Mad Men has a broad demographic appeal considering the show is set 45 years ago and in a lot of cases, before the people watching it were even born. To what do you attribute this wide sweeping popularity across all age groups?

I cannot explain how much I love this show. As a 37-year-old professional woman and political activist working to redefine Third Wave feminism in economic and organization terms...this show has been such an essential resource for benchmarking. Really. Did you ever thing of that? It's like Feminist Anthropology. Besides, I think I accidently married Don Draper in disguise. Woops. Anyway, how did you research these roles? Who did you observe? Who did you interview? What did you read? Do you ever feel uncomfortable with how you're scripted to treat women? Or, more importantly, do you ever find it COMFORTABLE?

HeidiSpeaks seems to have pretty much covered the things I would ask, except I'd like to know more specifically if either of you fine actors talked to your parents or other relatives who actually lived through the sixties.

You are both too young to have been interested in things social/political/financial at that time. Maybe you could tell us what your lives were like back then. Did you come from working class families, for instance? Did you go to the popular movies of the time? Did you watch much TV? What personal experiences do you draw on to perfect your characterizations on Mad Men? (And they are perfect!)

(I'm a 71 year old retired lady who absolutely loves MM, and am anxiously looking forward to season three.)

Jon,

Are you able to get back to STL during the year and see old friends?

Many of us, in the theatre community, are very proud to see you on Mad Men.

Looking forward to the upcoming season of Mad Men.

Did you happen to use the Grant Longitudinal study that followed Harvard students from 1933 for you story arc? I ask only because several of the published lives are very similar to a few of your characters on the show.

The show is amazing and my husband and I never miss it. Jon, you can do comedy as well, pretty funny on SNL.

We have an ongoing discussion in our house regarding smoking. Were any of you smokers prior to the show, or did the job convert you. My husband insists that you aren't "really" smoking, that these too are some sort of prop cigs. Ha, I don't see it, but please comment on the reality of your smokes.

Hello to the two most dapper, dashing, handsome (and best) actors in the business....Mad Men is beyond great....words fail me....

As rozsie said, previous posters have pretty much covered most of what I've been curious about already....however, I do have one question:

I've read that the story line where Betty shot at the neighbor's pidgeons originated with one of the writer's mothers....an actual incident.... that was written into the "Shoot" episode....anyway, have the writer's ever used any "real life" incidents from either of your lives/childhoods in any episodes?

Do you know of any cast members whose personal memories have been incorporated into episodes?

Well, keep on doin' what you do....you're both the very best at your jobs....Thanks for the entertainment extrordinnaire!

Looking forward to Season 3!

extraordinaire....sorry.

The two of you consistently deliver amazing performances on the show. Do you ever get to improvise or modify the scripts? If so, which are those scenes?

Do you both have any input with Matt on what your characters do, and how they evolve? If so, is there anything you asked to do that was rejected? Do you like your characters as people? And finally, for each of you, what development in Don's and Roger's lives during seasons one and two surprised you the most?

Very much looking forward to season three this summer.

John Slattery,

At the end of the second season Roger and Mona were in the process of getting a divorce. What would you like to see happen between Roger and Mona. I do hope we get to see Talia in season 3 also.

Shelly

Let me first start off by addressing that the class that you two gentlemen exhume in this show has blown my frail little mind. I come from a safe world, a politically correct world, filled with useless idioms and stylized banter that has droned out any sense of style, character, or originality. Replaced with Human Resource and, "Casual Fridays" this world has seeped the life out of Class to the point that a theme park actually sounds like a good idea. Help me. My imperative question is this, "Given the current conditions in this Politically Correct world, how can one man attain Class once more"? Help me John and John. You're my only hope.

MAD MEN is the best-written show on TV right now. Every character, no matter how minor, has a backstory. Do all the actors make up their own backstories, or do the writers give you info? Also, has the high quality of the show spoiled you for other projects?

And how the heck aren't all these people NOT falling down drunk all the time? I'd be hammered by noon if I worked there.

