Matt Weiner's words to the fans [on Basket Of Kisses]

http://www.lippsisters.com/

clickable in comments

Sweet Relief

OK - do you think we can start a countdown calendar now?
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matthew-weiner-signs-long-term-173630

Care to talk about commercials, anyone?

Since they are 2 of the 3 sticking points, according to MW, in why our favorite show isn't going to come on schedule...maybe we should air our true feelings about them...because this is the one area in which somebody might actually care what we (consumers) think. So, I'll start with some random thoughts...please jump in with yours...

JOIN THE QUOTE GAME VOLUME 21

OK, racy, we are getting close to the 25 mark.

What play by Shakespeare would you like to see the cast of MM produce?

And which actor in which part???

Jon Hamm

I really think Jon Hamm could be the only actor that could replace Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men and pull it off

Matt Weiner not reaturning to Mad Men!

.--- "Mad Men" won't disappear in a huff ... but the creator, Matt Weiner, might not be involved as AMC promises the series will return in early 2012. AMC, of course, is about to do an IPO as it is no longer on Cablevision's books ... so the pressure to cut some costs is strong. ---

from - The Morning BRIDGE [morningbridge@mediabizcorp.com]

Statement Matt Weiner on Basket Of Kisses

link in comment

Jon Hamm & Jennifer Westfeldt in LA theater play

link in comment

Matt has signed the dotted line!

It's 2012 and Christina Hendricks is not returning...

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celebrity/520970/mad-men-will-return-but-not-until-2012.html

Does anyone have the new DVD'S?

Does the Music CD's come with it? If not does anyone have it. Is it Carbonara's music of the show and more of the era? Tell Tell! And How much??

Mad Men Scoops Up an award!

http://j.mp/e6BwXn

Thirty Million Dollars!

Believe me when I say, Matt Weiner is signing on the dotted line! Let's Celebrate. He's coming back to Season 5 for sure!

Re: Proposed Changes to Mad Men

You know, it is almost insulting - no, it is totally insulting, to be posting about the destruction of a wonderful series like Mad Men and have to look at AMC's "Story Matters Here" motto. Gee, it can't matter too much to you fellas and gals if you want to cut the story to showcase the floor wax. How about just being honest with us and changing that to read "Money Matters Here".

Let's be clear. I am a fan of Mad Men from the beginning of Season 1. I do not want shorter episodes, I do not want fewer characters, and I most certainly do not want commercials popping up in my face every time a character opens a file cabinet, a kitchen cabinet or a medicine cabinet. I want Mad Men back just exactly the way Matt Weiner envisioned it from day one. I don't want to have to wait until 2012 to find out if Don marries Megan, if Joan's husband returns from Viet Nam, or if Betty winds up back on her fainting couch with a bottle of red wine 'cause Henry has dumped her. But I would gladly wait until 2012 for Season 5 of Mad Men if I could only be sure that it would return with all of its genius quality, cast and crew intact.

Honestly, AMC, this is Mad Men we are talking about, not Alf or My Mother the Car. Matt Weiner has handed you the goose that lays golden eggs. Are you going for the Peking Duck or the perfect omelette? I want the omelette, and I am betting every Mad Men fan would agree with me.

Mad Men Garage Sale

Well folks, it looks like Mad Men is in Austerity Mode. So what do a lot of people do when they need to raise some quick cash? They conduct a garage sale. They also sell things on eBay, but hey, this is the late 1960s. Or they rob a bank, but let's keep things relatively honest around here. Let me begin with a few items that might fetch a few bucks to pay for Season Five. I would consider selling:
Betty's fainting sofa
Don's apartment furniture
Bert Cooper's Asian art collection
Jane Sterling's jewelry collection
Jane Sterling
Lee Garner, Jr., for scientific experiments
Don's Cadillac, vomit-scented, as-is
A date with Don in said Cadillac
Don's notorious desk, contents intact
Ida Blankenship's unpublished memoirs
The 1,999,999 unsold copies of "Sterling's Gold"

Your contributions?

Which six?

Okay, Maddicts, wipe away the tears, breathe deeply, swallow that lump in your throat. Which six would you cut and why?

Matt Weiner's Talks For 'Mad Men' Mega Deal Could Collapse Over Cost-Shaving

http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/matt-weiners-talks-for-mad-men-mega-deal-could-collapse-over-cost-shaving/

Negotiations between Mad Men creator/executive producer Matt Weiner and AMC and Lionsgate Television seemed close enough to expect the cable network's signature show to lock a fifth season in time for AMC's April upfront meetings with advertisers.

But, with just few deal points outstanding in the proposed blockbuster deal--which would pay Weiner close to $30 million over two years--word is that talks are suddenly on the rocks. Though Weiner is poised to become the highest-paid showrunner on basic cable, he is objecting to three things AMC/Lionsgate are asking for: integrating product placement into the series, cutting 2 minutes from each episode's running time in favor of more commercials and eliminating two regular cast members to save money. Weiner is resisting all of the above.

