In a recent post on The New York Times blog TV Decoder, executive producer Matt Weiner talks about the series and its origins. "It looks great from the outside," Weiner is quoted as saying about the 60s ad world of the show.  "On the inside, there is still self-hating and self-doubting and backbiting and complaining. I try to treat these characters like real people. And a lot of what they do is good, and a lot of what they do is delusional."