.....Hi I'm Fly!.....Dry me!

(I mean.....)

I have questions for all of them.

1. If you must chose an ending for your character, what would it be and why?

2. Looking back on it, If you could, would you change your performance in any of the scenes already made in season 1 & 2? If yes, why?

3. What would you do if you won a million dollars?

4. If your house was on fire and you could only save 1 item in it, what would it be?

5. My personal favorite is Pete. Which are your own favorite characters except your own, and why?

Thank you!

How would your characters' lives be better if they were the ages they are now but lived in 2009 rather than the 1960s? How would their lives be worse? Would they work in advertising or in some other field?

Thanks for answering our questions, guys!

1) Do you have any input into the writing of your characters (personality, life direction, etc)?

2) Is it difficult doing a period piece like this?

3) Were any of you fans of this era before you accepted your role (ex: my brother is really into the Kennedy family and their history)?

I would like to know how the men of Sterling Cooper can drink all the time at work and still manage to get some work done!

1 - How far before actual filming do you:
(a) receive your script
(b) do the read-thru'
(c) go thru' rehearsals

2 - Now that you are getting to know your characters pretty well, do you have any input with the writers as the direction (or reactions) of your character?

3 - When you get to do the actual filming, are there many re-writes that have talken place since you saw the original draft? / do rewrites go on thru' the actual filming?

For Bryan Batt: If the writers allow Sal to have an affair in this upcoming season, do you think it will be with a character we've already met or do you think it'll be more of a random, one-night-stand kind of deal?

Thanks for taking time to answer us, fellas, we do appreciate it, being the rabid Maddicts we are....

Here goes:

Did any of you audition for other parts than the ones you eventually got?

And, did any of you have to audition more than once to get your part?

Bryan - Would you like Sal's homosexuality to be explored in future episodes, or remain a hidden desire?

Michael - Would you like Paul to have more responsibilities at work, or get more involved in civil rights issues and try to change the dynamic at SC?

Vincent - Would you like Pete to fix his relationship with Trudy and adopt a child together? Would you prefer a relationship with Peggy, or keep the sexual attraction an underlying theme?

Rich - Would you like Harry and SC to get more involved in TV, expand your dept. with some new characters, and push the moral envelope in advertising?

Aaron - Something really extraordinary needs to happen with your character. Ken yuks it up with the other guys about being a ladies man, but the audience doesn't see that. Would you be open to an office romance?

Do you love the clothes? Do you wish men dressed now adays like they did back then?

When you have to smoke in character, how do not get addicted? What if you don't want to smoke?

Do you realize that you're all much hotter in character than you are in real life? Have any of you considered keeping up the appearance every day?

First of all, my favorite character is Pete Campbell, so these questions are for Vincent Kartheiser.

My questions are as follows:

What attracted your character to Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss)?

Will you try to work things out between you and Trudy in season 3 after knowing Peggy had your child? (or at least give a hint of what will possibly happen)

What is the thing you enjoy most about your character? least enjoy?

Can someone correct me if I'm wrong, but they did the same thing about a month ago with Jon and John regardinga Q & A, and they never posted the results.

I'd be more than happy to be misinformed, and if I am please direct me.

.....Dear Greg,

Welcome to the world of Lewis Carroll.

(And aren't you just darling.)

Well, though apparently they may never be answered, here goes nothing:
Vincent/Pete: You’re my favorite character. Seems I’m not the only one. Why do you think everyone loves you, weasel that you are?
And how’s that hunting fantasy working out for you? Any takers yet?
Also…what’s up with all the blue suits?
To all: I’m assuming you’re all married?..What do your wives think of the show, and do you think they would ever marry your character?

Vincent: I feel like Pete is always teetering on the edge. Sometimes I think it would not be surprising to see him take a header off the 39th floor. Do you feel that way about Pete? Your portrayal of him is brilliant.

For all: How does it make you feel when you have to use racist and sexist language and actions?

My question is whether any of the actors are in any way envious of the lifestyles or rights of behaviour that their characters can enjoy in the early 60s?

To all of you: What are your favorite scenes from season two that don't involve your character?

Which other characters would you like to interact with more or share a scene with?

To Rich: How long do you think it took for Harry to repair his marriage after his one night stand with Hildy? Harry and Jennifer seem to have one of the rare solid marriages on the show.

Do you think Harry had an underlying attraction to Hildy all along or was it just a moment of drunkenness?

How do you think Harry will cope with all the changes that the decade will bring? He seems pretty conservative.

To Michael: Just how did Joan and Paul hook up in the first place? They seem so different. Do you think it was a serious relationship or just a fling? Also Joan and Paul seem to get under each others skin very easily, years after breaking up. Do you think there are any feelings left still between the two?

Do you think Paul will become involved in the upcoming events of the decade, like the anti-war movement?

