Definitely the season finale "Meditations in an Emergency" - it was a steller episode. Personally I loved "Three Sundays" - the pacing was great and the format was creative. You can't listen to me though - I'm a sucker for seeing Don and Betty making pancakes and slow dancing in the living room - I don't need a plot for any episode!!

"Meditations in an Emergency" would definitely be one of my top picks for submission if I was Peggy. Her confession to Pete at the end was a perfect delivery, no question. All the way to the pat on the shoulder at the end. I recently watched "A Night to Remember "if I was Betty I might have submitted that episode. It had a full range of emotions, from the busted chair to the perfect wife and hostess, the humiliation of the beer placement, confronting Don on his affair, rifleing thru Don's clothes for traces of the affair in the wonder bread dress, and then the don't come home. That pretty much covered the drama. She killed it!!!

I would have to go with "Maidenform," episode 6. I feel that episode defined so much of what MM is about and the misconception that all women be a Jackie or a Marilyn, especially that killer opening with the ladies putting on their undergarments. And it is, after all, a series dealing with the advertising industry, so it's fitting that the best episode revolve around a product and its effects as opposed to character profiles.

Then again, we aren't talking favorite eps. but the ones that should be submitted for awards consideration. So in that case, I would either say Episode 2, "Flight 1," as well as whichever episode involved the launching of the chicken (each of these should have earned Vincent K. a nod) or "Mediations in an Emergency". What a way to wrap up a season and leave you in total suspense!

holoawoman - I agree that "A Night to Remember" is the best example of January Jones work this year. She is extraordinary. I think that is the episode where she wakes up Don (who is sleeping on the couch) in the middle of the night and they have that raw and emotional conversation. They are both so fantastic in that scene - I find them remarkable actors both.

''The Jet Set" and then "Meditations...." both showed how much MM has matured as a series and should be taken seriously.

Glad it won! I'll bet Jon Hamm was very close in the running for Best Actor.

Congrats!

.....I'd have to agree with you, ho and 3, although choosing just one is so difficult.

Obviously there were outstanding aspects of every episode, but because A Night to Remember was such a seminal turning point in this character's life, and January so nailed something so intense, I'd have to say it's at least in the top three.

And I agree, the scenes between her and Jon in that episode were pretty riveting. (At a couple of points I think I was even yelling at the T.V.)

As to Vincent Kartheiser, I agree with Trudy, etc. I had commented much earlier that I've seen some of his other work, but he transforms so completely into Pete Campbell that I literally forget I am watching an actor.

Vincent has an amazing range, has been doing great work for a long time, and will no doubt be recognized himself in future major awards nominations.

six month leave.

A tie between Night to Remember and Meditations...both great.

Dry Manhattan, you are so right about Vincent Kartheiser. He is absolutely amazing and at his age, not even 30 yet, he hasn't even done his best work yet. He's sure to have a mantle full of awards by middle age.

Meditations in an Emergency would be my pick for the GG, with A Night to Remember as a close second. So many of the characters were incredible in both those episodes.

I'd vote for Meditations in Emergency too.

I'll second Ben on "Six Month Leave". Dick Dollars, Mike Moneybags and Tilden Katz - it reminded me of the rat pack! Cheers ;o)

.....I keep harkening back to the standout, phantasmagorical dream episode, The Jet Set, like some kind of "jewel in the crown...."

The trip to California was so unlike any other episode, for obvious reasons, and made it the intoxicating exception to the rule, as well as opening our minds into the myriad Donald Drapers of the future.

A spiritually autonomous man, following his will.

It was so un-Mad Men, and yet so key to the next four seasons.

I still think it's dicey whether or not Draper settles into "Life With Betty," at least at this point.....

Dry, Don has to settle down - it will just break little Sally's heart if he doesn't come home and stay there. Poor little Bobby will be a lost boy forever unless Don starts paying attention to him. Now with the third child, maybe twins, he would be an absolute heel if he kept running around and there is no way Weiner could make that likeable, esp. considering the social mores of that time. Having a steady relationship outside of marriage was one thing in the 60s, but the kind of bedhopping Draper was doing was unforgivable (at that time) at his age.