Mad Men, Booze, and Cigarettes

I am a fan of Mad Men, the AMC original series that depicts the work and home lives of the employees of Sterling Cooper, a fictitious advertising agency in the early 1960s. Today, CNN's website features a story on Mad Men's set designs, entitled - Astonishing Detail in Time Gone Mad. It is a fascinating piece, that includes tours through many of the sets used on the show. I am attaching the link to the CNN video below:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/26/mad.men.set/index.html

Although I have not watched the series from its start, I have watched all of the shows this season, and have become completely addicted. Speaking of addictions (talk about your subtle segways), the source of two major addictions that often take center stage in the series, are those of booze and cigarettes. I thought it would be interesting to share two commercials from this time period. I will include one for booze and one for cigarettes. Enjoy:

Oppsite Ends of the Spectrum

Ann Coulter was interviewed by Joyce Behar the other night, and it reminded me of the expression - you know the one - about "opposite ends of the spectrum." Okay, they are both women (although some of argued that in regard to Coulter, but I digress) and both media personalities; but, other than that, there ain't much there that is similar. I am including a snippet of the interview below:


This got me thinking about what other media events have included two personalities who seem to be on two different ends of a spectrum. I am including some of my top choices. Hope you like them:



OK, OK - I admit it - Donny and Marie are not exactly opposite sides of the spectrum. But, remember, she was a little bit country and he was a little bit rock and roll. That must count for something. Have a good weekend!!

Bernie Madoff and Santa Claus

Some additional information is coming out today regarding Bernie Madoff's workplace environment; I bet there is plenty more where that came from. Anyway, CNN is reporting the following:

A new lawsuit alleges that convicted swindler Bernie Madoff financed a cocaine-fueled work environment and a "culture of sexual deviance," and he diverted money to his London, England, office when he believed federal authorities were closing in at home.
The complaint alleges that some employees and investors were aware of the drug purchases, and that BMIS [Bernard Madoff Investment Services] was known by insiders as the "North Pole" in reference to the excessive amount of cocaine use in the work place.

Isn't that nice? - the North Pole. Can't get more in the holiday feeling than that. I grew up watching those 1960s and 1970s holiday specials. Even a Jewish kid from Northeast Philly loves a good cartoon. Back then, you could only see them once a year too. That was before the age of videos and DVDs. My favorites were Charlie Brown, the Grinch, and Frosty.

Several years ago, Saturday Night Live featured a satire of those old clay-mation classics, and something about Bernie Madoff running the "North Pole" reminded me of it. I hope you enjoy:

The Droid and the Pinto

Did you hear that Verizon is coming out with a new phone in November to compete with the iPhone? I guess that this means that the iPhone won't be going to Verizon anytime soon. Anyway, here is the commercial that is being shown for the "Droid" - the hopeful iPhone competitor:


I wondered how telling it is that the commercial is basically comparing the benefits of the Droid to the what the iPhone lacks. Is any form of comparison actually a compliment? It probably is, to some degree. I started to think about what other product had begun its commercial campaign by comparing itself to an already well-loved and successful product. Here is such an ad or, "blast from the past:"


OK, maybe the Droid will have a better run than the Pinto, but it is fun to wonder.

Who the Hell is Wolf?

No explanation needed. See video below:

Lyndon, Ladybird, Fred, and Ethel

This time of year always brings with it a flourish of Kennedy specials; not the awards show - but the specials that focus on the JFK assassination, the "curse" of the Kennedys, etc. I have to admit, I am a sucker for anything regarding the assassination. I was about a month old when it happend in November of 1963. In fact, I was at the pediatrician for my month check up. That is what my parents tell me - I don't actually remember it (as you probably already know).

Last night the History Channel featured a show called, "The Kennedy Assassination: 24 Hours After. It was excellent, and focused on the first 24 hours after President Kennedy was killed. It particularly described Lyndon B. Johnson's (Kennedy's then Vice President) actions. It was the first show that I have seen in a long time about this topic, which actually brought new information to light. One fascinating subject that was addressed, was how the United States, and the world for that matter, had to adjust to seeing two such different people in the White House. They compared the youth, suaveness, and New England charm of John and Jackie Kennedy, with the not-so-much youth and southern styles of Lyndon and Ladybird Johnson.

Something about seeing those two couples compared, reminded me of the I Love Lucy Show. It is like John and Jackie Kennedy were Ricky and Lucy Ricardo, and Lyndon and Ladybird Johnson were Fred and Ethel Mertz. Everyone liked Fred and Ethel, and they even had some qualities that Lucy and Ricky lacked; but, did you want to see them in their own series? Naah, not really. It was kind of like LBJ got his own spin-off, but it only last one season. Well, anyway, here is a snippet of an I Love Lucy Show, that features the whole gang (I mean Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel - not Lyndon and Ladybird):

Mr. Balloon Man

Hey - Mr. Balloon Man - if you are going to create this fake news story about your son being carried away in a weather balloon just for the media attention - don't ask your six year old son to lie for you. Six year olds are not great at lying. In the video below, you don't do really well at lying either. Wolf Blitzer is like Santa or a Rabbi - you can't lie to Wolf.
I am attaching a snippet of the interview below:


I am glad that the little boy is alright and that he actually wasn't in the basket of that weather balloon. Yesterday, every time I heard or saw the phrase "balloon boy," I kept picturing George Costanza and the Bubble Boy from the Seinfeld show. By the way, George Costanza is a much better liar than the Dad in this news story. Remember what George said, "it's not lying if you believe that it is true." Maybe you should have taken George's advice, Mr. Balloon Man. Well, anyway, here is the Seinfeld clip: