Is it really believable that Harry would do absolutely nothing in this situation? Seems like it would have been a relatively risk-free move for Harry to give Roger a heads-up, and let Roger be the one to suss out the situation and make the call on what to do.

But then Harry's afraid of Roger -- and what with Roger becoming even more of a "hothead" than ever--maybe Harry was trying to play the odds -- i.e. the liklihood that "telling" would cause the situation to blow-up vs. the odds of the situation "blowing over."

Then there was always the option of telling Pete -- anybody think that would have helped?

Poor Goofy Harry-I think he was in a position.."damned if you..damned if you don't. He wanted to please the client who told him not to say anything. He was thinking it would all blow over. But going to Pete would have been a disaster. Pete having that kind of information on Sal could be devastating.

I loved that line--- and that Harry is the type of guy to be honest enough to say it!

The only reason I can think of why Harry did not immediately go to Sal to say "What the hell is this guy talking about?" is that he suspected the answer already. Because of that, he was too embarrassed to approach Sal directly and didn't want to go to his superiors in case they questioned him on why he hadn't already discussed this with Sal.

Knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Harry didn't know what happened.
He's just incompetent.

Right now Harry is the funniest character on the show. From when he started tap, tap, tapping on the table in the conference room and Roger yelled at him, to when he admitted what Junior had ordered him to do, he was so scared he looked like he was going to go #2 in his pants. And Roger has no remorse in chewing him out big time. I just think the way Harry looks is priceless. I almost feel sorry for the spineless, gutless jelly fish. Except his inaction probably cost Sal his job.

So who does Harry report to? He blew it, but should he have gone to Don, Roger, or Pete? Since the merger I am a little fuzzy about the chain of command.

p.s. If Harry had a brain, he would have recognized Joan's talent for the television department - and this would never have happened.

@Penultimate: I think that sounds right as to why Harry didn't immediately go to Sal....

This seems to be the most "gossip-free" office on the planet -- it's hard to believe that there would not have been whispers, not only about Sal, but I've always thought it unrealistic that the women in the office would not have figured it all out about Peggy and Pete, including the pregnancy.

@Deep Dish: I think Harry in this case was supposed to take "client matters" to Pete or Roger because Pete was the "account man" for Lucky Strike, ultimately reporting to Roger .

Harry does seem to be beside himself on many occasions. Remember when he opened Ken's paycheck envelope and then panicked? Who did he call? Sal. Shame on you Harry, how quickly you forget...Joan, Sal. Hmph!

Harry should stay home and change diapers and let his wife do the job. She was the one behind him getting the promotion originally, when he called her, crying because he opened Ken's paycheck and it was bigger. She told him to march in there and ask for a a raise and a promotion. And as I remember, Roger screwed him then, too.

If Harry were a woman, what kind of job would he have?

Hi everyone!
Harry has so much power, and he doesn't realize it. He is the head of the television division!
This is the ad future.

@jeffe64: I agree with you, Harry was in a "catch 22" position...

I have to agree with the poster saying Harry didn't know what was going on, but...I don't think he was incompetent at all. I mean who would be thinking that this guy was going to come on to a man?

@flowerpower: If Harry were a woman, he'd be on the switchboard? No, no...way too stressful.

With bosses like Roger and Don, the messenger always gets shot. Then they wonder why, in that sort of atmosphere, no one wants to tell them anything, especially Roger.