"This is their storied franchise, and they want it shorter and cheaper, with fewer actors and more product integration," an insider said. "The negotiations are about to collapse as a result." Reps for Lionsgate and AMC claim negotiations with Weiner's reps continue. The delay in closing a new deal with Weiner has already pushed the scheduled production start on Season 5 and will lead to the Emmy-winning period drama missing its target summer premiere date.

Weiner was in a similar standoff with AMC over extra 2 minutes of commercial load on the show 2 years ago. Ultimately, the two sides agreed to let the episodes run over into the 11 PM hour so extra ad time could be added without having to shorten the scripts. Those defending losing two minutes of Mad Men to commercials point out that Mad Men's running time will still be longer than 90% of basic cable drama series.

(It seems that AMC is already cutting its costs with this wonky forum.)

Roger in The Adjustment Bureau

he's having a good year ... in Lincoln Towncar commercials and this excellent movie http://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2011/03/adjustment-bureau-what-do-mad-men-and.html

But I Digress- #2 - This site has amind of its own!

Due to recent circumstances, I am asking if anyone has anything to say about "A Night to Remember" or "Six Month Leave" feel free to post it here! We are all a little disturbed by the back and forth re Mad Men and if you stink at the Quote Game (like me) here's another choice. Or you can clean your house....aaahhhh!

But, I digress.....(a personal joke)

JOIN THE QUOTE GAME VOLUME 20

Here we are again. Bring your old quotes/songs to this site. See you there.

Emmy slugfest over best drama actor: Jon Hamm vs. Steve Buscemi

Will Jon Hamm win the Emmy Awrad this year?

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2011/03/hugh-laurie-house-md-shameless-friday-night-lights-boardwalk-empire-news.html

king News: AMC, Lionsgate Make a Deal With Matthew Weiner

Clickable link in Comments:

http://flavorwire.com/163914/matthew-weiner-mad-men-deal?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Day+3+%28Wednesday%29&utm_campaign=All+Cities+Unified+Mailer

This just in...

See below for link to Variety article

Madmen & Breaking Bad

When will these programs resume their regular seasons?

JOIN THE QUOTE GAME VOLUME 19

Please carry over your unsolved quotes/songs from Volume 18.

Betty White on Mad Men

In the letters section of Entertainment Weekly, someone made the suggestion of Jon Hamm and Betty White to host the Oscars next year. I certainly agree that those two would make wonderful hosts. They have both shown themselves to be hilariously funny and game for anything, plus they are very talented actors. This suggestion also got me thinking about Betty White appearing on Mad Men. Maybe we Maddicts could start a campaign for that as was done to get Betty on SNL. Since Don Draper seems to be suffering from Murphy Brown Syndrome when it comes to secretaries, Betty could show up on Season 5 as Don's new secretary. Or perhaps Bert's secretary? Isn't it about time for Bert Cooper to have a hot romance? Don and Roger shouldn't have all the fun, after all.

How about it, Maddicts, care to offer some suggestions on character and story lines for Betty White on Mad Men?

New season when does it start

Rule #1: Never Fall in Love --- Roger's in a Music Video!

Looky Here Is that Roger in Music Video?
The link here it is Rock on Sterling!

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2011/03/the_nationals_new_video_stars.php

The Golden Violin: "Money Can't Buy You Class (but you can steal your Co-Workers Cigarette Lighter)

So it's time to recap the Golden Violin

Don Draper needs a new Car (his old Dodge had Bobbi Barrett Cuties)

You've come along way Dick Whitman swimmin' in a hole in a quarry or going potty in a hole with a rope. Donald Draper: You get to wear a tux every night!
What's with the Caddie Salesman's faux British Accent?
Jane Siegel leads the junior execs on a field trip to Coop's office (Blankenship won't mind) to look at Coops $10K painting of red squares! after hours. Joan's got some competition for the attention of the men folk of the office.

Kenny Ken Cosgrove is a deep fellow! - he's an accounts exec by day and clueless writer by night.
Sal "Hearts" Ken but Sal is married!

Kitty thinks she's being neglected by Sal, (she is)

Joan does her Campiest Joan Crawford on a Telenovela impression: What on God's Green Earth Are You Doing Here?

Jane: I'm the future Mrs. Roger Sterling B$@!#h you
better recognize!!
Jimmy Barett may have a TV deal but he's still a Cabron.
Sally asks: Are we Rich?
Betty: Its not polite to talk about money (but yes We're Dysfunctional).
Oh Snap Betty finds out about Bobbie Barrett and Don.

Come on you know she knew on some level!

