering myself. HA!

Really great episode except for the love scenes with Don and Rachel. Their encounters make for boring television! I suspect Don will get her pregnant and she'll either jump out a window or go to Joan's doctor to have an abortion. Peggy's weight gain is from The Pill, most likely, although she looked absolutely huge in the final scene when she was in her bedroom; strange because though she has clearly gained weight, she didn't look that big in the earlier office scenes. As for Don and Betty, I don't quite understand what he wants from her psychiatrist. It's as though he expects the good doctor to mold her into more of a "Stepford Wife" than she is already, and frankly, I think their marriage crumbled long ago. Now, they are just going through the motions. Pete will definitely blackmail Don with the package from Adam. Wonder what's in there! I'll bet we won't find out until next year when the series resumes. Joan will wisely begin to distance herself from Roger Sterling. Oh yes, and Betty will finally seek out someone with whom to have an affair; though she is apparently fairly clueless to a great many things, her husband's emotional distance will drive her into the arms of another man (or men). With only two more episodes to go in this season, I wish we didn't have to wait so long for the second season!

First, Peggy is just fat, not pregnant. She has been eating a lot to deal with the stress. Maybe now that the has the "belt" she can deal with her stress another way! Or maybe she can just go to the laundromat!

Wow, Pete is a weasely dude. He is SO going to blackmail Don into giving him the promotion!!!

Was it just me, or did Adam Whitman seem kind of "simple minded?" Poor guy, he just needed a friend.

I agree with the other posters, Rachel is just a brunette version of Betty. Nothing more than a pretty face. She might get pregnant, though. That would be interesting.

Don and Betty seem to be growing futher apart. When he announced his promotion, Betty seemed scared to touch him?

And did you see in the preview that Joan is setting her sights on a younger man in the office? Guess she doesn't want to hitch her wagon to someonne who might croak during their next romantic encounter. Roger looks like s**t, he's on the way out.. Unfortunate.

Good to see John Cullum again, I don't think he looks much older than he did on Northern Exposure, he's got to be 70 or so.

This was a great episode, can't wait for more!!!!

A yucky episode all the way around. Don was especially distasteful. And Adam's suicide -- very sad, indeed.

Another good epi. Here's my take:

In Don's conversation with the psychiatrist, Don says his wife used to have a "bad case of nerves" but that she was now just very sad. He's blaming Betty's emotional distance on the therapy.

Betty said in an earlier epi that she waits all day for "this," meaning sex with her husband. Now that Betty has discovered the washing machine, Don's only value to her is as a monetary provider for the family.

I've never believed Peggy is pregnant. I think they made her fat to further accentuate the transformation (physical and professional) she's going to undergo.

Kudos to Don Draper for giving Peggy an opportunity. In 1960 it was acceptable (and encouraged!) for a male manager to keep the silly women down where they belonged. But there were men who recognized talented women and did what they could to promote them. I respect Don for doing that for her and for treating her like he would any other suburdinate during her presentation. He helped her out only when the other men pressured her to describe the "stimulating" effects of the Regenerator. I thought the fact that he stepped in to field that question for her was not only professionally appropriate, but rather courtly as well.

Joan, Joan, Joan. Sad. Thus far, her affair with Roger has been all about sex and power for her. But that scene in which she was putting makeup on him was oddly intimate. I thought there were going to be proclamations of their love for each other (how naive of me!) Instead, Roger's big proclamation was, "You're a great piece of a$$" Joan's reaction was so revealing. She was hurt and disappointed. Who knew she really cared and worse, that she had expected more from him?

Don murdering Rachel and Peggy being pregnant. I think we've gone WAY off course on those two predictions. If I'm wrong, though, I'll take it "like a man!"

Someone mentioned Betty's naivete about opening the door to a salesman. Actually, door-to-door salesmen were a common, almost daily inconvenience to suburban women in upscale neighborhoods. The Boston Strangler murders were still two years away. In 1960 we feared con men, not murderers. If it occurred to a woman that a door-to-door salesman was a potential rapist/murderer, she would have thought she had a bad case of nerves and consulted a psychiatrist (Betty) to get over it.

OMG. What an episode. I think, wait, I know heart skipped a beat several times and especially at the end when that weasel took Don's package. I shudder to think what's coming next. Is it Thursday yet?

I was struck by Betty's reaction to Don's big news about being made partner. While I admit that he is clearly a man whore, I found it revealing that she wasn't there in the least for him either. A tepid response and quickly bringing up Mr. Washing Machine completely invalidated Don's triumph. And, did you notice that she was hesitant in even touching him while congratulating him. They're marriage is as done as Betty's laundry.

I'm loving this show.

"FLY ME TO THE MOON" IN THE CLOSING?!!! I whooped.