I second what Greg said. I'm still waiting for the Jon Hamm/ John Slatterly replies. I only joined these boards for the questions!

Anyway all actors: Are there any other time periods you would be interested in portraying? Any historical figures, or do you prefer that there be a little as possible for your interpretation to be compared to?

Within the Mad Men time frame are there any events you would like to touch upon? Are there events you would like your character to attend, if so which and why?

To Mr. Stanton- of the characters here Ken is the one who's view on his job has been touched on the least. What does he actually think of his job? Do any parts of it make him uncomfortable or thrill him?

To Mr. Kartheiser- Do you think Pete's reaction to The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence more about him being dense to the film message's, or just really tired of the John Wayne hero-type? Also how much of Pete's desire not to have kids was specifically about not having kids with Trudy? or just at this moment of his life, versus not really wanting to be a father ever?

Hi Greg-
The interview with Jon Hamm and John Slattery -- answering questions you readers submitted -- will be appearing in the blog later this summer. I don't have an exact date yet, but keep checking the Mad Men site for when it goes live.

Thanks Lily...I've been waiting for the answers, too.

This is for Michael Gladis: You portray your character so well. His is both complex and sensitive and at the same time can be thought of as shallow and pretentious. Did you do much, or any research regarding the freedom bus rides?

p.s. I would have loved to have been at your party.

.....That's a cute pic, Portia's.....

This is for Rich Sommer: at one time in the early sixties, I worked for an insurance company with a man who you remind me of - even down to the glasses and the bow tie he wore. Your demeanor, posture and portrayal is spot on. Do you normally wear glasses or are they a prop? Are you very much like your character or do you have another, more relaxed side?

Thank you Dry. It is of singer songwriter Natalia LaFourcade. You should check her out.

This is probably too late but...

Having different (and talented) directors every week must be both a blessing a challenge (in bringing them up to speed on the characters you know so well).
What qualities of a director do you respond to the most/ connect with your process?

Question regarding Pete (Vincent Kartheiser): Why did Pete marry Trudy? From my pov, there hasn't been a single scene in which he evidenced any real love for her....

Question for Aaron Staton (Ken): How old is Ken?

Do you agree that Ken's determined to experience life in California, and that this dream -- more than marriage or a serious relationship -- is what motivates him?

Also, should we be worried about Ken? While he's probably intellectually superior to most of the other "guys" (except maybe Sal), he's also seems the "youngest," and least grounded (no wife/kids; no obviously-identifiable self-image).

Am I right in saying that Ken's out to "experience life"--partly for the thrill of it, but also because he's got a dreamer's soul? (I say that because he's a writer). And, would I be correct in assuming that the job of copywriter is JUST a job to Ken -- not his "Real Life," -- which he feels has yet to begin!!

Good looks, a yearn for adventure, and a writer's soul -- a not-too-common comination of characteristics-- which, in my opinion, could spell stunning success...or....heart-breaking disaster for an "un-grounded kid" like Ken in California.

Greg and Dry,

Am lol'ing as I re-read both of your comments. Could it be that we're all just conduits for "them" to get our reactions, ideas, theories and imput? -- all for free, too!

.....[pout.....shuffle.....kick.....].....wouldn't be the first time.....[pout.....shuffle.....kick.....]

.....This is late, so wouldn't be included, but I've always wondered how Pete and the guys in the Greek choir ramped up, or down, to become the characters they play.

Mostly it seems as though the actors are quite different in life from their MM characters (except for Sal and Bryan, who are both sweeties) which, in most of the cases bear no resemblance to former characters they've played, and yet they SO NAIL who that character would have been in 1962, which is not an easy period to portray authentically.

How much of an accurate feeling for the zeitgeist, just as someone who was there, can you get from research and direction?

Are any of the guys really similar to their characters?

Is Michael pretentious and sensitive all at once? Is Rich underpaid and under appreciated? Does Aaron have a lot of numbers, too?

Period pieces are often in danger of becoming a schlocky caricaturization, but I think what blows people away is the dead-on accuracy of the very thoughts that run through the characters' heads, whether those thoughts are spoken or not.

The rhythm and rapid rate of the diction which sounds nothing like today, with just the right accents, inflections and facial expressions.

Even the way they stand with the right hand in just the right suit pocket, for the right reason, for just so long.

Just curious who or what, if anyone or anything, each of these guys have studied or researched in order to achieve that unity with their characters.

Are the characters based on any one or more actors in films from the day?

Do they all use the same methods?

They are all stellar without exception, and have the most amazing chemistry with each other. You can't fake that.

Kudos to the casting directors, and the guys too.

.....And also, because of the great chemistry, it makes a person wonder if any of them have known each other previous to this.....

.....and also, how many times they had to read for the parts they ended up with to verify that chemistry.....