I thoroughly enjoy Mad Men. As young man I was intrigued with Madison Avenue and advertising in general because this one profession could capture the imagination and influence the country like no other. After I was discharged from the U.S. Navy I took my art talents and enrolled in a school of advertising art and buried myself in Advertising Age, the industry newspaper. Reading about the billings of the major players in the world of advertising I soon knew the major advertising agencies. I Studied the new ad campaigns and followed the revolving door changes of key agency account executives. And while I attended school 3000 miles away from the Big Apple I still lived in a sizeable NW city and was around the branch offices of several of the major New York ad agencies. Most are now gone, victims of a changing economy, but a few local independent agencies became big agencies and replaced them, only to become what they once ridiculed as out of date with the times. Watching Mad Men brings me back to another time when cigrettes were cool, even called "Kool". But if you were really manly you smoked L&Ms, Winstons or Camels. A time when the grey flannel suit ruled. Rock Hudson comedies were Madison Avenue biggest marketing tool. My shelves were filled with advertising textbooks. Look and Life Magazines captured life and society around us, surrounded by full page ads filled with the likes of a dark-haired man wearing an eye patch and an Arrow shirt, and little black VW beetles still running after 1 million miles. Mad Man captures the best of this era, but better yet, it captures the 60s before the British Invasion, before Watergate, before JKF in Dallas, when life seemed simpler and Vietnam was just another country no one knew anything about because they were too busy moving up the corporate ladder and to the corner office. Keep up the good work, work worthy of a Peabody and Emmy for one of the outstanding series on television. And that is something to be proud about.

Wow, I am really glad I read this article about "Duck" and his real life experience as a son of a Mad Men. I look forward to his character being revealed and glad to know that he has access to those who really lived this world. You can read about it in books, but it is never as enlightening as listening to someone tell it from experience. This is so cool, and I am glad you have the Duck on board. It will make for a great 2nd season!!!

I'm a recovering alcoholic, and therefore, relate to the character of Duck. It "can be" a difficult way to continue with life. The writer's do a fantastic way of delivering this. Mark Moses does an outstanding job of portraying it! As a pilot, I had to, and continue to put everything into my career that I can. In the event that my past will ever catch up to me, I have the insurance that my record as a "sober pilot" with 12 years of sobriety will be concrete. I have the feeling that Duck is doing the same thing!

All the best,

Kurt

Thank you Mark Moses for sharing a bit of your personal history, your comments about the Kodak scene, and your vadlidation about the show's authenticity. Of the few Q&A's I've read (of the actors), yours to me is the most interesting.

I think YOU help to lend authenticity to the "realness" of the characters on the show.

One thing I like about Duck is that he's obviously well-bred. There is no "hard ball tactics" element that is obvious in Duck's personality. He's smooth -- even under stress. Eg: the way he handles the inherently tense "Going in to ask for raise scene" in JET SET episode.

In that scene, he has the bad stroke of luck to have his appointment come right on top of Roger's
melt-down discussion with his divorce lawyer. (Maybe Roger's even chagrined that Duck's now privey to that).

But Duck so admirably keeps his cool -- even adroitly side-stepping Roger's direct questions: "Was he for you or against you?" and
"How bad was it?" Managing to not give any information to either of those questions, Duck smoothly replies (to the second question) something like: "I think my situation was different."

Then Duck, being as intelligent as he is, suggests that "Maybe this is a bad time to have this discussion." (He knows he's stepped into a "snake pit" of Roger's still-roiling emotions).

With Roger's response of "No, I'd like a change of subject," maybe Duck would have done better to have told a joke, or started bad-mouthing "irrational women" -- the way the lawyer Howard Rothman did--to ingratiate himself with Roger. BUT, in this instance at least, Duck's not going to stoop to that level, and I think it's because Duck has innate good character--and smarmy "kiss-*ss" tactics are NOT in his repetorie.

Also, Duck remains decorously polite, restrained, and dignified even after it becomes clear that Roger has "thrown down the gauntlet" with his scarcastic comment "Did you get me something?"
(when Duck opens the subject with "We're coming up on two years together)....

Despite that obvious put-down (and it's clear hint that Roger's not open to giving Duck ANYTHING),
Duck nonetheless proceeds to state that he would like a stake in the partnership.

When Roger further tries to kick him to the curb with the outrageously humiliating (and ridiculous) suggestion that Duck may have to come to the partner's meeting and "be his own advocate," Duck doesn't "slink away" with his tail between his legs," or whine, argue, or pitch a fit. Instead, he
with dignity, poise and steadiness says: "I'd be proud to present my accomplishments."

After Roger's final jab: "Good, because I don't see them," Duck get's up to leave, with the save-face line: "Thank you for your candor."

Now that's grace under pressure! And class.

DID EVERYBODY REALIZE THAT IN THAT SHORT SCENE, DUKE'S FUTURE AT SC WAS WRIT, DONE, EXFOLIATED? (Unless, of course he took extreme measures to protect his future, which we see, he does).

I admire Duck for "going after" what he felt was due him and bringing it to a head, rather than becoming a "hanger-on," waiting and wondering
what his future there was. And he did that all-- i.e. the showdown in Roger's office-- without the fortification of liquor.

Being smart, however, he knows that he cannot now stay at SC, so he does what any saavy, smart
man of his age in the profession would do -- He lets no grass grow under his feet, and quickly explores getting his old job back. And when that's a closed door....well, we know what he proposes next...

In conclusion, after the humiliation he took from Roger, and seeing the cards on the table, I'm not so sure that his proposal to St. John Powell is as "unethical" as it is a smart survival tactic of someone who's willing to play hard ball when survival calls for it.

He seems to be about Freddy's age, and I think the writers are showing us a man who's going to try to save himself in another way besides throwing himself at the feet of the "powers that be" and begging, a la Freddy.

Interesting that they're both alcoholics...handling that huge burden in different ways.

But then Duck has more tools and trump cards to play (and a more advantaged background probably) than did "poor Freddy."

Agree or disagree anyone?

Anyway, right on Mark Moses! Thanks for being such a good actor in a role that's not necessarily a "showy" one!

Very interesting to hear that perspective, Indiana...