You'd think it was Adam who sent the box and committed suicide in the opening but since when did Adam have blond hair? He was a redhead. Of course he could have gone west to San Francisco, dyed his hair blond...

Peggy's been promoted to copywriting, got a raise and is no longer a part of the secretarial pool. And she got to tell Joan all of that.

And Roger... that smooth sophisticate... "This comes from the bottom of my heart..." :-) I doubt he'll be back this season. I was surprised he was back in this episode. The really surprising thing was that Cooper thought to call in Joan to put "healthy" makeup on him. But then he did mention about Nixon (also sick as a dog at the time) and the first debate. There was an article about him (John Slattery) from the AP in my paper today. The poor dear has to split his time between this series and "Desperate Housewives." Awwww... :-)

In the preview it seems that Paul is finally going to get "lucky."

Pete seems to have sunk to new lows, taking the package from Don's office and in the preview is apparently looking at it after he gets home.

Cooper's on good enough terms with Ayn Rand to introduce Don to her?!

One final thing. Don's got a bad case of the Madonna/whore complex. When he tells Betty he made partner, she moves forward and then refrains from hugging him, settling for stroking his hair and suit jacket. Apparently he's trained her that he doesn't like that kind of spontaneous emotion from her, even if he likes it from his other women.

oops, I neglected to give my weekly props to Mr. Hamm - what a man, what a man!

Is it possible Peggy doesn't realize she is pregnate? In episode 10 Pete says to her "What do you have there, precious cargo"

Deco-Gal, you're right, STD's were referred to as VD back then.

I clearly remember a commercial on t.v. when I was probably 12 or so... the girl at home with her family when the boyfriend calls on the phone... he says to her in a shaky voice, "I have.... VD!!!" and her world crumbles right before our eyes, with the loving family shown in the background, unaware.

Interesting commercial which made a big impression back then.

Rese, I'm sure you meant to say Stan Getz, not Stan Kenton, in reference to Astrud Gilberto.

The original Agua de Beber can be heard free on Rhapsody, here:

http://play.rhapsody.com/antoniocarlosjobim/compactjazz/aguadebeber?didAutoplayBounce=true

Forgive me in advance if the link doesn't work. Just go to Rhapsody and search for Antonio Carlos Jobim Compact Jazz.

Bossa nova was the bomb back then, and still is. My parents had many Getz and Gilberto records. The music is beautiful and sensual, as is Brazil.

A very literal translation of the song (and maybe not so smooth in English):

I wanted to love but I was afraid

I wanted to protect my heart

But love knows a secret

Fear is able to kill your heart

Water to drink

Water to drink, my friend

Water to drink

Water to drink, my friend

I never did something so certain

I entered the school of forgiveness

My house lives open

I opened all the doors of my heart

Water to drink

Water to drink, my friend

Water to drink

Water to drink, my friend

An awesome and oh so meaningful choice of song for Betty. Although I thought the washing machine thing was a little ridiculous, the song, the fantasy, and Betty's character were fabulous.

Peggy doesn't realize she's pregnant because she's NOT pregnant. No disrespect, but didn't we eliminate that theory by figuring out the timeline?

The actor who plays Pete deserves an Emmy because I despise that sniveling, butt-kissing little sneak and have since Epi 1.

In the preview after last night's epi, I see that Joan is now hitting on Paul. She isn't wasting any time replacing Roger. I keep wanting to like Joan but she just keeps revealing herself to be a woman of limited professional skills and has a prostitute's mindset. Instead of working on the street, she's working at SC.

And...I want to hate Don Draper but I just can't. I'm embarassed to say I'm totally smitten with him despite everything.

Another disappointing love scene with Rachael and Don. Is it just that he's a better actor than she is an actress? She was so much more interesting in the restaurant scene than these bedroom scenes! "I think about us together?" C'mon, you can do better....

The rustling in the bushes? How about the neighbor's weird kid? The bedroom is upstairs, but hey, there are trees outside. Or it could be a representation of the general upheavals sure to come.

Somebody asked about "Fear of Flying." That came out in the early 70's -- 73 or 74. The book that influenced many women in the early 60's was "The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Friedan (1962). As I recall, it challenged women to get out of the house and go to work, to have outside lives and an income.

It is interesting to remember that many women worked in the defense plants during WWII. After the war, the hidden objective of much media -- women's magazines, TV shows -- was to get the women to go back to the kitchen, as the returning veterans needed the jobs. It was as though the entire communications industry rose up to accomplish this. The strong female movie stars of the 40's like Roslind Russell morphed into voluptuous, vacuous blondes like Marilyn Monroe. Most of the women went quietly home because they were made to feel guilty about working instead of caring for home, shell-shocked husband and 2.3 kids. Mission accomplished -- and 14 years here are the Betties, quietly going bonkers in the suburbs, and Lucille Ball, a thousand times smarter than Ricky, a sort of patron saint cooking up her schemes on "I Love Lucy."

