Mad Men (2007– )

A drama about one of New York's most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm's most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper.

Creator:

Matthew Weiner

Stars:

Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser

Won 4 Golden Globes. Another 61 wins & 154 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Jon Hamm	...	Don Draper (74 episodes, 2007-2013)
Elisabeth Moss	...	Peggy Olson (74 episodes, 2007-2013)
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Pete Campbell (74 episodes, 2007-2013)
January Jones	...	Betty Draper (74 episodes, 2007-2013)
Christina Hendricks	...	Joan Harris (74 episodes, 2007-2013)
Aaron Staton	...	Ken Cosgrove (74 episodes, 2007-2013)
Rich Sommer	...	Harry Crane (74 episodes, 2007-2013)
John Slattery	...	Roger Sterling (71 episodes, 2007-2013)
Kiernan Shipka	...	Sally Draper (71 episodes, 2007-2013)
Robert Morse	...	Bertram Cooper (62 episodes, 2007-2013)
Michael Gladis	...	Paul Kinsey (40 episodes, 2007-2012)
Bryan Batt	...	Salvatore Romano (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
Christopher Stanley	...	Henry Francis (36 episodes, 2009-2013)
Jared Harris	...	Lane Pryce (35 episodes, 2009-2012)
Alison Brie	...	Trudy Campbell (33 episodes, 2007-2013)
Jessica Paré	...	Megan Draper (31 episodes, 2010-2013)

Storyline

The lives of the men and women who work in an advertising agency in New York in the 1960s. The agency is enjoying success, but the advertising game becomes more competitive as the industry develops. The agency must adapt to ensure its survival. Don Draper is a talented ad executive at the top of his game, but the secrets from his past and his present threaten to topple his work and family life.

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Plot Keywords:

executive | 1960s | new york | advertising | advertising agency | 

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Taglines:

Where The Truth Lies ...

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ljudi sa Menhetna

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Center Studios - 450 S. Bixel Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lionsgate Television, Weiner Bros., American Movie Classics (AMC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2008, this series and Damages became the first basic-cable shows nominated in the best drama series category at the Emmys.

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Goofs

IBM Selectric IIs are shown used in the offices. They weren't available until the 1970s. Mad Men takes place in the 60s.

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Connections

Spoofed in Live fra Bremen: Episode #6.12 (2012)

User Reviews

Mad Woman Falling in Love with Mad Men

I'm in love with this new show. As noted in previous comments (correcting other comments), this show takes place in 1960, and not the 50s. I find the criticism of this show funny--it's a television show, folks. I don't think it's meant to be 100% accurate. If it were, it would be pretty humdrum, imo.

A poster said he/she thought all the smoking and drinking was a bit much and contrived. However, I think it's fairly accurate. I'm in advertising NOW, and we always have vodka in the freezer...a couple of the men in the office open a bottle of scotch in the afternoons. Although the drinking on the clock isn't AS pronounced today as it was in 1960, I do believe Mad Men accurately depicts agency behavior during that time. My art director mentioned to me that the 70s in advertising were very similar; smoking and drinking in the office, on the clock.

I think Mad Men is genius. First of all, it's sexy; the colors, the lighting, the costumes, the dialogue...it's hot, hot, hot! It is also inspiring! The first episode's "It's Toasted" epiphany gave me goosebumps; ad dorks like me all know that "ah ha!" moment...we strive for it. We live for it.

So regardless of whether or not the typewriters are period or how despicable the women on the show are treated by the men (btw, there is still a lot of that going on in the work place, and for some reason, I think advertising alums are prone to it--I've encountered a couple creative and client meetings in which I was ashamed of the words coming out of the male mouths), this show is a good one that I plan to continue watching. I'm thrilled to find a show that, although it's not an accurate depiction of real "Mad" men and women, shows how inspiring good BIG ideas can be and that (as noted in another comment) good advertising is still created the old fashioned way...with creative and rational thinking and not computers.