I love the endings in Mad Men. My personal favorites are when Betty throws up in the car, when Betty shoots the birds, and when Don walks into the ocean to the tune of George Jones' "Cup of Loneliness."

I was wondering which endings stuck with both or either of you?

Thanks,
Kyle

Where do you see your characters in twenty years?

My question is for both actors:

What common qualities do you share with the character you play?

Thanks for taking these questions. Your show is easily the best on television. I wish there were more than 13 episodes a season.

Matt Weiner tends to write for characters who do despicable things, and yet come across as very likable. The characters on "The Sopranos", specifically Tony Soprano, were horrible people, and yet the audience somehow roots for them. The same is the case for your characters. Don Draper and Roger Sterling have many flaws, but I find myself rationalizing the things they do. I want them to succeed. Is it difficult to play these kinds of roles? When you read the scripts, do you find it hard to find the characters' motivations, particularly when they are cheating on their wives or otherwise being dishonest? It's certainly a tribute to your skills as actors to make these roguish guys come across as likable.

One of the things I love is the photography of the interiors. Regarding how the show is shot:

I've seen a lot of shots of interraction with Don in the office, where the camera, hence the viewer, is looking up to Don; apparently asserting Don as the alpha male to us.

I've also noticed so often Don is seated in that sort of alpha male kind of way: seated back, confident, notably the arm stretched out across the back of the seat or couch. It's the same position in the Mad Men logo, but in so many scenes, especially in the office, Don is seated like that often. I don't know if it's planned like that in many of those scenes or if it's just one of those things.

So my question is, is that intentional to shoot Don like that often in these two ways for benefit of the viewer having Don defined visually, or am I looking wayyy too into it...?

A real quick one that some of us talked about:

After poor Freddy is canned at the speakeasie, and after Jimmy is socked at the speakeasie, Roger and Don are at another place by themselves, opining on the ways of the world as all good drunks do. Roger then punches Don hard on the arm at one point, and Don just looks at him. Was that an ad-lib?

Jon/Don's face was priceless after getting punched, it made some of think that it maybe was an ad lib...

One of the great things about Mad Men is its focus on the the most perplexing of modern questions: how do men (and women) deal with the insurrections of their souls? Both Roger and Don are alienated characters. Each one seeks to assuage his pain with the pleasures of the flesh, with drinking, smoking, and with their money and position. Each of them are hard-bitten by the three modern maladies: materialism, hedonism & narcissism. But while Roger might never admit that anything is wrong with any of this, and is in fact a reason enough for living, Don is more clearly aware of his pain, and perhaps dimly aware that his addictive behaviors no longer provide the salve they once might have. I would love to see Rogers hit bottom--it might provide some greater depth of character, although he's pretty damned enjoyable as he is. I would love to see Don begin the process of re-integrating his self with his soul. Do you both discuss the inner lives of your characters with the writers, and suggesst ways that you would like them to develop? Or is there some frustration about how restricted your individual characters must feel to you--I know you love the show as much as we do!

Love you both tremendously.

My questions are: Why are Roger and Don so incredibly empty? They are so callous I sometimes wonder if they even love themselves. What do you believe their true passion or loves are, if anything? (Please don't answer drinking!)

PS: when will Roger get back with Joan? (Sorry, had to ask!)

Is Sterling Cooper based on any particular ad agency or is it a composite of several of the top agencies of the 60s?

My father started working at a major corporation in the early sixties. The first thing they told him was to go out and buy a hat. He still wears the Borsalino felt Fedora's you feature in MM. There was a standard for appearance and being a man. There is no way that stiff standard could hold over time.You have only captured a moment in time, but it was a great one.

I find it amusing that Roger seems to get all the good one-liners on the show. He delivers them spot on and adds humor to the episode when it tends to get a little dark. Don's humor seems to be very dry and sharp. Would you like to see Don loosen up and steal a few good one-liners from Roger this season? (You thought I was going to ask you a question about Drinking and Smoking, didn't you?)