I love this show because there is such history here.

Yes the song playing during the washing machine fantasy sequence is indeed Agua De Beber, sung by Astrud Gilbero with back-up vocal by Antonio Carlos Jobim, the song's composer. However, the use of this recording is highly anachronistic since it was recorded and released in *1965* on The Astrud Gilberto Album (Verve).

By 1960, Bossa Nova had only just become the rage in Brazil what with the release of Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro) and Joao Gilberto's single Chega De Saudade, both in 1959. The Stan Getz-Joao Gilberto Album which introduced Astrud Gilberto wasn't released until 1963. Niggling points to be sure but for a show which prides on itself on getting the period details right, it was a little jarring.

The wonderful Brazilian music playing over Betty's washing machine scene was by Wanda de Sah, a great bossa nova singer of the 60's. I had the album (I think on Capitol Records) when I was a kid. The song was called "Agua de Beber" and it may have been written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joao Gilberto.

The underlying message of last night's episode? Women don't need men, they've got machines. haha

There seemed to be more chemistry between Don and Rachel before they had sex. Their sex seens aren't doing it for me. I got more out of the kiss on the roof than the couch or bed scenes in the last few episodes. What happened to the chemistry?

Much about Ayn Rand from Cooper:

The Ayn Rand Institute

The Center for the Advancement of Objectivism

http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_ari

Astrud Gilberto was definitely the singer on Agua de Beber, not Wanda de Sah.

Ayn Rand held regular salons in her apartment in New York during the 50's and 60's. A lot of intellectuals (including Alan Greenspan) attended them and were highly influenced by her philosophy. So it's entirely possible that Bert Cooper could have been one of them.

Roger's idea of giving Joan a compliment is to say "You're the finest piece of ass I've ever had." He's toast. She's taking Cooper's advice and going for younger men now.

Pete is such an asshole! Tampering with Don's mail, taking it home and reading it! Total slime! I hope he gets his comeuppance.

Adam's suicide -- very sad. I hope Don will realize how his actions are hurting his family.

I don't know if I can wait until next year for the second season -- what a great show.

There seem to be people who either keep saying the show is a soap opera or wants to turn it into one.

Peggy is not pregnant! The writers keep giving clues over and over to the audience that its about her eating whether to deflect unwanted attention from males in the office or sexual frustration, probably both.

As for Don killing Rachel. Why? This show is not the Sopranos. Has anything in Don personality shown that he is capable of this? I don't think so. When his brother Adam came to see him..he paid him off and told him there can not be any relationship between them.

Why do everyone think that everytime anyone have sex in this show, someone is going to get pregnant? Rachel does not seem naive or stupid about sex or birth control. She runs her own business, would not she be able to deal with an unwanted pregnancy e.g. because she has money unlike a poor woman.

Betty in this episode, I love it. She let the salesman in the house and then used it to get Don to come home and stay home. Remember that scene when she goes to see her friend in the neighborhood and tells her about the letting the salesman in. Her friend asks, "Why did you tell Don?" Betty says, "His very protective," but with a smirk on her face.

When Don gets home he refuses to respond to all the signals that Betty is sending out that she wants to have sex. I counted about 5. I thought that was brilliant. Betty is getting stronger.

As for Pete taking the package. I don't think he try to blackmail Don. Pete seems to hate Don but also has a man crush on him. After all how much does Adam know about Don. Don left home when Adam was a child and Don did not tell him much about himself. Those letters just might be about Don's childhood, if so Don can handle it. I think Pete is going to use this to try to get closer to Don.

Peggy was weird with the man in the dinner scene. It was like she was pushing him away. But it looks like that Don might mentor her in copywriting?

This season's best show - I also liked reading this discussion board, lots of good posts.

I think Don, and yes I'm going to actually use this word, loves Rachel. I think his other mistress won't be heard from again. His marriage is a hollow shell but divorce was not yet common in 1960, I think they will keep up the shirade for another few years at least.

The biggest fireworks will come from the coming Don / Pete confrontation, blackmail for sure and Don won't take that lying down. He'll have understanding Rachel there to soothe him in that time of great need.

I agree the show hasn't spoon fed us what Don sees in Rachel, but as a guy I'll say what I see in her - she's smart, ambitious, centered, and really hot! Yeah, I'd go for her in a nanosecond. Though I agree with everyone else that the scenes of the two of them have been dissapointing, the show is holding back here, for reasons we don't know yet.

I love the group dynamics of all the young guys in the office and their banter, those are some of the shows best scenes.

Yes the washing machine scene was inspired, fit nicely with the vibration theme of the show. I hope she gets to break more out of her shell next season, I think she's got more substance there, lurking underneath, remember how she shot at those birds!

