Mad Men ended in a soft focus, feel-good, post-hippie haze, a heart-warming rendition of “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” in the form of a real-life 1971 Coke commercial that presaged globalism and—because it was an ad—globalization, too.
We can all agree that Mad Men has had its share of intense episodes, as it’s explored every hellish crevice of the virulently unscrupulous and morally bankrupt. But last night’s episode, with its escalating depiction of women at the cusp of feminism yet not close enough to save them, was in my mind the most…
The primary goal of the miniskirt was never about tempting men: designer Mary Quant, mother of the mini, always said its construction was meant for woman's lib, literally. "I liked my skirts short because I wanted to run and catch the bus to get to work," she told the Scotland Herald last year. "It was that feeling of…
Now that she's a partner in a big-time ad agency, Joan has been trying to redefine her duties within the company to accurately reflect her executive-level position, but it's been hard to make the transition when her colleagues still view her as the queen of the secretaries. Finally, her opportunity came knocking and…
Finally, four hours into the storytelling of Mad Men's sixth season, we get to catch up with Joan and see how she's faring since becoming the first female partner at SCDP. We soon learn that heavy hangs the head that's used as a battering ram against the glass ceiling.
Over the years, viewers have watched the very different trajectories of the lives of Joan and Peggy. Each has navigated the choppy waters of the cultural sea change in the 1960s of women in the workplace—in which "jobs" can now be "careers"—with their own methods that are as diverse as their results.
Mad Men fans will remember that Season 4 ended with Don proposing to Megan and Joan secretly pregnant with Roger Sterling's baby. But Jon Hamm let it slip in a recent interview that Don and Joan hook up in the upcoming season — or, at least, he wants you to think that they might! He said:
Let's make Christmas all about vampires and '50s ad agencies! We've got gifts for Mad Men enthusiasts, True Blood fangbangers and anyone goo goo for Lady Gaga. Caution: You're gonna want most of this stuff for yourself.
There's been some talk that (spoiler alert) one reason Joan on Mad Men didn't have an abortion was because she was worried that a third procedure would harm her future ability to conceive. Is that true, then or now?
[LAX, September 13. Image via Flynet.]
Cigar Aficionado cover celeb Michael Douglas quit smoking four years ago. Recently, he was diagnosed with throat cancer, and according to reports, there's a chance he could lose his voice. And yet: Smoking still holds a certain sex appeal.
While last night's Joan-centric episode was a welcome break from a season full of the Draper drips, Mad Men has lost the appealing luster of the early '60s, as it enters into the more depressing half of the decade.
SPOILERISH! You know how in most episodes of Mad Men there's a scene that hits you like a prostitute slapping Don in the face? This sneak preview clip featuring Joan from next week's episode may be that scene.
The Mad Men dolls are not for kids. According to The New York Times, they're part of the "premium-price collectors' series" for adults. But there's a problem with the mini Don Draper, Betty Draper, Roger Sterling and Joan Holloway:
[New York, February 17. Image via Bauer-Griffin]
We love John Webster's unofficial Mad Men Valentines, but since they don't cover Season 3, we've made a few more. Feel free to print them out, paste on macaroni, and give them to your Valentine — or even your spouse.
[Century City, January 30. Image via Getty.]
[Los Angeles, January 15. Image via Getty]
But, come on: who could resist a Joan reference here?! [Vintage_Ads]
