Q&A - Michael Gladis (Paul Kinsey)
Michael Gladis (Paul Kinsey) answer's AMCtv.com's questions about his beard, the Mad Men cabarets, fashion, and his bartending skills
Q: How have your friends reacted to your beard? Do you keep it during the off-season?
Q: I've had the beard a long time now. A couple years. The shock value to my friends is long gone. Except for Rich Sommer. He still seems shocked every time I see him. He'll usually point at my face and shout "OHMYGODYOUHAVEABEARD!!" when I arrive to work. I usually just reply by flipping him off. I'm not a morning person. The thing is, I have such a baby face. I can't stand it. So inevitably I grow the beard back just to regain some sense of masculinity. Plus, the ladies love it.
Q: In Episode 3, Jeffrey criticizes Paul of not being able to sing. What's your actual skill level? Were you in the Mad Men cabarets?
Q: My actual skill level? I'm not sure how to answer that. I know what my perceived skill level is. "F--king awesome." Is there a scale? Would I make it to Hollywood on American Idol? I like to sing. I do it every day. The Mad Men cabarets were so much fun. They had a full 26 piece jazz band there to back everyone up on old standards. Of course, I was the only one stupid enough to say, "Hey, no worries. I'll just walk out and sing a Bob Dylan song alone and accompany myself on the guitar." Yup, I'm a moron. It went pretty well, though. Colin Hanks, Joel Murray, Mark Moses, a bottle of scotch, and I hung out backstage. Funny guys.
Q: Paul protests that his sweater is mohair before handing it over to Smitty. Of the men in the cast, who would you say is actually the biggest fashion plate and why?
A: Jon Hamm is better looking than any of us, supposedly. He might just have better P.R. people working for him, though. I would say Bryan Batt is up there. It's in his DNA. Then... I guess of the other guys on the show it might be me. Rich, Aaron, Vincent, Robert, all the other guys are pretty classy. Or classic. Or something other than stupid. I would like to think of myself as "fashion forward", but really it's more like "fashion foolish." My buddies in my NY poker game still call me "scarfy" after last year's Emmy's. I was rather proud of my Madras tie for this year's premier, but caught some flack for that, too. You can fool all the people some of the time... but I can't. Just wait 'till you see what I'm wearing to this year's Emmys.
Q: We've recently launched a '60s cocktail guide. Do you have a favorite drink from the era?
A: Why didn't you consult me? I'm the best bartender of anyone in the cast. That's only half true. John Slattery would be the best bartender in the cast. He's so charming. Gift of the gab. And silver-foxy. I don't think he ever had to bar tend because he's such a good actor. I was a bartender for years in NY. I learned a lot about how to make great cocktails. Much like cooking, all you need is the highest quality ingredients... and love. The most important ingredient of all. Speaking of love, I'm quite fond of Don Draper's fave -- the "Old Fashioned." Rye.
I know a lot of Maddicts aren't too terribly impressed with Paul Kinsey, but I am rather fond of Mr. Gladis' character. It would not be Sterling Cooper without him. Indeed, were he to ever leave the show I would have to paraphrase Paul and say "I liked it the way it was".
I think that's my favorite line of Paul's, said so wistfully. You just know he's a romantic at heart. He really does love his little SC world.
I love him. We are getting married. He doesn't know this yet.
I loved the scene in Nixon v Kennedy when he and Joan were sitting on the steps and when they danced and talked...I felt so sorry for Paul when she told him she didn't like his play and when he asked her "What did I do wrong?" (referring to their dating time no doubt) and she answered "You have a big mouth." Poor Paul....carrying a Joan torch til he dies....
I love Paul's weird, pompous chameleon personality. I also like it that he is the least competent person at Sterling Coo. His play stinks, he's bad with clients and he has no ideas. Very realistic.
What would a show that takes place during the early 60's be without a bohemian? He rounds out the cast beautifully.
SofiP You must be a Sister, since our Paul has is quite the modern man. I hope it wasn't just a phase.
Ditto flakyfoont... except for the part about loving or liking Paul.
Good acting and funny interview, Mr. Gladis. I like the way you even worked Paul's character in and out of the interview.
Ditto "thewaymouth" dittoing "flakyfont." I've got new appreciation for Paul Kinsey since we learned from Jeffrey that Paul's "joisey-reared," and not born with the silver pipe in his mouth. So he's fashioned an identity for himself to rise above his roots. Good for him. He rounds out the office team. Thanks for the laughs in the interview Mr. Gladdis.