"You people are crude and Ugly (what people comedians?)
Jimmy called Don trash "I got everything I wanted.. What did you get Bobbie? You don't screw another Man's wife.."
Betty and Don in the caddie silent and of course the episode ends with vertical vomit (did Betty vomit cause of too much drinking? a sign of being preggers? or is she just disgusted by the image of Bobbie Barrett and her Hubby (that old thing??)
The Coupe de Ville needs a good scrubbing.

Open Thread

A place for Maddicts to throw anything they please into the hat for discussion, on the subject of Mad Men or off, and just like Goosey Gander, we will wander upstairs, downstairs and through my lady's chamber, and most likely, hither, thither and yon, before winding up back on track. We Maddicts like to digress.

JOIN THE QUOTE GAME VOLUME 18

Who would have thought we could go on and on and on. But here we are!

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY JOHN HAMM!!

Happy birthday John Hamm

Jon Hamm To Overenthusiastic Fan: 'You're Ruining Me For Everyone' [2nd attempt]

What's wrong with this site today?
-
MARCH 10, 2011
NEW YORK--A visibly exasperated Jon Hamm, star of the hit AMC series Mad Men, announced Monday that overly exuberant fan Marla Parker was ruining him for everybody else by constantly blathering about his talent and good looks. "Take it easy, you're starting to really annoy people," said Hamm, who told reporters he risks a public backlash if Parker keeps mentioning to her coworkers that, in addition to being a gifted dramatic actor, he's also very funny. "I'm not irritating, but people will start to think I am because you're so irritating. People associate me with you now. Please shut up." Hamm closed his remarks by urging Parker to devote her attentions to someone who would appreciate it, such as actor Nathan Fillion
-

http://onion.com/emiYdE

Posts clumping together problem fix

I think I know how to fix this.
If you look directly below your "start a new post" box on a thread you'll see four selections for showing the posts: "newest, oldest, most liked, and most replied" Make sure yours is on "newest" and they will no longer clump and should reply where intended.
Of course, it's just a theory

Vincent and Rich in commercial for high-speed train

Vincent Kartheiser and [an unshaven] Rich Sommer in short clip of a commercial for a high-speed train, as their characters Pete and Harry.

The complete commercial will be out today [march 9th]

link below

The Maidenform : Nice N' Sleazy (does it does it everytime!)

What do women want? - According to Don and SCDP (just another reason to get closer!!) and what do Men Want? Jackie K? Marilyn? a line or a curve?
Its time for a recap and its the Brau-dition (ba dum dum)...
Maidenform is catching up to Playtex they want a campaign to stop the competition in their tracks!
So you're either a marilyn or Jackie? but in this episode you're either nice or sleazy !
Duck - he's sleazy! and evil cause he let Chauncey out in the street (there's a place in hell for you buddy!)

Pete - in this episode definitely sleazy for having a trist at that model's apartment while her mom is in the next room (you nasty and sleazy buddy! Yuck!)

Betty: She flirts with Arthur case at the club, but her mommy kryptonite (Sally and Bobby) stop her from flirting even more ("Let's be Friends" she said to Arthur). She buys a bikini at the auction (now she too wants to be sleazy no more Mrs. Nice). Don calls her desperate and she sulks (bye bye Mrs. Sleazy)

Paul Kinsey - definitely sleazy forcing his way into that account and making things difficult for Ms. Nice (Peggy)

Ken - definitely sleazy! that put down when Peggy asks if she is a Marilyn or Jackie and he says Gertrude Stein?
Peggy: She's nice but has to get her sleaze on to be a part of the old boys network.
Roger - Sleazy but Funny! that remark about Jane (his wife to be) was priceless. Does your wife know about this.. I wanna be there when she finds out" -- no Roger I wanna be there when your wife finds out!
Bobbie Barrett - Sleazy Sleazy and Sleazy no nice for you girly!.
Sal - I give him a nice because he said Peggy looked Hellenic (awww!)
Joan - Nice, she tells Peggy she needs to stop dressing like a little girl and to speak the language.

Freddy - Sleazy because he tells Peggy to write him tidalating copy and slaps her on the bum with a folder.

Don - Hmm those two trysts with Bobbie Barrett, Leaving his family alone during the memorial day holiday, calling his wife desperate... I say sleazy!

Another professor weighs in on Mendelsohn's Mad Men article:

http://www.hnn.us/articles/137165.html

I find it quite interesting that so many educators and literary types put so much time and thought into this TV show.

I will add a clickable link to this very long article as soon as the topic posts.

JOIN THE QUOTE GAME VOLUME 17

We're still having fun with this game so I've started a new volume.

When does the new season begin?

What are you watching during hiatus?

