Jon Hamm's Grandmother Doesn't Like 'Mad Men'

Mad Men's Jon Hamm visited Conan Tuesday night and talked about his cameo on 30 Rock, when he played Liz Lemon's boyfriend who is so terribly handsome he lives in a bubble of illusion where things always go his way. This was Hamm's first encounter with Tracy Morgan, whom he described as a "spectacular form of chaos."

"Everyone should have the experience of meeting Tracy Morgan for the first time," Hamm said. "He goes, 'do you know who my biological mother is?' Uh no, Tracy, I don't. 'Leslie Uggams.' Then he goes, 'do you know who my biological father is?' No, Tracy. 'Burt Bacharach.' So now I'm stuck in this bit...I said, 'I have to go to read-through.'"

Hamm also talked a bit about Mad Men, premiering in its third season August 16. He said his grandmother, a churchgoing lady from a small town in Missouri, is not a big fan of the show. "Her feedback was, 'I don't think you're making very good decisions,' which I think distilled things pretty nicely. I think that's going on the season three DVD case."

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Comments

[afgail]

The Don Draper character in Mad Men is fascinating. His success in advertising is his uncanny ability to understand and articulate the human psyche that make his advertising approach successful. But he seems unable to fully come to grips with the turmoil and the recklessness of his double life boiling below the surface.

[voltairegirl]

The evocation of the early 60s, watching the world begin to crack open, fascinates me. But it's the complexity of the characters that has made Men Men a compulsion. It can take a second watching to understand the symbolism and levels of meaning. It's worth checking out Alan Sepinwall's sensitive, incisive blog after the show—AS is the TV reviewer for the Newark Star Ledger. Viewers" comments are often as perceptive as Alan's.

Don Draper is my favorite character. Not just because of Jon Hamm's yummy, big-cat beauty, but because Don is unpredictable, crass, clearly not meant for a suburban marriage, cruel, extremely decent to the women who work with him, a loving father, haunted by his past, never relaxed and himself except in the touching hiatus with the real Don Draper's wife.

[DeeW]

I've tried but just can't get into this show - I wanted to like it ... just don't.

[sfkjeld]

Interesting thread. I grew up in that show. I mean, even the supermarket scenes are spot on. I recognized cereal boxes that have not been around for decades. But the smoking, gender roles, and remember the scene where the family finishes their picnic in a park? They leave their garbage! Believe me, that was America at that time.

Yet, I always wondered how it would translate to other generations. As someone put it, "Creepy". Hell, there were laws on the books in this country at that time, keeping African Americans from buses, schools, hell, drinking fountains! There is nothing in this show that is really creepy. But interesting to people under 40-45? I dunno, beyond the soap opera.

But trust me here. It is a cultural slice that is as accurate as tv gets about an era that has not been examined.

And for the poster who said the show treats women like the Kenedy's did, well, you might be getting it, despite your inclination.

[NewDem08]

Jon Hamm - Pride of John Burroughs, pride of St. Louis, pride of Missouri!!

(Actually makes up for Rush being from here!!)

[lunarmodule]

I'm a huge fan of Mad Men (and Jon Hamm as Don). Last season, when he went to visit the real Mrs. Draper, his transition in character was just amazing. My husband and I are both ad agency professionals since the 80's, and what's amazing to me is to see the show's incredible understanding of the industry. It's changed lots but there are still some truths and attitudes we'll see on the show and say, "Something like that happened last week!" To those who say it's boring, I don't understand. It is so subtle and understated, you have to really get to know the characters to understand the tension and plot advancement in every scene. I don't think there's a scene or piece of dialogue wasted in this show. Brilliant!

[AnglScarlett]

I am in advertising too, and I often have the same thoughts while watching the show. As much as things have changed, apparently some things have remained very much the same in the ad world.

[Kenpasadena]

In Madmen the women are treated like the Kennedy's treat their women.

[KimberleyC]

Oh grandmas -- sometimes they say the silliest things.

[dcboomer]

I watched the entire reruns to try to understand what the intrigue was.

I agree with grandma.

These are not good decisions to glamorize a ridiculous misogynistic, xenophobic, racist and homophobic era that discriminated against women and minorities and wasted untold human capital.

I was in college during this era but remember well the anger and frustration we felt. Those of us who worked hard to achieve and to change society for the better really are not interested in revisiting a glamorized and camp version of an ugly reality. We had to sue to have simple human rights. Lets not slide backwards in romanticising these 'real' men.

As Don Draper said "MOVE FORWARD'.

[mama4justice]

I'm a young feminist who watches MadMen - and maybe I'm reading it from the perspective of a student of (and beneficiary of) the hard fought work of the warriors of the women's rights movement, but I think the series is a great companion to the important feminist works of the time. Watching the struggles of the female characters of MadMen - the impossible situations that women from that era were put in - is vital to the continued work that needs to be done for women and justice. DeBeauvior, Friedan - the whole upper/mid-class feminine mystique has been dealt with better than any recent TV show in the last ten years. Mostly absent are women of color and poverty - or they play the maid/exotic-other role in the MadMen universe - which is chilling. Racism, classism, sexism - all were used by the ad industry in that era to sell products.

Frankly, I'm offended by the supposedly "modern" women in Sex in the City and that ilk. The "fashion equals power" crowd has always confused me in this current generation. Seriously, those high heels aren't feminist- they're a surreal method of torture.

We thank all the founding grandmothers and silver sisters who kicked and marched and stood up to the patriarchy during the 60's. We are forever in your debt.

