Sigh. Love me some Roger ;) John Slattery is *THE* sexiest man on the show imho...and he just got sexier from this interview! (I knew there was a reason I hated Mona, lolol!)

I think this gentleman is charming, and I do so enjoy the character of Roger.

john is indeed very attractive but looks older than 46, and it has nothing to do with his 1962 wardrobe or old school demeanor on the show. his wife also looks like she's in her late 50s.

Looks like we have quite a bit of "Roger" in John, doesn't it?...you're still a great actor...even if all you have to do once in a while on MM is let the "Roger" part of John shine through! lol
John, love your sense of humor...I can tell it's as every bit as good as "Roger's" !!!
Hope you and Talia have many more happy years together.

John Slattery lives up to his bon vivant alter-ego aura of Roger Sterling. What a crack up! Love you, John! And Talia, too!

Hope Mona nails Roger's ass to the wall in divorce court for bailing on her with a bobby-soxer. Just pray Mona forgives you Roger, you're going to need it! LOL.

And no, Roger, you can't be out of the series - you're the court jester/polar opposite to Don's darkness (though I have an idea your "heart of darkness" era is coming up real soon).

Since I heard Matt say in an interview that he promised you he would be writing to enhance Roger's part, I would love to see Roger a.) get stung by Jane when she runs off with a wealthier older client and b.) See Roger come back to Mona due to the financial hit her attorney was going to put on Roger (after all, there were no prenups back then despite what he said about her having no claim to his money or his firm) and watch her torture him with some outrageous behavior of her own. For me, this show is all about the way society pigeonholed people in the sixties and she could start women's lib-ing (like protesting against some of SC's biggest clients. ) Now wouldn't that be fun? Maybe her daughter could lead her in that direction. And btw, what ever happened to the daughter's wedding plans. That's a story line worth mining too.

I loooooove Roger/ Mr. Slattery!!!! It's funny to hear that he is actually goofy and not so upright, either way I love him!! . I can tell from the interview that he seems fun to be around I know his wife have a ball with him. That is actually sweet to be on the most popular show with your companion! Im lost for words, I knew I liked him the best for a reason and this interview just fueled my heart right to the top! Love Madmen forever.

I LOVE John Slattery, too. He's just born to be Roger Sterling. For his minimal scenes, he just brings SO MUCH to the character and story, in very few lines. You always remember "Rogerisms".

"The day you sign a client, is the day you lose them."

"Psychiatry, it's this year's pink candy stove."

There's just so many. I love 'em! Roger brings in the sly comic touch to a very serious drama, and he's about the only character that contrasts Don's seriousness so well, and can actually showcase Don's droll humor, too. That's what I love about the Roger-Don, older brother/younger brother feel of their relationship.

hey, jamm...love your "Rogerisms" ----- got one to add:
How about him sitting there at his desk--- behind those big (intimidating) black-rimmed glasses!---and doing that Pope/priest gesture (sorry, don't know what it's called!) as if to "bless" Harry when he wanted to start the television dept!
"You are now head of the television department...anything else?"
What a total a-hole...but in a good way! lol,
Don't forget when he went huntin' for those twins in casting:
"You can come with me" (to Don) "I'll use you for bait"
Roger is a classic and perfect example of less is more. Keep up the good work, John!

John is a hilarious guy. Never a dull moment with him. :)

It must be very interesting for them to be in that place where we find Roger and Mona. Even though their characters do not love one another, since John and Talia are married off-screen, they are able to pull certain emotions that they probably would not be able to do with just any other actor.

I say next Emmy season, besides John, let's add a nomination and hopefully a win for Talia in the Guest Actress in a Drama category.

It just occurred to me that the dynamic between Roger and Don is very much like Huck Finn/Tom Sawyer. I just can't tell who's who, it's been so long since I read either book.

jamm - You are totally right; Roger is the much-needed court jester in the MM world. He brings a sly sense of humor to the show and a youthful spirit despite his age, like a jaunty rich boy with lots of toys and a need to stir up some trouble so he's not bored. Hate for Mona to get hurt, but I usually enjoy Roger's antics. Keep up the good work, John!

@scfan/gidget: that was hysterical when Roger "annointed" Harry as new head of televsion and "blessed" the new department. If only Roger had ended it with "God be with you o' long-suffering employee (or us at Sterling Cooper if you f--k this up)".

