"Mad Men" is the original new series that is airing on Thursday nights on AMC Cable TV. The series debuted on July 19, 2007 Thursday at 10 pm Eastern time, 9:00 pm Central. The series is from writer and executive producer Matthew Weiner of "The Sopranos"
"Mad Men is set in 1960 New York, in the high-powered "Golden Age" of advertising. The prime time drama is about the ruthless and competitive men and women in the ego-driven world of Madison Avenue. Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency in the series is a high profile agency that create advertising campaigns selling everything from cigarettes to political candidates.
The tone of the 1960's workplace is so different from the workplace today, that is looks foreign in this day and age. Was sexual harassment really this blatant in 1960's New York?
No doubt, sexual harassment in the workplace has been around for ages. Imagine a scenario today where the "new girl" is told to suck in her stomach so she looks like a woman.
The women of in the office are called secretaries, but are trained to act like wives, nursemaids, and even prostitutes. Pointy bras and full swingy skirts are the styles of the age.
The climate of the 1960 workplace of Sterling Cooper is full of sexual harassment, smoke filled rooms and white men. According to the television interviews promoting this new series, women accepted harassment as part of the norm of the workplace. Allegedly, women of the 1960's accepted sexual harassment as business as usual.. In 1960, sexual harassment in New York's advertising world was prevalent. Certainly, women were powerless to fight sexual harassment in whatever form it took in that unenlightened era.
The series depicts sexual exploits and the social mores in the ruthless advertising profession. The ad men shaped the hopes and dreams of Americans. The central character is Don Draper, who is the biggest ad man in the business. Don is a notorious ladies man, who makes a play for the women in the office.
In Episode 1: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes The drama unfolds in 1960 New York City and Don Draper call the shots in the boardroom and bedroom, struggles to stay ahead of the times. Young executives are nipping at his heels. The boardroom is filled with executives, choking and coughing on their cigarettes, while discussing how to convince the American public that smoking is not unhealthy.
Certainly, "Mad Men" aims at exposing the hypocrisy of the advertising business as the campaigns tell lies to sell the public a bill of goods in order to make the almighty buck.
Mad Men Cast & Crew
Jon Hamm as Don Draper: The central character of the series is creative director in the stressful corner office. Don fights to keep a controversial tobacco account from leaving the agency, while juggling a complicated personal life. Credits include "The Unit", "What About Brian" and "Related".
Vincent Kartheiser as Pete: Rising young account executive has his sights on Don Draper's job. He's engaged to be married to a wealthy finance, but is sizing up the new secretary. Credits include "Angel".
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy: New secretary learns the ropes Don Draper's secretary. Credits include "Virgin".
January Jones as Betty: Don Draper's innocent wife. A mother of two who lives outside of New York City
Michael Gladis as Paul: Young ad man who is climbing the corporate ladder.
Aaron Staton as Ken: Young ambitious account executive.
Rich Somer as Harry: Up and coming media buyer who follows Pete.
Christina Hendricks as Joan as the Office Manager who is mentoring the new girl, Peggy, by explaining that the way to succeed is to be more than an assistant. Credits include "Beggars and Choosers" and "Kevin Hill".
Maggie Siff as Rachel Menken is the female head of major Jewish Department store, seeking a advertising agency. .Credits include "Frank's Home" and "Ruby Sunrise".
Byran Batt as Salvatore is a rare Italian in the WASP dominated corporate environment, as art director of the agency.
John Slattery as Roger Sterling is one of the partners in the Ad Agency. Credits include "Desperate Housewives".
Rosemarie DeWitt as Midge is a smart, ambitious self employed art illustrator. Credits include Fox series "Standoff".
Matthew Weiner is the creator and executive producer of "Mad Men", which is a new original series airing on AMC Cable Television. Matthew Weiner was the executive producer and writer on "The Sopranos" which was the highly successful, critically acclaimed HBO Cable television crime drama featuring Tony Soprano and the Soprano mob family. Previous to working on "The Sopranos", Matthew produced television series including "The Naked Truth", "Becker", and "Andy Richter Controls the Universe".
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