The Grown-Ups (1 Nov. 2009)

On the weekend of the John F. Kennedy assassination, Pete finds out that he lost the promotion to Cosgrove, Roger Sterling's daughter's wedding goes off as planned, and Betty musters up the courage to respond to Don's confessions.

Director:

Barbet Schroeder

Writers:

Matthew Weiner (creator), Brett Johnson,

Stars:

Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jon Hamm	...	Don Draper
Elisabeth Moss	...	Peggy Olson
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Pete Campbell
January Jones	...	Betty Draper
Christina Hendricks	...	Joan Harris
Bryan Batt	...	Salvatore Romano (credit only)
Michael Gladis	...	Paul Kinsey
Aaron Staton	...	Ken Cosgrove
Rich Sommer	...	Harry Crane
Robert Morse	...	Bertram Cooper
John Slattery	...	Roger Sterling
Jared Harris	...	Lane Pryce
Mark Moses	...	Herman 'Duck' Phillips
Talia Balsam	...	Mona Sterling
Kiernan Shipka	...	Sally Draper

Storyline

It's November 21, 1963, and no one seems to be particularly happy. The heating/cooling system at Sterling Cooper isn't working properly, so people are either freezing to death or sweltering in the heat. That is nothing compared to the news Pete receives: Ken has been made sole Vice-President of Accounts. This news makes Pete contemplate his future. Don is upset that no one has been hired to replace Sal, and it doesn't look like Lane is in any hurry to do so. Margaret Sterling's wedding is in two days and she is still upset that her step-mother, Jane, is planning on attending. Jane, on the other hand, is angry that Roger dotes on his daughter more than he pays attention to her. The unlikely allies in the Sterling family feud are Roger and Mona. But none of these unfortunate goings-on compare to the news the world hears the following day: that President John F. Kennedy has been assassinated. This news places a pall over the world, and makes people reconsider attending the Sterling ...

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 2009 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Movie Classics (AMC), Lionsgate Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The statesman whose mourning address is shown on TV footage after the Kennedy assassination is the mayor of Berlin (and later West German chancellor) Willy Brandt.

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Connections

References Singin' in the Rain (1952)

User Reviews

Back on track

What is really memorable from this season so far, now that we're facing down the finale? Betty and Don in Italy, her father bonding over ice cream with Sally, Don remembering oddly disjointed California memories of his past? Heck no. All of that was quite boring actually. Mad Men was on and I was finding odd jobs to do around the house. But then it got better! A guy lost his foot to a lawn mower! Betty confronted Don (finally)! And now JFK's assassination overshadowing--so very, very deservedly overshadowing--a spoiled little rich girl's wedding. THIS is the good stuff. I wonder if the writers felt they were losing people from the slow start of the first half of the season or if this was the concept all along: a bland and outdated first half with a roller coaster ride build-up? What was the purpose of Don taking an unscheduled three weeks to live the weird LA lifestyle? If it was just to set up his "ex" wife for viewers that was as wasted airtime as his underage sex romp with an Olympian fencer's daughter.

But we're back in NY with the company on the chopping block and emotions are running high all around. Let's hope they do something worthy of all this and continue with the much needed rescue of Season 3.