August 8, 2010 – 10:42 pm
“Welcome distractions”: that was the theme of this week’s episode of “Mad Men,” entitled “The Good News.” The title itself is ironic: while the nascent company has done fairly well financially in 1964, the lives of nearly everyone inside of it has gone more or less to complete hell. While tonight met the high quality of this early season so far, in many ways it was the most straightforward of the three episodes to date. While a subtle show, “Mad Men” occasionally hits its thematic concerns squarely on the nose, leaving little real room for actual interpretation. So rather than break things down in broad strokes, here are five takeaways from tonight’s episode.
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Far be it for me to let a little “Lost” controversy slip by into the ether of the interwebs without making a comment or two. Or four. Or eight. Or…you know what? Not gonna do it. Not gonna repeat all The Numbers. That was cute pre-“The End”, but now seems something more appropriate for John Nash or the lead in “Rubicon.” No, I’m gonna talk a little about the leaked version of “The New Man in Charge” that popped up to absolutely no one’s surprise before the release of the Season 6 DVD set. If you were surprised, well, I have a few bridges I’d like to sell you.
I’m not here to talk about the merits of leaked footage of this 12-minute bonus feature that shows glimpses of, among other things, what happened during Hurley’s time as Island Protector. Leaked footage is never a GOOD thing, but at times it’s an indifferent thing. It’s all a matter of taste. Leaked Justin Bieber songs really don’t bother me either way, in that I pretend he doesn’t exist. If you’re an ABC executive, you might be upset someone will watch this and not buy the DVD set. It’s probably not a valid concern, but I can see their point. But again: I don’t care so much about that aspect of the leak as the assertion by some that what this leak constitutes is a spoiler.
Puh-lease.
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August 2, 2010 – 10:15 pm
Sure, plenty of people give you one podcast in a night. But Maureen “Mo” Ryan and I go above and beyond for you, dear listeners. Earlier in the night, we talked about the most recent episode of “Mad Men,” but we’re back for another podcast.
In this one, we’re talking the new AMC show “Rubicon,” potential replacements for Steve Carrell on “The Office,” shake-ups over at “American Idol,” and a general discussion of the evolution of the Television Critics’ Association Press Tour. It’s nearly an hour of great TV discussion, and you can listen to it all by subscribing to our podcast.
Enjoy!
Sure, you read my recap of last night’s episode of “Mad Men“. (Right? Right?)
But still wanting more? No problem. Maureen “Mo” Ryan and I discuss it for over 30 minutes in the latest podcast.
Make sure you’re subscribed here to enjoy!
August 1, 2010 – 11:43 pm
There’s a line in the sand approaching in terms of the seismic social events about to unfurl in the world of “Mad Men.” The characters in the show aren’t aware of it on a conscious level, but there are definitely subliminal hints all around to which they are reacting. The onset of Christmas and New Year’s Eve brings to mind the passage of time: another year gone, and all that’s gone with it. It’s one of the reasons I absolutely loathe the latter holiday: in what approximated my emo days in the 90’s, it signified nothing less than another year lost on the slow, rather mundane march towards death. And you wonder why I didn’t have more girlfriends back then.
But we’re not here to talk about me but those entrenched in or orbiting around the satellite that is Sterling, Cooper, Draper, and Pryce. Let’s take a quick glance at the three generations in play and how they are dealing with the advent of 1965.
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Art imitating life isn’t the most uncommon of things, but when events set in “Mad Men” mirror those at Comic-Con, well, THAT is unusual. (And no, I’m not talking about fanboys paying local call girls to slap them silly after the panel for “The Avengers.”) Both “Mad Men” and Comic-Con dealt with the issue of access to public figures, and the roles each party plays, and the power dynamics therein. Personally, I’m fascinated by both sides of the equation. But while hardly a disinterested party here, I think I’m distanced enough from the spectacle in San Diego to align myself more with Don Draper than the reporter from Ad Age at the outset of the show’s season premiere than some of the disgruntled fans that left Comic-Con.
It all comes down to this: at what point do we as consumers feel that those on the screen (or the stage in Ballroom 20) owe us anything at all?
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(Lookig for my recap of “Public Relations”? Click here!)
In honor of the season premiere of “Mad Men,” Maureen “Mo” Ryan and I sat down in a virtual, conference table-less room and talked for 45 minutes about the season premiere of the show.
As always, you can listen to (and subscribe to) the podcast by visiting our little slice of iTunes.
Enjoy!
What I noticed most in the season premiere of “Mad Men” was a window. Specifically, the window in Don Draper’s apartment in New York City. It cuts across the wall of his living room in a way that casts the abode in an almost reverse-Caravaggio effect. The bright backdrop nearly casts Don entirely, although not completely, in shadow. That hint of the exterior, that bare glimpse of The Ad Man Formerly Known as Dick Whitman, gives shape and form to the episode itself, “Public Relations.”
More after the jump.
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In this latest installment, Maureen “Mo” Ryan and I talk “Being Human,” “Jersey Shore,” “Project Runway,” discuss some of the shows that we’re catching up on/rewatching this summer, and preview Comic-Con 2010.
As always, you can listen to the merriment and mayhem by subscribing to our podcast. If you have an aversion to subscribing, well, Mo usually embeds the audio roughly 24 hours after it goes live over on her site as well.
Enjoy!
Last week, my podcast partner in crime Maureen Ryan posted a provocative column on the state of women in the television industry. Based on that article, I emailed her that we should further explore the topic in one of our podcasts. I further suggested that she think of people in the industry that she thought might be able and willing to aide that discussion. I may be many things, but “a woman working in the television industry” just isn’t one of them. I know. I fail at life.
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