Talk Forum: What You're Saying
The Mad Men Talk forum this week discussed 1960s office culture as fans described their own Mad moments -- and it turns out corporate executives really were rather deplorable back in the day. "I've BEEN in situations like the one with Roger and Don and the twins, and yes, they really are that crazy. Everyone is expected to play, and ignore the pink elephant in the room," says Grace Kelly. "The East Coast Contracts VP who grabs you out of nowhere after hours in the lobby and tries to stick his tongue down your throat? Uh huh. The ones that come by your desk, put their hands on your shoulders, or tell you that your lipstick is too dark? Or the ones who, if you have a good long-term relationship, come on to you, COMPLETELY unbidden, YEARS after working together by dropping by your house at 8:00 in the morning for a booty call?! Oh yeah."
Tootsie, too, had her own horror story to share: "Once, working late on a project, our international VP came into my office, came around my desk, picked me up and tried to lay me down on my desk all the while whispering that his wife was very 'broadminded' and that there wouldn't be a problem if we started 'seeing' each other," she said.
PaulLev meanwhile was noticing shows copycatting Mad Men's style: "Black bow-ties, white shirts, and all in tonight's flashbacks in New Amsterdam," he wrote. "I half expected to see Don walking down the street..." scfan responded, "I predict a surge of '60s copycat shows next season over all the networks...but we all know these will all be the palest of imitations of our Beloved Original...MM!!"
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Clayton, thank you for your diligence here.... do you work for AMC?
Kind of disappointed there isn't more discussion activity on this board... As that goes, I could do without the "she's hot" / "he's hot" commentary....
Basket of Kisses.com has about the same amount of traffic, and postulates some interesting ideas, but I am not sure I am on quite the same page with their train of thought... always keep an open mind though!
I inadvertently misled both Tootsie and yourself regarding sexual mores in the workplace.... those stories are from the present day!!!
I did "contract" work for several years, so worked in corporation after corporation, of all types. I have said before, and will say again, nothing has really changed there.
White collar men live their lives as though "The Rules" are for everyone else.....that they are both above the law, and above God.
As to my age, Tootsie, it was, in fact, my mother who was a dead ringer for Betty Draper in every way. I was born in the early 1960s, and we lived in a middle-class, family-oriented, suburban neighborhood, with houses on either side of us furnished in the Early American style.
My father was a youngish real estate developer (kind of a fast-lane business), and our house was furnished with both chic Mid-Century Modern, and more exotic artistic elements. We were not snobs by any means, and were “family” with all our neighbors, but the style delineation was very marked in our house.
Matthew Weiner, you’re killing us!!
Can't wait for Season Two - thanks again!
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Well, Clayton, evidently you a prolific, ubiquitous blogger reviewer....and the editor of this board.
Still trying to determine if you are also the snowmobiling champion, the drag racing champion, and the 73-year-old guy who died last October.
Guessing one of the former - heh heh.
Like Don Draper and his wide harem, you are covering a LOT of territory!
[And, DAMN, I should never have told you my age. Now you won't take me seriously.]
Cheers!
"Grace Kelly"
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@ Grace,
Thanks for the notes! No, I am not a snowmobiler or drag racer, nor am I 73 and I'm most certainly not dead.
I can't believe this is going on today! Sorry for misrepresenting you, I just find this kind of behavior inconcievable.
What sorts of things would you like to see discussed on the Talk forum? We'd like you to feel free to post anything you'd like using the "Start a Conversation" tool in the upper right hand corner of the page. So talk away!
Well, now we know that Peggy has a mother per her personal phone call that Joan snipped at her about. Peggy's mother fixed her up with Carl Winter the guy that drives at truck. I think he hit the nail on the head when he told Peggy she wasn't one of those people, because she came off sounding lkie a snob. So when did she start smoking? According to her all the time "it's manitory" Kudos to Rachel glad she dumped Don. She was right that is all that Don (Dick) wants to do is run away. Boy oh boy if you can't tell that somethings up with Peggy then ya gotta look alot closer. When she turned and looked at herself in the mirror. she knew that we knew and is hoping no one else does. Joan the attention getter, but not from the women it's the men. She's happy to see Roger come back in for the meeting , but still doesn't want any attachments. Push & pull game.
Let's talk MM Gang.