Comments on: The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Mad Men Edition

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:33:20 +0000

DivaJean, I disagree, but I certainly see your point.
I think it’s a possibility they’ve purposely slowed it down, but I don’t think it’s the only one. (As a fiction writer for many years, that’s what it says to me. However, I could certainly be wrong. You simply never know until they’re finished with the series.)
It’s happened on several other high-drama shows. ‘Period piece’ shows often get into trouble when they don’t do this early on. “Rome” might be a good example of it.
But, it could just be really slow. I have to say it is losing some people’s interest that used to be fans, but some will still like it slower pace or not.

By: anne

anne — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:12:05 +0000

do any of you watch the commentaries on the dvds?

i watched the 1st two seasons on dvd, and i’m so frustrated watching it on amc each sunday. i NEED to watch each episode again w/ the commentaries- i just can’t wait for the season 3 dvd to come out.

one of my favorites was one w/ robert morse and the lady who plays joan. the two of them were adorable watching it together.

By: DivaJean

DivaJean — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:12:10 +0000

Amanda- I don’t think it “slowed down” to make the decade last- I think its more of character development at a slow rolling boil.

And yeah, MegB- that dinner scene at Joan’s was a complete trainwreck. She thought she was in for the victorious pre- Chief Intern dinner— then finds out he’s failing in his surgical rotation. The wives clearly were hip to the jive and thankfully, they are protecting their own by letting her know what they know. But only Joan could make playing the accordion sexy and flirtatious- who knew?

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:08:04 +0000

Mad Men season 1 is my favorite season so far. Season 2 was getting into that Frank Norris sensibility (depression/modern life). Season 3, eh… I’m not sure where it’s going. I agree that the Joan storyline is definitely getting interesting. I’m also liking where Peggy is going. Don Draper’s character is getting a bit ragged, but my husband finds him interesting regardless. I find his wife increasingly provocative in a ‘who is she really’ sort of way. I think the other commenter is right, season 3 is a super slow-build. It’s sort of killin’ me…I want that Season 1 feel! Perhaps it slowed down because they realize they have a hit on their hands & they’re probably going to be going at least another 3 seasons minimum? Very interesting story about the writing team for Mad Men. I think it was in the NY or LA Times.

Oh, if your library doesn’t happen to have season 2, look into an intralibrary loan.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:54:52 +0000

From the comments, it seems the coupon one used to say something about saving on the tip. If Trent saw that version it would go on the “further thought and discussion” list.

The only other marginal one is the “don’t ask your waiter for recommendations” suggestion. It’s a bit confrontational the way it’s worded. On the other hand it’s not bad advice – don’t automatically discard a recommendation, but do consider the source and any alterior motives they might have. But that’s good advice no matter where a recommendation is coming from. On the other hand 95% of the time, the waiter is simply going to give you an honest recommendation from their experience or whatnot. I have asked for advice at a steak house and they actually recommended the cheapest cut of steak.

By: Berdette

Berdette — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:02:39 +0000

I am with Johanna–I HAVE to know which three tips “really merited some further thought and discussion”. The only ethical issue I saw was the drink sharing. The others seem like great ideas.

Did you tease us on purpose????

By: SwingCheese

SwingCheese — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:00:10 +0000

Haha, I, too HATE chopping veggies up (or meat, for that matter). I always try to get my husband to do it :)

By: kristine

kristine — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:44:15 +0000

Why? Request it form your library. Where I live in NY, the libraries will borrow from one another to fulfill your request, or even just buy it and e-mail you when it arrives! I LOVE our library. And Mad Men too. Great show.

By: Melody

Melody — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:33:29 +0000

For chopping try a chopwizard. Only about $20.00

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:43:30 +0000

Which three of the restaurant tips do you think are unethical? The only one I see that possibly could be is sharing a drink and getting free refills. As some of the commenters over there have noted, that’s like sharing a portion at an all-you-can-eat buffet. And as other commenters have noted, if you don’t want to pay for a drink, you can order water.

I’m guessing that splitting a main dish might be one of the others that you disapprove of (since the price of each main dish includes a “cover charge” of sorts, which is why a half portion costs more than half as much as a whole portion). But the way I see it, the impact on the restaurant (in terms of food cost, time, effort, and table space) of two people going in and ordering one main dish is about the same as the impact of one person going in, sitting at a table for two (since I’ve never, ever seen a table for one), and ordering one main dish. So if it’s unethical to share a main dish, is it also unethical to go out to eat by yourself? If it is, I must be a very bad person.

Restaurateurs that really don’t want people to split meals have options available to them for discouraging that. They can have an explicit policy that each person must order at least one main dish. They can have a minimum order per person. Or they can serve portions that aren’t so ridiculously huge that they provide enough food for two meals.

By: MegB

MegB — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:43:25 +0000

DivaJean

Was that dinner party scene with Joan not painful to watch? Her husband is such a dud, and everyone was just tip-toeing around it.

I, too, love the slow build. One of our local TV critics calls it a “slow simmer.” So true!

By: lurker carl

lurker carl — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:23:32 +0000

I was recording Mad Men on Tivo until AMC began deleting episodes stored on the DVR for 7 days. So I only caught part of the first season and nothing for season two. AMC stopped that foolishness just in time for the third season, I guess AMC and Tivo had angry viewers to contend with.

By: DivaJean

DivaJean — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:15:03 +0000

This season’s Mad Men is set for a slow build. I prefer it that way- the pacing is unlike any other show.

I am especially liking the contrast between Jane and Joan this season- how one gal is not fitting in with society (Jane) and the other is clearly married beneath herself (Joan).

The battle royale for head of accounts is not yet underway, but we can see glints of where this will be going.

Love Mad Men!

By: Catherine

Catherine — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:10:22 +0000

Depending on the prices you can find on the Mad Men DVDs, the number of times you think you’ll watch them, and the number of other TV shows you want to watch on DVD, you might find a Netflix subscription to be a good option.

We’ve been getting Mad Men from Netflix, and we love it, too. But we don’t have cable, so no danger for us that we’ll see season 3 before we finish the others. Netflix is how we watch almost all TV shows–for us, it’s really convenient.