In 1960, why not install whole house A/C? Or for a window air conditioner, the salesman could have offered, "Try it for a week and if you don't like it, I'll come back and take it away, at no cost to you." Return on Saturday and talk with the "man of the house. Then in the "air-conditioned comfort" talk to him and close the deal. Or offer to take it away that day if he doesn't like it.

He was talking about cutting a hole in the wall above the window! Yipe!

I don't know what hour it was when Betty answered the door but she was still in her peignoir while he was in the scorching heat which would make it at least ten in the morning. Yeah, she made the right decision not to show him to the bedroom.

Then she "complained" about it to her friend the next day. Attention-seeking behavior and then smugly said about Don, "he's very protective of me." What Don said was, "You let someone into my house?" Note, not "our" house or "our home".

Betty at the washing machine - Peggy with the "Rejuvinator." Can you imagine the word spreading among the other women about the Rejuvinator the same way as the "Lady Chatterly's Lover" book in an earlier ep? Woo-hoo! "Oh, I heard about it from Peggy, a girl at the office, dear. Apparently it's doing wonders for her waistline..."

Prediction: Next season Peggy will have had a makeover and be svelte. Okay, maybe not svelte but with a slimmer, sophisticated look. Bye-bye pony tail. She's not going to be taking any more dates with a truck driver, even if he owns his own truck and and has his own route delivering potato chips. You go, girl!

Bpat, thanks for the background. It was helpful.

I think last night's epi finally revealed where the writers were going with Peggy's weight gain. The "precious cargo" comment was just another tasteless comment on Pete's part.

BTW, did anyone catch Peggy's roommate's comment that Peggy had eaten all the Saltines, Cheeze Whiz and liverwurst before she could have any? Blech!!

This is why I read these posts: I totally forgot about that weird rustling sound Betty heard outside before she went to bed. Everything is in there for a reason, so what WAS that? The perv kid down the street? Or was the door-to-door salesman a foreshadowing of the housewife-in-peril event coming up?

Here's another possible foreshadowing--was anyone else a little creeped out when Betty was leading the salesman up to her bedroom? I thought she was about to get raped, then forgot about that when they turned him into a tool for her sex fantasy. But hmmm, now I'm wondering if there's going to be a terrible rape/murder while Don is having sex at Rachel's place. Stay tuned....

Okay - Pete makes me seethe, but I can't help but appreciate what a complex character he is - think of the rebellion with the chip-and-dip gun and then the hunting fantasy - there is a lot more going on with this boy than the rich-kid syndrome. His hot and cold interaction with Peggy - his relationship with his wife (go screw the editor to get me published), his parents, it never stops. I vote him most likely to show up at the office and kill someone.

I appreciate Peggy, I just wish that intellectual success and appearance did not have to be mutually exclusive. Her eating has been tied to her feeling more comfortable ... but in reality, isn't overeating more closely linked to compensating for another are left unsatiated?

And Betty - like Pete, I think there is a whole lot going on there. These characters are well thought out - she has a history of deep issues with her Mom (what woman doesn't?)and all I can think of is the end of Shoot where she takes out the pigeons... did the birds represent Don (if you love something set it free, if it doesn't come back to you ...)or herself - the trained pigeon that always flies home.

And Joanie - the total juxtaposition to Peggy. She is going to wake up and realize she does not have the control she thinks she has...

continue to love the contrasts and subtle complexities in the characters:

- Don is a womanizer yet gives Peggy a chance to advance her career ... obviously values business success more than the social constrictions he noless adheres to.

- Joan is an office slut who clearly wished for a sentimental word from Roger

- Peter is an awkward, anti-social mess who has a feel for the intricacies of advertising

- Peggy is a confused, naive girl finding herself achieving more professionally than anyone in that office

Such great writing and amazing performances.

Christina Hendricks gets the prize once again for her scene with Roger. They totally set us up!! Roger's 'piece of a-s' comment seals the deal ... he's a degenerate with no redeeming social value. Probably quite typical: a professionally accomplished lush who's gotten by on charm his whole life. I think Joan decided right there that she wouldn't let that happen again. As has been stated before, she has no Plan B but to dock at the next port.

Has it been established whether Roger started the firm or his father?

The looks on Don's & Cooper's faces were priceless as they brought in Joan and left them alone. I thought they wanted her to, um, perhaps give him a lift. Otherwise, why would they say they valued her discretion??

I watched Peggy reach for the "Rejuvenator" and chortled when the song "Fly Me to the Moon" started up. Does anyone know who the female singer is singing that version?

I think Betty represents perfectly the average upper echelon female housewife in the 60's. I went to school in the 50's and 60's with girls just like her and she is the way we all tried to be - pretty and poised and pleasant.