At the same time Matt Weiner was a slave to the Mad Men script, I was a slave at creating a "Space Age Bachelor Den" for my future husband. How fun (and shrinkingly uncomfortable) is it to be so so politically incorrect on the show? Don, ridiculously, seems to be a moral compass on this point at least twice in an outward way. Fun. fun!!

I adore this fine, fine show, and I cannot wait until the new season starts!

As someone who's interested in and studies history, I'm wondering what research you've both done as actors to understand the historical, social, and cultural backgrounds of your 60s-era characters. What films and other things have you used as references to build your characters?

Also, for Jon - Don is a character with a lot of demons. What is his moral compass, and what will he have to do to ultimately redeem himself and find peace?

....Oh my gosh.....too hilarious! Love those guys!

John and Jon, report to the party boat headquarters immediately.

How do you feel about an extended stay on rather large houseboat?

.....(Tsk!).....

(Heh!)

ROGER STERLING John Slattery Were you in love with Joan Holloway? Why did you break up? Why didn't you marry Joan?

DON DRAPER Jon Hamm
Would you really have run away with Rachel Mehnken if she had said yes when you asked?

Sitting in the pool contemplating your drink in The Jet Set, were you drugged or high on something?

What was your first job at Sterling Cooper, and was Freddy Rumson your mentor?

DON DRAPER Jon Hamm
Did Midge marry her beatnik boyfriend? Do you still keep in touch?

Did you marry Betty because she was pregnant, besides being in love with her?

Sorry for the extra questions.

ROGER STERLING John Slattery
What year were you born Roger? When did your father die? Are we going to see more about your personal history (parents, Mona, the agency)?

When was the Sterling Cooper Agency started?

DON DRAPER Jon Hamm
What year were you, Dick Whitman, actually born? And where did you grow up?

Love watching season 1 and 2 here in the Uk (Scotland)

But I am disappointed that knowbody comes over to promote the show over in the uk and knowbody came over to the BAFTA and RTS Awards that Mad Men won?

Is true that "A Night on the Town with Mad Men" Revue is coming to London and New York?

Is the character Father Gill coming back for season 3?

Also what do think of Dominic West (John Slattery co-star in Mona Lisa Smile) comments that he said about American Costume dramas?

If you turn on American TV, there's a huge choice of nothing you want to see and, unfortunately, I think that's the case here now as well. I love costume drama, no one does it like the BBC – no one has the money to do it, first of all and, secondly, Americans don't have the history do it ... I thought Cranford was incredible but we don't seem to be able to do contemporary stuff. BBC producers, they abhor the fact ... they're dying to do The Wire and hate doing Cranford

For Jon: do you see both Ds (Don and Dick) reconciling by series end? Do you think Don may give up on Betty, or she on Don, without her ever knowing anything about Dick Whitman? Would Don return to being Dick Whitman someday?

For both Jon and John: What were your favorite scenes to film in season two? What were your favorite scenes that didn't involve your characters?

Have either have you ever been able to predict in advance what happens on the show or are you constantly surprised? Like did you ever think Roger would leave Mona or have an affair with Jane? Or that Betty would ever confront Don about his cheating?

For Jon: Don has obviously done a lot of questionable stuff in many episodes of season two (The Benefactor, Maidenform and The Jet Set, for example). Have you ever gone to Matthew Weiner and asked if even Don would do some of the stuff he does or do you just go with the flow? Is Don an easy character for you to understand?

Do you think that Don's desire to be with his family and reconnect with his wife in the season finale was genuine? Or do you think he will be back to his philandering ways as soon as possible?

There were a lot of intense scenes between Don and Betty in the second season. What were your favorite ones to do?

To John Slattery:

I was a little disappointed that we never saw much of the home life of Roger and Mona, which might have shown some interesting comparisons with the Draper household.

Would you have liked to have had scenes around the Sterling dinner table, or do you think that not seeing them added to Roger's "mystique?"

Well, I'm going to do it....ask the obvious question, since no one else has so far....

Do either of you ever read this forum?????

....the Maddicts are pretty darn entertaining, the imaginations are impressive to say the least...many on here could do a bang up job writing for Mad Men!