They really should devote a section or publish a little book of "Rogerisms". They are hysterical.

My GF rented "Bewitched- Season 2" on DVD. We were cracking up at the analogy of MADMEN being BEWITCHED in an alternate universe. Tate-Stevens is Sterling-Cooper; Larry Tate is Roger Sterling; Derwood is Don Draper, and Samantha is Betty!

I've been a fan of Slattery's since watching him on the period post-WW2 drama "Homefront" (1991-1993) which also starred Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) as Jeff Metcalf. John played Al Kahn, a labor union organizer and a love interest to Linda Metcalf, older sister of Jeff Metcalf character. LOVED this short lived show too! I remember TV Guide had it listed as a SOS (save our show), when it went on hiatus and it was cancelled after just two seasons. Does anyone out there remember this show? The episode when Sarah is killed was the first time I ever cried about a fictional character dying!! Fans of the show know what I'm talking about...

He does a great job -- actually shows more of a range than any other male character on the show right now. Love his pithy, sometimes sarcastic, and often very witty quips.

Oh, and BTW, were The Hamm not around, we'd all probably be giving Slatterly's extreme good looks more attention.

on bewitched, the firm was mcmann and tate. darrin stevens was not a partner (at least not at first) don't recall if he was made partner later in the series, which ran a long time! i liked the original darrin, but he was very sick and had to give up acting. isn't that sad??? the replacement darrin was not anywhere near as good as dick york!

by the way, i hope you won't hate me for haing this opinion, but talia balsam must have a wonderful personality or some other quality that attracts men, because she certainly isn't an attractive woman and has not aged well. 20 yrs ago she was passable when married to clooney. but the years have not been kind. also, in all her other photos (not photos from the series) she looks so sad and serious.

i get the impression from john's comments that she is the more dominant partner in the marriage.

all i'm saying is that john slattery is a much more attractive man than talia balsam is an attractive woman. to me, they don't match each other. she's 4 yrs his senior, by the way.

Evah since Homefront, baby.

*sigh*

He's just so dreamy.

No, there isn't much attention given to John Slattery's equally as good looks as Jon Hamm. JS is very, very handsome. The first (and only) time I saw him was on "Sex and the City" as Carrie's politician love interest who had a funky fetish (he liked to be peed on). LOL. I remember thinking, who's that actor? God, he's good looking (and he's right up there with Hamm).

BTW, if Roger is saying he's been with Mona for 30 years (as told to Jane), and he was married for 25 years, don't you think that'd put his character's age at around 51 (if he started dating Mona at 21) in the series? That would make him 30+ years older than Jane (who stated she was 20 in "New Girl").

jamm54:
If I recall correctly, he said he was thirty years older than Jane, not that he'd been married for thirty years. Figuring it back from other statements, Margaret was born in 1942, so they would have been married no later than 1941. That's twenty-one years by 1962. So when Mona said 25 years, that's probably correct.

bocaratonfan:
I thought Talia Balsam looked horrible and aged when she confronted Don. But she looked much, much better in Season One and earlier in this season when she was with Roger, Margaret and her fiance. So I suspect the make-up department made her up that way for the confrontation.

Sharp and astute eye, Ritt. Mona had probably been distraught and crying since Roger delivered his little bombshell. Makes sense.

I missed Roger saying he was 30 years older than Jane. So, Roger is 50 to Jane's 20 in 1962, and was born in 1912. About 14-15 years older than Don (who we've all guessed and if he's not lying about his age of 36, was born in 1926). I think Margaret was 18 in 1962 at the engagement dinner scene, and 16 in 1960 when Roger had his heart attack Labor Day Weekend. Jane is only 2 years older than Margaret!

Ah yes Homefront. John was wonderful as the labor organizer. I really loved that show too. Period pieces are like having a whole other character to develop. Especially if they are done well like MM and Homefront.

In a recent interview, John told how he had originally read for the part of DD. Matt's comment on this story is that he had always wanted John to read for the part of Roger but that Roger's agent told Matt that John would never read the Roger part because he isn't that old.

Matt certainly knew who would do the character of Roger justice - the part is made for John. Hope he's gotten over the casting - he delivers the writers lines perfectly -- dry, edgy, assured.

