matthew weiner-related stories
Behind the scenes of the Mad Men season finale
You've read Allison's review and Joel's take on the Mad Men season finale, and I'd just like to add that I think it was the best episode of any TV series I've seen in years. Brilliant, dramatic, funny, even exhilarating. Here's a behind the scenes look at the episode, including interviews with Matthew Weiner and the cast.
Six Mad Men characters who are in limbo after the finale
That was some Mad Men finale, wasn't it? If you haven't seen it yet, please stop reading now, because there was just too much going on for me not to just launch into some discussion.
OK, I'll wait until after the jump to really get into things. But, suffice to say, the end of season three left some characters going down a pretty well-determined path, but others have entered a sort of limbo state, where we don't quite know what their roles will be in season four.
Continue reading Six Mad Men characters who are in limbo after the finale
So why is Conrad Hilton a character on Mad Men?
One of the things I love (out of many, many things) about Mad Men is the advertising, business, and social history that serves as a background to much of what goes on in the lives of the characters on the show. For example, Conrad Hilton has been a character on the show this season, hiring Don and Sterling Cooper as an ad agency. I assumed that Matt Weiner and his writers approached the Hilton family and/or the Hilton chain about using him on the show. But that's not what happened.
The Hilton chain actually approached the show.
Continue reading So why is Conrad Hilton a character on Mad Men?
Last night's Mad Men twist: brilliant or risky (or both)?
I continue to be amazed by Mad Men. I don't mean the overall quality of the writing, the acting, the direction, the production. It's easy to be amazed by all that. I'm talking about where Matthew Weiner and his writing staff are taking us.
I think we can all agree that, beyond the bigger picture of how the 1960s changed America, the big story on the show has been "Who is Don Draper?" It's the big secret that he's been keeping since episode one and it has really been the driving force of the show. But last night Weiner and Co. blew the show wide open by having Betty confront Don about the box in the drawer. And when she did, Don actually told the truth! And this wasn't even the season finale!
Continue reading Last night's Mad Men twist: brilliant or risky (or both)?
TV Squad's APB Podcast: Southland, Leno, Mad Men, and more
Week two of the revival of TV Squad's APB podcast has arrived! In this episode, Bob Sassone and Danny Gallagher join me to talk about TV's doings this week:- The cancellation of Southland and the role of The Jay Leno Show in that cancellation,
- A quick discussion about my interview with Mad Men's Matt Weiner last week,
- Another dip into our Ask TV Squad mailbag,
- Our picks for the week, and much more.
You can listen to the podcast below, or download it by subscribing to our RSS podcast feed. It is also available via iTunes. Feel free to leave us feedback in the comments.
By the way, the music at the beginning and end of the podcast is "Trevor Trailer Trash" by the late great New Brunswick, NJ band Cropduster.
Emmy-winning writer let go from Mad Men
Last month, Mad Men was celebrating winning a slew of Emmys. One of them was for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, the episode entitled "Meditations In An Emergency." When creator Matthew Weiner went onto the stage to grab the Emmy, with him was Kater Gordon, the co-writer of that episode. Today, Kater Gordon was let go from Mad Men. Are you shocked? Apparently, the industry press is. Gordon had risen from personal assistant to writer's assistant to member of the writing staff. After the Emmy, you would think that she was in like Flynn.
However, something must have gone awry or why has she been given her walking papers? And if you think it's not a dismissal, listen to this announcement from the show:
Continue reading Emmy-winning writer let go from Mad Men
Matthew Weiner of Mad Men: The TV Squad Interview
It's hard to say that a show that's already won a small U-Haul's worth of Emmys and other awards can be having a breakout season, but that seems to be what's happening with Mad Men during its third season. The buzz around the show has been as loud as we've heard since The Sopranos went to black, and that's not a coincidence; the man who created the early-1960s world of Sterling Cooper, Matt Weiner, was a writer on the landmark HBO drama.Weiner just completed shooting season three, and he took time out of his post-production process to sit down with me on Monday and talk about how the season has been going so far. I tried to get him to talk about what seems to be the show's inevitable roll towards the cataclysmic event of 1963, the Kennedy assassination, but Weiner was tight-lipped as usual. However, his observations on how he approaches events like that is an interesting read. Oh, and we also touch upon how he came up with the idea to run over a British ad exec's foot with a lawn mower, which is a good story by itself...