Well, do you....read all our ramblings, or not???

With a few months' reflection, what stayed with both of you concerning your whirlwind tour of Denver during the DNC.

Less interested in the civic highlights than who you met, and what you thought about, felt.... not even so much the politics, as the process.

I seem to recall this being answered in an AMC Blog article long ago, but, would love to read your personal account of it, John S....

Roger's scene when he was...uh....let's just say "violently ill".... how many takes with the old rubber hose (I assume that's what was used) were required to get THAT memorable scene on tape, I wonder?

I hope they included some carpet shampoo in the "mix"!

Don and Roger conform work, family, and pleasure into successful lifestyles.

In your time on the show, particular scenes have required you to express callous disregard for the feelings of others.

When preparing for these scenes, what attitudes and frames of mind do you, as actors, have to take to perform with such unemotional, managed detachment to your surroundings?

To Jon: Did you sign on knowing you were going to be playing two characters? You completely turned into Dick Whitman in the scenes where Pete reveals that he knows Don's secret and Don goes to Rachael's office to get her to run away with him. Dick's response to confrontation is to run away while Don faces it head on. Example- when she turns him down and he can't run as Dick, Don emerges and goes straight back to SC and confronts Pete. Bravo for the performance!

Like many, I appreciate the importance of the mise en scene to the overall effect. And I just love the details! My parents had a pull-out cigarette holder like the one on Don Draper's coffee table from Season 1, and I finally know what it is. But sometimes, I feel a little nonplussed at myself for being seduced so willingly by all the trappings.

Just for fun, can the two of you speculate on how a sparse setting (think "I, Claudius") might influence your acting choices and our perception of the story?

Thanks for an amazing show.

During the "Jet Set"/"Mountain King" Matt Weiner said that he wanted the audience to be not sure if the show would leave the Madison Avenue world and follow Don's new life in CA. On the other hand some viewers speculated that Don would leave the show and other members of the ensamble would take the central position. Did either of these possibilities occur to either of you and would you be interested in pursuing?

To Mr. Slatterly, of the main characters Roger is the one we have seen "at home" the least. What do you think that says about your character? Would you expect that to change with his marriage?

Again to both of you: During the Nixon v. Kennedy story some of the dialogue sounded suspiciously like the neo-conservative speak that still exists. Did you think about this during the filming, or was the emphaisis all on SC being on the other side of a cultural revolution? Also how sincere do you find the Sterling Cooper staff in its political beliefs?

To Mr. Hamm - In an interview I heard Matt Weiner say that Joan being raped by her fiancee was as ugly as Don's talking down Betty about the yellow bikini. It is not an analogy that I would have made immediately but I accept the simmilarities. Had you had this kind of discussion? (Please do not answer simply yes or no)

Do either of you have a particular reverence for Any Rand or existentialism that fuels you characters?

Is it difficult having the same first names on the set? When they say, "Hey, John let's do that scene again" or "get John, we are ready for his scene" Does everyone turn around and say, "which John?"

John,

This season you had great scenes with Rich Sommer and with Elisabeth Moss. Is there anyone else you'd love to do a scene with?

Jon,

You had wonderful, poignant scenes with the kids in S2; both Kiernan Shipka and Aaron Hart. What is it like to do that level of acting with them? What is the experience of filming with them?

A Basket of Kisses on both your houses!

~Roberta

I'm a former Mad Man who worked at Doyle Dane Bernbach
in the early '80's. That period was the very tail end of the gold age of advertising and Doyle Dane's great contributions to it. I'm wondering if the show will explore advertising's creative revolution in the '60's, and how it affects Don Draper and Sterling Cooper. Will they adapt or be left behind?

For Jon Hamm:

What do you think is up with Don and the "L" word (love)? How do you suppose he went from the "lavender haze" to "you're born alone and you die alone and this world just drops a bunch of rules on you so you don't forget." And in such a relatively short amount of time?

For John Slattery:

I love the relationship between Roger Sterling and Don Draper. There's such an undercurrent of competition and rivalry between the two. Is this an extension of your real-life personalities, or are they merely character traits. Who's going to win in the end?