Must be kind of a kick working with your real wife on a hit series. I still hope that they mine this story line with Margaret's wedding and the May/November infatuation and the divorce. I would hate to see them skip over it all.
Father of the bride's girlfriend being mistaken for the bride--oh the possibilities!

Well, even with the negative of playing someone "older" than himself (what, maybe 4-5 years older), the character of Roger is not an "old" man by any means. He's spry, impish, an eternal frat/playboy, and you can tell Roger's "spirit" is youthful, wry, and sometimes hysterically silly. Definitely "young at heart" in every respect (looks like emotionally, too, by falling for Jane).

I loved "Homefront." It was a great series and I couldn't believe it was cancelled. The original poster indicated Linda Metcalf played Jeff Metcalf's older sister, but she was his mother. John Slattery's character got her pregnant and Kyle Chandler's character really lit into him in one very memorable scene. The Metcalfs were a devout Catholic family and Mrs. was a widow.

That was a great ensemble cast, just like MM.

Regarding the comment about Talia Balsam looking sad in photos - some people might interpret her expression as pensive - it's all in the eye of the beholder. She managed to capture a young George Clooney, then John Slattery, so she must have something on the ball. I know her father, Martin Balsam, was a heck of an actor.

I loved the opening scene with Roger & Jane on episode 11, Jane is so young and fresh and Roger opens up with his emotions and love for Jane. Bravo to you Roger for steping up to your true feeling for your new young bride to be. Telling Don Draper to really live your life and pissing Mona off and blaming Don for why Roger is leaving her is gutsy on Mona's part, she should really know why Roger has had no feeling for her for the past 10 years. But I do question Roger motive with his quick actions to marry Jane?... Is it to piss of Joan Holloway?. I still think there is still some fire there.

Bocaratonfan: your so right about Roger wife she is not attractive. It got to be personality!! Your not hated for your opinion at all.

Interesting comments regarding Talia Balsam. I think she is very attractive. She just is more natural looking...doesn't have the big collagen lips, etc. I think the MM outfits make her look older.

John Slattery is very handsome; but I must admit I thought he was in his late 50s. I do remember him from Homefront, that was a great show.

I suppose I must be one of the few women who take great exception to this show. It is glorifying a time when women were worth even less than they are today. It depicts women as T&A and shows us in a very degrading light. I know it is a man's world, and men love to see men having sex at will with anything that walks in the door. Better yet if this "something" is 20 years old. I watched this show for several weeks because I'd heard good things about the acting. AND I would agree that the actors are doing a good job of portraying a sexist society and taking us back 50 years. Not a place I enjoy going. I've already been there done that and don't need to see it on screen.
The one episode where Don sticks his fingers up some woman's "ahem" and then wipes his fingers off afterwards, was disgusting.
As a woman, I have more dignity and respect for myself than to support this type of vileness on tv. It's an embarrassment.

Talia Balsam is a very beautiful woman. I think her eyes are one of her best features.

And obviously she and John do go well together because they have been happily married for 10 years this December. He is a very gorgeous man, but he's also a very loving and caring person who isn't superficial. He's a fun, loving guy. Talia is an example of a "real" woman. She doesn't need to be stick thin or have tons of plastic surgery to look beautiful. She gives that off naturally.

I enjoy seeing them both on this show together because they are husband and wife off-screen too. It adds more to their on-screen relationship that we wouldn't be able to see if Roger's wife was played by just another actress.

I think Roger is the silver fox on the show. Mona is great too. I wish we could get to know Mona better.

madmenmommy--I remember Homefront. Loved that show especially Kyle Chandler.

Whoa! (Sigh......) One thing that excessive drinking/alcoholism is guaranteed to do is bring upon un-rational thinking and behavior. Season Three will show Roger re-evaluating his own destruction. Money and wealth isn't everything! As easy as one can "obtain" it, it can disappear just as quickly. I've been there! Going from a Rolex GMT to a Casio woke me up; then I realized what was truly important to me. A family and a hard earned career! And believe me........money cannot buy those back, only a person can, and that person has to be the one that caused the unfortunate turmoil in the first place. Good luck, and clean thinking Roger. You're going to need it!

Happy Thanksgiving to all,

Kurt