"Mad Men" : the new "Six Feet Under"? (Sopranos fans may like it too)

[kay1864]

I watched the first two episodes and now I'm hooked. Its tone reminds me of Six Feet Under for some reason.

Edgy, well-written drama about ad agencies and mores in 1960.

The creator was a writer and co-executive producer for The Sopranos during the last two seasons.

Anybody else seen this show on AMC?

[madrchsod]

1. yes-- it`s very good

[kay1864]

2. I first thought there were some anachronisms from the show:

- Ad featuring a Mercury astronaut (1961)
- Secretary getting the Pill from a doctor (1965?)
- Ad agency considered for Nixon's campaign (1959)

BUT it turns out all of these are consistent with 1960. (thanks Wikipedia!)

- The Mercury astronauts were named in April 1959, and were celebrities up through the first Mercury launch in May 1961

- The Pill was known to be useful as a contraceptive since 1957. However, it wasn't approved as a contraceptive until June 1960 (and not marketed to doctors until July 1961). Despite that, there was much word-of-mouth 'marketing'--at least 500,000 women had used it prior to June 1960.

- Nixon wasn't named as a candidate until July 1960

Cool show!

[kay1864]

3. Self-kick

Because you really need to see this show. :P

[Eurobabe]

4. Thanks, just TiVO'd it.

Always looking for "thoughtful" new shows.

[cwydro]

5. When is it on?

[Orangepeel]

6. Thursdays at 10:00 EST on AMC

It is on Demand, too, if you have digital cable.

The show has been good so far. The characters seem complex -- the male protagonist isn't a particularly good guy, it's interesting and very, very, beautifully shot.

[kay1864]

7. They also repeat them a bit

I believe each episode is on about six times.

Just checked...unlike abc.com et al, it doesn't appear you can watch prior episodes online :(

Good point about the photography...they shoot it on film to get a 1960's look.

More:

The writers, including Weiner, amassed volumes of research on the period in which Mad Men takes place so as to make all aspects of the series – including detailed set designs, costume design, and props – historically accurate,<2><3> producing an authentic visual style that garnered critical praise.<8><11><14>

On the copious scenes featuring smoking, Weiner stated that "Doing this show without smoking would've been a joke. It would've been sanitary and it would've been phony."<3> Since the actors could not, by law, smoke real cigarettes, they instead smoked herbal cigarettes.

[Bullwinkle925]

9. thanks for the 'heads up' . . .

i shall check my "On Demand" - hope it's there.

[jakefrep]

8. It's a cool show....

..I'm amazed at what the main character's wife puts up with. I'm wondering if the Art Director (Salvator) is a closeted homosexual.