For both John and Jon:
- what are the similarities and the differences you share/or do not share with your character?
- If you could pick one thing from the 60's, which one would it be?

For John:
If Roger was going to remarry, why oh why wasn't it JOAN? I loved you two together.

For Jon:
What do you think is the fundemental problem between Don and Betty? It sounded like he was truly in love with her when they first married. Do you think Don could ever settle down and be happy with Betty (especially now with a new baby on the way) or will he always be a hound-dog? LOL

For both Jon & John: You are both fantastic actors. Love, love, LOVE this show!

Given the point in history - the beginning of the feminist movement - how long do you think Roger Sterling can hang onto his new, extremely young and beautiful new wife?

While we're all gushing on this board, I will add my praise. This is one of the best shows I've ever seen on television. I can't wait for the new season to begin and I'm so happy for it's success. Great cast, great writing, costumes, sets...and a fascinating subject matter. Nice work, Mr. Weiner.

Hi John and Jon,

The question's pretty simple: Care to join me and 5 o' my "Mad Girl" peeps in Denver for a backyard Tom Collins?

I make a mean one.

It's GORGEOUS in Denver in the summertime. We won't act gaga, but we WILL likely drink, perhaps, TWO Tom Collins ... and we'll probably feed you as well.

Yours,

Cat

Roger, you adorable dirty dog! You belong with Joanie. You love her and I love your character. Don, Don, Don (shaking my head) -- what more can I say?

How do you handle the blurring of your characters with your own reality? What types of responses have you received from fans that don't separate the Mad Men fantasy from reality when you are out in the public eye? What has been the most unusual or funniest situation you've experienced with your fans?

Jon Hamm

What would Don’s reaction be if he caught Betsy mounting her saddle to the Draper washing machine? A. Betts, what do you want me to say? B. I see you’ve found something else that offers the pleasure of a man without the man. C. You may want to hold off on that. We just got the Whirlpool account.

Is your romantic rival, Glenn “the Barber” Bishop, creepy or merely misunderstood? (the character, not the kid)

John Slattery

After a long day on the set, have you ever gone home and unconsciously remained in character? What was your wife’s response? How quickly did she threaten you with divorce?

Sal Romano clearly has a deep, dark secret. Is he a closeted . . . Republican? Also, is he gay or does he just have incredible fashion sense?

Jon & John

What would the two of you think of an episode called “Deliverance Redux”? Don, Roger, Pete and Harry decide to take a white water trip down the Cahulawassee river in Georgia as a team building exercise. Pete and Harry get separated from Don and Roger and the fun begins. Harry is forced to strip down to his tighty-whities . . . “take off them panties, Boy”; Don captures the Kodak moment and offers to call an all hands meeting slide show when they get back and take out the old Carousel. “It takes you to a place you want to be” and Harry leaves the conference room crying for the second time in the series. Redundant or crossing the line?

.....So, J&J.....about that houseboat.....

After I got through most of the first season, I found myself on the phone with a client (I freelance ad and persuasive web copy once in a while) and I found myself being more bold and direct with my client. I know part of it was that I felt like I knew his market better than he did, but I knew as I was talking to him that I was channeling some of the Mad attitude. It was a good thing for this situation, and it even inspired me to be more creative with the copy and presentation - excitement building, even, for the event/product we were trying to market. So my question is, do either of you find yourself channeling your character or others from the show in other parts of your life, and is it always a good thing if you do, or is it sometimes over the top?

.....Yawn.....

When is Season 3?

Dry...let me know if Jon and John accept your gracious invite to your upcoming houseboat soiree.

...I'll be crashing that party!!!

.....I thought I could pet their brill-cream hair, and feed them grapes.

And, I'll definitely need help, so by all means, report to the party boat HQ immediately!!

.....Arr, I meant "Brylcreem," (didn't I?)

I'll do that very thing, Dry....and I'll bring 6 jars of maraschino cherries...some to "feed" the guys and some for the drinks....see ya!!!