Continue reading Matthew Weiner of Mad Men: The TV Squad Interview
Mad Men renewed for fourth season
This should come as no surprise to even the most casual of TV Squad readers. Mad Men has been picked up for a fourth season, assuring that Matthew Weiner's engrossing and demanding tale of Don Draper and the people at Sterling Cooper will be played out for at least another year. When a show like Mad Men comes along, not unlike The Sopranos in quality and pop culture appeal, the question usually isn't whether the network will stand behind it for the duration, but whether or not the creative team envisions a long run.
Continue reading Mad Men renewed for fourth season
One more big post about Mad Men before tonight's season premiere
Hey, did you hear Mad Men's third season debuts tonight at 10 on AMC? Actually, when the show is this good, I don't mind the hype.To prepare for the third season, here are some more web goodies for you (in addition to avatars, sneak peeks and recaps). The New York Times has an article on the cocktails of the Mad Men era, and if you want to make some of your own AMC has the drink recipes. AMC also has a Which Mad Man Are You? quiz. Or how about buying some of the era's items for your house?
There are also several interviews to read before the premiere, including Jon Hamm (here too), Christina Hendricks, Elisabeth Moss, and Vincent Kartheiser.
Oh, something from the other night, after the jump...
Continue reading One more big post about Mad Men before tonight's season premiere
Everything you need to know about season two of Mad Men in four minutes
Earlier today, Joel gave you an early look at season three of Mad Men. We're not sure what exactly to expect from the new season, but we know what happened in season two. If you haven't seen season two for some reason, or just need a quick refresher before Sunday's season premiere, here's a recap of the entire season in four minutes.
Mad Men season three -- An early look
When I was in LA a couple of weeks ago, I was among a number of critics who were able to get a look at the first episode of Mad Men's third season, and I have to tell you, I liked it a lot.
Here's the problem: What do I say about it?
In the various conversations the other critics and I had with Matt Weiner, Jon Hamm and the rest of the cast during the TCAs, we were very politely asked not to reveal anything about the show, especially when it comes to when the first episode takes place. Remember that there was a two-year jump between seasons one and two, and I guess Weiner wants to keep the timeframe a secret this time around.
"You're going to get to see stuff before the audience does," said Weiner about me and my fellow critics. "Let them have the same experience you had."
Fair enough. But without the timeframe and a couple of other tidbits, it's tough to talk much about season three. But I'm gonna try. If I spoil anything, it'll be after the jump.
Continue reading Mad Men season three -- An early look
More Mad Men video goodness
AMC is starting to post more and more videos at their Mad Men site in anticipation of this Sunday's third season premiere. Below are two videos from the Mad Men premiere party that was held recently.
I like the life lesson that Alison Brie (Trudy Campbell) thinks the Sesame Street Mad Men parody will try to instill in kids.
I like the life lesson that Alison Brie (Trudy Campbell) thinks the Sesame Street Mad Men parody will try to instill in kids.
Continue reading More Mad Men video goodness
One week left for Banana Republic's Mad Men contest
For all you Sterling-Cooper fanatics that missed this one, you better hurry because there's only one week left.
Beginning back on July 21st, Banana Republic gave entry codes for the chance to win a Mad Men walk-on role. The catch? Well, first you have to actually go to a Banana Republic store to get one of the codes (can't get 'em online) and then you have to play dress-up -- as in, throw on the most Mad Men-ish clothes you got and snap some photos. Then submit the photos along with your code and wait patiently. Part of the contest is judged by the public, but Matthew Weiner makes the ultimate decision based on the semi-finalists.
Continue reading One week left for Banana Republic's Mad Men contest
Matthew Weiner gives a few vague clues about season three of Mad Men
Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner hates spoilers and is really careful about not giving too much away, so I don't know if we really find out anything from this interview at GQ. He does say that Don and Roger have issues to work out because Don feels betrayed, and he says that time has passed on the show but won't say how much time (I have to disagree with GQ when they guess two years, at least according to this). He also talks about fighting AMC over cutting two minutes of the show.
After the jump, a bonus video: Jon Hamm and John Slattery answer questions from fans.
Continue reading Matthew Weiner gives a few vague clues about season three of Mad Men
The ten most shocking moments on Mad Men
In case you can't tell this by the title of this post, let me just say what follows are MAJOR SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS.AMC has picked the 10 most shocking moments on Mad Men. This includes both seasons of the show, and it's a nice recap of some great scenes. I don't know about you, but I think that number three should definitely be in the top slot. It's one of the most hilariously gross things I've ever seen on television.
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Let's talk about spoilers ...