I like many of you can't wait for Season 5 to start. I have't found a 1 hour drama to follow since Season 4 of Mad Men started! (YO! Sign a flippin' contact already!) .
Here is a very interesting film that I came across (that will be in theaters shortly) its called "Potiche" or Trophy Wife. It takes place in 1977 and it stars Catherine Deneuve (honorary Mad Men reference remember Lane and Don's Excellent Adventure Episode i.e "The Good News") as the Potiche in question whose husband runs her deceased Father's umbrella business.. The dude is a real "schifoso" who sleeps around with his secretary and treats his workers and wife like trash.. anyway he has a heart attach and the Potiche becomes the Boss. Any way I have posted a link below. Those of you living in New York City, the film is probably out in theaters..

Mad Men's Influence Continues.....

This news story on Nightly News with Brian Williams is about women and the U.S. economy. Not only do they show a clip of the show, but also notice throughout the piece, the use of the Mad Men-esque style of graphics!! Very cool. Here's the link and I will re-post below in the comments for easy clickability. (A short ad precedes the story.)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/41915431#41915431

The New Girl - Episode 5

Anyone for commenting on a little office hijinks as things begin to get interesting with the SC gang?
Episode recap:
Pete and Trudy see the fertility specialist. Pete worried about the present state of the world and its consequences. Joan gets engaged - see her new ring (? ) Rachel gets married...see her new husband (!) Bobbi and Don attempt a drive to Long Island together, wind up crashing their car. Peggy Olson rescues the hapless couple- bailing out Don from jail and giving Bobbie digs while her black eye turn to a more managable color. During her stay, Bobbie decides to give Peggy some of her older woman wisdom. Peggy has a first flashback (at this point) to her visit from her mother/sister after giving birth....then a second flashback before Bobbie leaves when Don gave her his hospital advice to move foward with her life. Bobbie's advice was "You can't be a man - be a woman" Don's advice is to move forward with your life as if certain things never happened.
Betty (still unaware of the real reason for the lost night) worries about Don's latest "confession" - he has high blood pressure. Jane Seigal is a big hit at the office and attracts all the men Ken, Paul and (yuk) Harry... Don in a sling now at the office is aloof saying she needs to last at least make a month to matter.
By the end of the show it is revealed Pete's sperm is normal, and and Peggy can incorporate all of the confusion around her very well. She thanks Don as he repays her a portion of the bail money and is cool when she greets Bobbie and her husband when they arrive to see Don. The episodes concludes with Betty withholding salt from Don because as she explained to the children "we love him."

JOIN THE QUOTE GAME VOLUME 16

Start your new quotes/songs here and don't forget to transfer your unsolved quotes/songs over here.

The Secretary Awards

With the Award Season (Academy, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild) a distant memory.. I think its only fitting to present the nominees for the Secretary Awards -- and the nominees for Don's Best Secretary are:
Peggy Olson -- yes she could be the best secretary.. but! once her copywriting skills were discovered she never stopped dreaming of a career beyond the secretary pool. She held down two jobs (junior copywriter/assistant) and Don's Secretary.. sure she was the mold that the others were cast from.. but does anyone really want the job? (or are they after the.. the RING?)
Ida Blackenship -- she was funny -- the original gangsta hellcat! but I think Joan was punishing Don for his liaison with Allison.

Lois? No.. and No.. too naive and a little too spacey

Jane Siegel -- no her allegiance to Roger made her a bad bad choice for Don's secretary besides there wasn't much in the head even if she was a "college educated girl"
Megan -- she almost got her boss sent to prison (DOD Contract Application) and made him and the agency a laughing stock (Teddy Chaough RFK impression). Rookie mistakes nearly cost her her job. As for the DOD contract application -- lots of secretaries fill out forms for their bosses but I put the blame on Don he was probably drunk when she handed him the forms to sign. But! The form gave her the perfect excuse to do a little reconaissance on her man looking through his personnel file. Come to think of it could those form and the way he reacted be the cause of Megan learning the truth about her husband to be??.
And the steno pad goes to....
Alison.
Why? she anticipates her bosses needs (no really!), hasn't made any mistakes on the job (besides sleeping with Don only that was his fault)... lets the important people in his offices.. is able to shoo away the hanger ons, and she's not as imposing as Joan. Would the DOD fiasco have happened on Allison's watch probably not (but I'll give Megan the benefit of the doubt -- rookie mistake).... Thoughts?

The case for moving (fast) forward -- time wise

So without a season 5 start date (or contract for that matter), I think that the usual 1 or 2 year move forward per season may not feasible given the physical changes of some of the actors most notabily the children of the series. Personally I for see a leap of at the very least 2 years given the gap in time of filming. What are some of the pros and cons of such a change -- some viewers see the slow pace and subtly of the show to be difficult to follow (okay so Mad Men isn't "All My Children" i.e. three episodes and you know what Erica Kane's problems are ). But a huge leap in time leaves alot of open problems (the better to revisit perhaps?). Thoughts?