Good analogy Katie. That kind of "underworld" feel was certainly reminiscent of The Sopranos. I'm going to miss ol' Freddy Rumson; he was a great character.

I figured he was toast after the Mozart zip-fly concerto. I did, however, appreciate the fact that he was part of the agency from the 'original days' when Roger's dad (obviously a legendary lush himself) would saunter in wearing his shirt inside out. It was simply Roger's way of eliminating someone who'd become an embarrassment to the 'new' agency he wants to put out there. Katie is correct. El capo di tutti capi - in this case, Roger, had decreed: 'he's gotta go!"

Thanks for the info on Joel Murray, the actor playing Freddy Rumson, being the brother of Bill Murray. I also read somewhere in these blogs that the actress who plays Mona was married to George Clooney. As an aside, I just finished reading a book called "Dizzy and Jimmy." The actress who plays Seinfeld's mother (not George's) had a love affair with James Dean before he became famous.

Hi wasthere...you're right...Talia Balsam was married to George Clooney...(she's the daughter of Martin Balsam...)

Katie, Thanks for that info on the Balsams. I remember Martin and wonder if he is still alive.

Martin Balsam died a few years ago. And Talia Balsam's mother is actress Joyce Van Patten.

And thank you for letting us know that Joel Murray is the brother of Bill Murray. I didn't know that; and I think Joel is fabulous in this role.

I didn't know any of this about the actors you mentioned. Martin Balsam was one of my favorite character actors.

I also just found out that Talia Balsam is married to John Slattery and they have one child. So, Dick Van Patten is Talia's uncle. Small world.

chopin47, I posted waaaay back there about the Slatterys (John and Talia)...but, that's ok...I think when I started posting, there was only me and jamm54----and maybe whoever it was that discovered fire!
(God, now that I think on it...I believe it was Feb of last year when I began to post....I AM the fossil of these boards!!!! LOL

Hey, Joel is Bill Murray's bro?...how cool!
Does anyone know if they (the Murray Brothers) still own/run that restaurant they had a few years back? Can't recall the name of it but they all were partners in it. Seems like it had some kind of golf theme....

I just checked it out...it's the Caddyshack Restaurant and their motto is "Eat Drink and Be Murray" !!! Looks like it's a chain of restaurants

I had no idea that Martin Balsam was ever married to Joyce Van Patten! That was a shocker. Loved Martin Balsam, he was great in so many movies (Psycho, Breakfast at Tiffanys, etc).

Didn't know Freddie Rumsen was played by Bill Murray's brother. I really, really liked the character of Freddie - he was very sweet (except for that first remark he made about Peggy's Belle Jolie copy where he said it was like watching a dog play a piano - re: discovering her abilities). Too bad he's going. I hope they don't drive all of the sweet characters off the show. They're needed to offset the "heaviness" of some of the other characters' storylines. I'd hate to see Harry disappear, and I kind of miss Lois' inept dumbness. They add variety and color to the "background" of the show.

Besides, I'm still missing the offbeat Midge and her beatnik buddies in Greenwich Village and Helen and Glen Bishop. And they've wiped out Joan's happiness compared to 1960.

I wondered about poor Lois. When Don said she wasn't suited for the job of his secretary he said she should stick to the switchboard. I don't know if she's back at that job or if she's gone from the place altogether.

Hey, jamm, about 6 posts up there, just to let you know...I didn't mean that I thought you were old as dirt, too (and a member of "The Original Posters Club" like me!) it's just that you were the only one I could think of that was starting to post around the time as me. Seems like me and you have been here almosst as long as the forum! lol

"starting to post around the same time as me"
and
"almost"
wish I could type and spell!!! getting late....

Are you kidding? :o) LOL. I don't care Gidget, I know you're not slamming me. We're "buds" from the beginning! I just want a picture as cute as yours, but I'll get something different for next year. Maybe I'll take a picture of my mannequin in her Halloween costume and use that in 2009.

I am old as dirt LOL. My god, I can't believe I'm coming up on 55! And I don't get a senior discount at the movies, golf course or anywhere. Shoot! Boy, businesses have turned into skinflints!

....scfan you are so funny..... i love talia balsam, and was very surprised to hear Joyce Van Patton is her mother. i came across this video by accident from one of her roles.... this is a VERY different side of Mona.... yikes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYHKaue1SVo

Hi katie! Marilyn Monroe "look alikes" were everywhere during the early 60's from what I understand. The whole bottle blond thing came from her appeal.
Then women tried to copy Jackie Kennedy's look, but that was a bit difficult because of her designer look. Of course, she did give a big bump to us brunettes, for which I am greatful decades later!!

I love MM and talking about, obsessing over the details, but wonder if it will hold up. I remember when Twin Peaks was showing and everyone was obsessed with it too and then it slid into oblivion. Will MM be a Twin Peaks, or will it have the staying power of the Sopranos, Sex and Six Feet?

Hey, there, jamm...yes we are the fossil "buds" of the MM forums! (two of many, I think!) I know you knew I wasn't slammin' ya!
I wouldn't care if you used some other pic of Sandra Dee! There are a lot to choose from on Google, and prob. other pic sites...I just saw a bunch of her on there when I was looking for an icon/pic, is all. There is a really cute one of her with her hair down and her head leaned back..it's more sexy than gidgety! I almost picked it, but thought I'd rather be Gidget! ha But, your idea of the halloween get up would be great as well.
And as far as coming up on the old double nickels (55) hell, I am going on 58 (come next Jan.) and now THAT IS old as dirt! My husband and me get senior discounts everywhere! i.e.: being "old as dirt" ----- Better than the alternative (being in a box 6' under it!)

Oh, I like the "double nickels". You get senior discounts now? Where? I want that!

SCFan and Jamm54: I was the one who invented fire! Just kidding..... but we've been around here for a long time. I don't miss Midge at all, but I miss those other bohemians she hung with. The counter-culture I guess..... I miss creepy Glenn and his mother, Helen the Walker. Hey where the heck is FRANCINE during this big crisis of Betty's? She was there for Francine when Carlton was cheating. I know Betty's not the type to air the Draper laundry, but you'd think Francine would be calling her or dropping by to see what's up, right?

Re: Bottle blondes - didn't that start with Jean Harlow and Mae West?

LaurieB:
Wasn't Carlton taking Francine to Europe? Part of the "grand gesture" to come back home?

Helen Bishop will return, I think in the "Inheritance" episode.

As far as the bohemians/beatniks go, they were in the show because Midge lived in the Village. Now Don has no reason to go into the Village. Yet. The last time Don was there he had pot and then flashbacked in Hobo Code. I don't think he enjoyed the experience. Can you imagine what would happen to his mind if he dropped a tab of LSD?

Well since Midge and the West Village is out, maybe SC could hire a couple of them. Like maybe Smit and Smitty should have been a couple of beatniks. That would have been more fun than Dumb and Dumber they have now.

Hey! What happened to the spoiler that foretold Peggy would start an interoffice romance? Speculation was that her co-hort would be the Smith/Smitty that flirted with Joan as the left a meeting. (I know, I know...I had them as gay, too!)

I bet Weiner is editing episodes and scenes down to the last minute, even after synopses are written. Whadadya think?