She seems such a minor character that I don't think she will play much of a pivotal role in the coming season.

You know, I have to disagree with that. 1963, the year when the floodgates of the civil rights movement open wide, is around the corner. She's probably a likely cipher through which the tension of that period will be addressed.

She's minor, yes, but the writers have indulged her development by revealing parts of her character in Betty and Don's interactions with her. They've been on the increase, however brief.

I have to say, too, the actress who plays her, does a great deal with so few lines and scenes. I appreciate whatever depth she brings to the role.

GS: Somehow, I don't think so, but everyone sees this differently.

.....Carla is pretty. She should play Billie Holiday.

I would like to see her role on the show grow.

Wouldn't it be great if Carla becomes involved in The Civil Rights movement, and helps Betty become involved in the Women's movement?

The Civil Rights movement led the way for the protests and rights movements of the mid to late 60's.

While I do think Carla is an interesting character, I find that she, along with Betty's childhood housekeeper and to a lesser extent Hollis the elevator operator, all fall into that stereotypical role that Spike Lee refers to as the "magical negro". In essence, it refers to a supporting black character who mainly serves to help a white protagonist overcome challenges and adversity, without ever really dealing with their own challenges. In some cases they actually are magical (The Green Mile comes to mind) but often they offer sage advice to their superiors. I felt this way when Carla started to get more lines, and the stint at her dad's house with the other housekeeper sealed that thought for me.

.....Sorry, I meant Deborah Lacey should play Billie Holiday...there is quite a resemblence.

"Carla" should stay on Mad Men!

From time to time, I have to compare Mad Men to the former 1960's (airing in 1990's) drama. American Dreams, that was canceled from a major Network after 2 seasons. Just when it was getting into the civil rights movement, and showing blacks "dealing with their own challenges" - it was booted. I don't think they gave that show a chance and I even believe there were political reasons behind the cancelation. I hope Mad Men does not suffer the same fate!

Although the depiction of the all-white environment at Sterling-Cooper, not counting the elevator man and service workers—is fairly accurate for the times, because it IS a private agency, Matt Weiner’s view, according to interviews, of where blacks were in the 60’s is not. –Not entirely!
The season ends in 1962, the year before I started teaching. My mother was a secretary, and many in our church were teachers and social workers. It amazes me that smart younger people like Matt Weiner hold the belief that there was NO middle class or college educated blacks at the time and maintain this patronizing view of “how bleak it was”. I’m not saying that the options for women and blacks were nearly what they are today. Otherwise Matt and his writers seem to have researched the period very well. Perhaps they don’t know or have talked with older blacks.
I don’t believe they could or should have stretched the story lines to include middle class blacks. I’m thinking there were probably more characters than they could handle because many threads were left hanging. And it makes sense to have focused on the main characters. But it would NOT have been unrealistic to have presented Shiela, Paul’s girlfriend, as a school teacher or a secretary for a government department. (Paul is educated, it would have made sense). Government departments and agencies employed skilled and educated black workers long before private employers.
Sorry for my long rant. Just wanted to express this.

I think that Carla will be back in Season 3. Betty will need her more than ever to help her out with the new baby. And I think Betty will start confiding more and more in Carla. Their relationship may start to mirror the relationship Betty had with her childhood nanny.

And maybe we'll find out whose name was "Cocoa." (I personally think it was the name of Carla's new dog or cat based on its coloring.)

An interesting story line would be not only that Carla becomes a confidant of Betty's but also a "Viola" for Sally, explaining Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and how things might be better if... This is not to say she'll become a "magic negro." She can get angry, furious, etc. if Sally (or Bobby) becomes "lordly" or uses the n-word in her hearing. Rip her or him a new one.

Hollis has written a novel so there's the possibility of copywriting at SC. If he wants to. An interesting story line might be that he's offered the job as a copywriter and turns it down.

GailKLein: Ooooh, I think you're on to something with the Carla theory. Carla will be to Sally what Viola was to Betty. Unless of course Carla has other ideas and decides to do something different.

Ritt: Carla already has permission to lord over the children. Remember she thought it was Bobby in the study, and stormed in to scold him? (It was Betty). Also, the day we heard about Cocoa was when Carla was taking the kids to school. Sally was just blabbering on about a new friend "I told her I liked her name. Cocoa's a nice name, isn't it?" Carla: Yes, it is.

I agree with the person who said Carla would be Sally's Viola. Betty runs her household in the same way her mother probably ran hers. (That blue-blooded, WASP-y, Main Line Philadelphia way.) So, that is apparent.

For some reason, though, I see Carla becoming Betty's confidant. Betty really showed a different side of her personality this season; she developed as a character. I see Betty as being one who would not like injustice, and I see her, despite her Main Line upbringing, as being one who might champion the cause of civil rights.

At one point, she yelled at Carla and immediately apologized. On the day that Glen was hiding at the Drapers house, Carla said, what's he doing here, and Betty immediately went to the phone and called Helen, Glen's mom.

I could see a story line where Carla helps Betty and Betty helps Carla. I would like to see Betty develop some outside interests. Maybe the civil rights movement will be something she takes on as a cause. I don't know why I see Betty as being open minded on this issue; there is nothing that happened in either season that would indicate that she would be. However, I don't see her as being the type to be a bigot. Maybe I am viewing her with 2008 eyes. I just don't know.

Before this thread completely dies, I wanted to remind everyone that Betty was speaking to Sarah Beth about the boarding school right before the changed the topic to her affair with Arthur.

Now, granted, it could have been a cover story...but, I remember it because I remember her frustration in dealing with Sally while Don was away. With the 3rd baby on the way, I truly believe Betty will take the first opportunity to send Sally to a boarding school. And, if they have a riding academy, she'll use it as an enticement to get her to go. With money no longer the issue, what will keep her from being truly as distant as her own mother was to her?

Oh yeah, and Carla? She'll be there, to take care of the youngest Draper.

Greytone: I don't think it was a boarding school she was referring to. It was a private country day school. Sally would still live at home, but go to a private school.

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