Mad Men: “Favors” & Unintended Consquences

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Jun 132013
 

Tweet True to its title, “Favors” revolves around key characters requesting, providing, or receiving personal favors. The Vietnam War is the catalyst for the chain of “favors” between Don, Sylvia and their kids, Sally and Mitchell, at the epicenter. These expected and unexpected favors interconnect and triangulate agency business, personal relationships, and family ties.Sally is the victim of the collateral damage brought on by Don’s impulsive, self-destructive “comforting” of Sylvia. Sally’s already tenuous relationship with her father is severely strained, and she holds the key that can [read more]

Mad Men: “A Tale Of Two Cities” (And More)

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Jun 062013
 

Tweet A “Tale of Two Cities” focuses much of the action around agency business with the turmoil of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a backdrop. The episode unfolds as a fast-paced mix of disruption, conflict and compromise. Jim Cutler challenges the partners to seriously discuss a name change.  Don, Roger and Harry travel to Los Angeles to drum up new business and, once again, it turns into a traumatic trip for Don and things go awry at the agency. Ted goes off to Detroit to [read more]

Mad Men: “The Better Half”

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May 312013
 

Tweet “The Better Half” is an episode of connections, reconnections and disconnections that deftly intertwines business and personal lives. There is an ever present blaring of sirens that punctuate changes and choices that set the stage for new and radically altered relationships. Without the benefit of Dr. Hecht’s vitamin serum, it’s back to reality at the office. The agency is still trying to solidify its identity (and name) and the partners are grappling with carving out their roles and responsibilities. Don and Ted are doing [read more]

Mad Men: “The Crash”

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May 222013
 

Tweet Article first published as TV Review: Mad Men – “The Crash” on Blogcritics. “The Crash” takes SCDPCGC on an “energy serum” induced “trip” that is bizarre and largely disconnected from reality. The catalysts for all the bizarre behaviors are the increasingly difficult demands that Chevy is placing on the agency and the death of Frank Gleason. While these are real issues, just about everything else that happens at the agency is surreal and weird. The only people who escaped the insanity are Peggy, Ted and Pete, but it would [read more]

Mad Men: “Man With A Plan”

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May 152013
 

Tweet Article first published as Mad Men: “Man With A Plan” on Blogcritics. “Man With A Plan” picks up on the fast paced action of “For Immediate Release” by bringing the benefits and drawbacks of an agency merger into sharp focus. As I discussed in last week’s article, once the euphoria of winning Chevy and doubling the size of the agency fades, the harsh business realities of dealing with clients, managing egos, defining roles and trimming staff hit hard and fast. This episode is rich with sharp character [read more]

Mad Men: “For Immediate Release”

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May 092013
 

Tweet Article first published as Mad Men: “For Immediate Release” on Blogcritics. Mad Men has reawakened its advertising mojo. The focus of this week’s episode is on the “business” of advertising and how it compels the characters to be who they are. Everything develops brilliantly from that point of view. “For Immediate Release” is a powerful episode with exciting, unexpected, impulsive happenings that set the stage for tantalizingly compelling scenarios for the remainder of Season 6. From an advertising agency perspective this episode has it all. Account resignations and firings, [read more]

Mad Men Episode 5: The Flood

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May 022013
 

Tweet Article first published as Mad Men Episode 6: “The Flood” on Blogcritics. “The Flood” takes Mad Men down a river of shock, sadness, and disillusionment. Dr. King’s assassination in April 1968 is a tragic event that hits the nation hard, and it permeates the entire episode. The assassination touches everyone in different ways and exposes a wide array of feelings and reactions. Everyone’s personal and business worlds are disrupted. A usually upbeat and celebratory advertising awards show gets derailed, but the ceremony goes on despite the tragedy. The next day, business [read more]

Mad Men Extra: Did Peggy Channel DDB? Catsup vs Ketchup

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Apr 282013
 

Tweet Article first published as Mad Men: Did Peggy Channel DDB? Catsup vs Ketchup on Blogcritics As we get ready for the next episode of Mad Men I thought it would be fun to share an interesting sidelight to last week’s Heinz drama. SCDP and CGC both were pitching to take the prized Heinz Ketchup account away from their current agency, DDB.  A big risk for Don, a big opportunity for Peggy and the first time they went “head to head” on a major pitch. Don’s big idea was [read more]

Mad Men Episode 4: To Have and To Hold

 Advertising Agencies, Don Draper, Hank Wasiak, Interviews, Mad Men, Real Mad Men, Real Stories  No Responses »
Apr 242013
 

Tweet Article first published as Mad Men Episode 4: “To Have and to Hold” on Blogcritics. This Mad Men episode is ripe with conflict, hypocrisy, and risk taking. Racial issues are brought to the fore, agency loyalties are up for grabs, client accounts put at risk, and internal agency strife is amplified by secrets, resentments, and betrayal. All in all, “To Have and To Hold” is a fast moving, enjoyable episode, particularly from an “inside the agency” perspective. A series of events start out with the potential for positive business results [read more]

Mad Men: Collaborators,Conspirators And Consternation

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Apr 182013
 

Tweet Article first published as Mad Men: Collaborators, Conspirators, and Consternation on Blogcritics. Even by Mad Men standards, “Collaborators” is a dark and depressing episode. In addition to the usual menu of infidelities, betrayals, and marriage implosions there is a miscarriage, wife battering and a sobering reminder of Joan’s prostituting herself for a partnership. The radio and TV background noise is equally as grim with coverage of the current political and social tensions and stories about the Pueblo incident in North Korea and the Viet Nam War’s Tet Offensive. All [read more]

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