"Mad Men" (2007) TV series 2007-????

Creator:

Matthew Weiner

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

July 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Where The Truth Lies ...

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

1960s | Secretary | New York City | Advertising | Marriage

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 31 wins & 47 nominations

Cast

Jon Hamm	...	Don Draper (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
Elisabeth Moss	...	Peggy Olson (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Pete Campbell / ... (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
Christina Hendricks	...	Joan Holloway / ... (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
Bryan Batt	...	Salvatore Romano (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
January Jones	...	Betty Draper / ... (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
Michael Gladis	...	Paul Kinsey (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
Aaron Staton	...	Ken Cosgrove (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
Rich Sommer	...	Harry Crane (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
John Slattery	...	Roger Sterling (36 episodes, 2007-2009)
Kiernan Shipka	...	Sally Draper (36 episodes, 2007-2009)
Robert Morse	...	Bertram Cooper (27 episodes, 2007-2009)
Emelle	...	Secretary (25 episodes, 2007-2009)
Alison Brie	...	Trudy Campbell (20 episodes, 2007-2009)
Julie McNiven	...	Hildy (20 episodes, 2007-2009)
Eve Curtis	...	Secretary / ... (19 episodes, 2007-2009)
Mark Moses	...	Herman 'Duck' Phillips (16 episodes, 2007-2009)
Alexa Alemanni	...	Allison (16 episodes, 2007-2009)

Runtime:

Israel:45 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:TV-14 | Australia:M | Australia:PG (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

American Movie Classics (AMC)

Trivia:

Glen, the neighbor's young son who forms a connection with Betty, is portrayed by Marten Holden Weiner, the son of series creator Matthew Weiner.

Quotes:

Don Draper: I want you to do something for me Pete. I want you to get a cardboard box, and put all your stuff in it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Establishing Mad Men (2008) (V)

Start from the beginning - you wouldn't watch a foreign film without subtitles, would you?

The brilliance is all in the subtext. There are many hilarious moments that are only funny if you've been paying attention and understand where the character is coming from. There are also many tragic moments that would pass you by if you didn't know what came before. Many lines have double or even triple meanings. Watch this from the beginning, with a friend. Believe me, you will want to discuss each episode afterward to figure out some of the nuances of what happened.

The main Mad Man is the confident womanizer Don Draper, who is head of the Creative department at a mid-sized ad agency in 1960s Madison Avenue. I admit, at first I kind of hated him, but as the viewer learns more about him and his past, I learned to - not love him exactly - but like him and want to watch him endlessly. He is a complicated character who can be a very good man, but also a very bad man.

Don Draper is joined by a rich cast of supporting characters, many of whom deserve a show of their own: The ambitious young Campbell who is utterly sleazy most of the time, but has occasional moments of growth and even cuteness.Peggy Olson starts out as Draper's secretary, but her growth into a strong, confident woman mirrors what is happening for Woman in the 60's. Silver fox Stirling - he may be morally bankrupt but gets some of the best lines. I could go on . . .

The 60's clothes, hairstyles, decor, and current events provide an interesting backdrop for what is essentially a character piece. The setting provides both the occasional laugh (cigarettes being advertised as "healthy") and the more than occasional cringe (how could dumping trash from a picnic in the park right on the grass ever seem okay?!).

If you need fast-paced action or a laugh track, this definitely isn't the show for you. But, if you like character development and subtlety in your television shows, rent the first seasons on DVD and settle in. You won't regret it.