[sgrl]

I did not live through this era, but am fascinated by this show. I think sometimes to appreciate how far one has come, you have to remember where you have been. I have never had to suffer the indignities of the women in this show, but campy or not, this is how it was, and I am glad to see it played out without glossing it over.

[Trogenhorse]

let me try to explain the attraction to you. As a person who did not grow up in that era and now wonder "what happened to the days of elegance and grace in women"? I found answers.
It's sophisticated and nothing is in your face. But how things were handled in the past tells me how we got to where we are now.
For instance: Women did'nt just wear white gloves as a statement of fashion, it was more about a statement of expectations put on them by society. It makes since to me that women shed them as soon as possible ( something I didn't get before)
The episode with gays- the sophisticated way the show handled one man making a pass at another. The fear of admitting one is gay . The society standards of what a "real man" is was all exposed in a very short but to the point scene in the episode. The 60's were clearly a time of repression for everyone.
There was a scene about what white people saw as safe and the way things are supposed to be versus taking a chance on a new kid from boston- Kennedy. The whole "Suburbia" move
Women in business: Did you not see the episode of how Peggy was treated by women who thought Peggy was a bit "uppitty"?
Man, I love this show. I never miss Mad Men. The subtle messages keep me talking about the show for a week waiting for the next

[DeeW]

I sometimes think it's good for young women today to see how it was for women back then - eventho it's a fictionalized version ... anyway, I think too many young women today just don't get what it was like and how far women in general have come. When I hear young women trash feminism I think they should watch this show and see why feminism in the 60 & 70s was so popular

[hchinaski]

anyone suggesting vincent kartheiser is a bad actor doesnt understand the craft or charachter. vk is an accomplished actor, who works hard at his craft. rent dandelion, you might have a different take on him.

If you really want to study/check out bad acting, try watching aaron paul (breaking bad), most of the actors in twilight and the closer, and all the actors in true blood.

to quote comedian johnny doom, "I'm afraid kids today will get the wrong idea from Twilight and True Blood; they will think all Vampires are horrible actors."

[arabianway]

Agree. V.K. is great on Mad Men, really they all are. Love the show. There is no comparison with True Blood, which has no style or class whatsoever.

[IQ]

I trust GrandMa..
She was actually alive then and she
realizes there really were actual, real live African Americans
in AMERICA at the time....Thanks GrandMa

[shag11]

There are a couple of us on the show, give it time. Just like the movement, give it time.

[dcboomer]

I watched the entire reruns to try to understand what the intrigue was.

I agree with grandma.

These are not good decisions to glamorize a ridiculous misogynistic, xenophobic, racist and homophobic era that discriminated against women and minorities and wasted untold human capital.

I was in college during this era but remember well the anger and frustration we felt. Those of us who worked hard to achieve and to change society for the better really are not interested in revisiting a glamorized and camp version of an ugly reality. We had to sue to have simple human rights. Lets not slide backwards in romanticising these 'real' men.

As Don Draper said "MOVE FORWARD'.

[cyjames1975]

The conundrum of the show is that they are depicting a certain class and type of white people and those white people didn't have interactions with black people as equals or even recognize them as full people who have their own lives. There were no black people allowed into that world -- except the maids, waiters, and elevator operators. And the show is basically told from the white characters point of view. It might be different if they were depicting lower class whites in the South.

But the camera still captures all the black people in their lives and deftly shows how in the white world blacks are invisible to characters, but not to us. There's great dramatic irony in those scenes that is fascinating. How many scenes have taken place in that elevator with the black attendant, where you wonder how the whites could be so oblivious to him? Or the scenes where the TV guy in the office brings his black girlfriend into that world - esp. the one where Joan calls him out about parading his girlfriend around as an accessory to illustrate how progressive he is. Or all the scenes between Betty and the maids (her maid, her father's maid). The way the Drapers talk about their "girl" who is a grown woman. We're meant to take note of these things.

[hchinaski]

Guess what? Vincent Kartheiser's friends don't like mad men either. Anyone interested in the box set of season 2 vinnie just gave me? I will trade for any season of the wire or a pack of smokes.

[moionfire]

The stories develop slowly, but it is really an intersting show. I always can't wait to watch it when it premieres!!!

[dcboomer]

I watched the entire reruns to try to understand what the intrigue was.

I agree with grandma.

These are not good decisions to glamorize a ridiculous misogynistic, xenophobic, racist and homophobic era that discriminated against women and minorities and wasted untold human capital.

I was in college during this era but remember well the anger and frustration we felt. Those of us who worked hard to achieve and to change society for the better really are not interested in revisiting a glamorized and camp version of an ugly reality. We had to sue to have simple human rights. Lets not slide backwards in romanticising these 'real' men.

As Don Draper said "MOVE FORWARD'.

[skippypicasso]

Good to know I have one thing in common with grandma. But she probably likes him so the similarities end there.

[dcboomer]

I watched the entire reruns to try to understand what the intrigue was.

I agree with grandma.

These are not good decisions to glamorize a ridiculous misogynistic, xenophobic, racist and homophobic era that discriminated against women and minorities and wasted untold human capital.

I was in college during this era but remember well the anger and frustration we felt. Those of us who worked hard to achieve and to change society for the better really are not interested in revisiting a glamorized and camp version of an ugly reality. We had to sue to have simple human rights. Lets not slide backwards in romanticising these 'real' men.

As Don Draper said "MOVE FORWARD'.

[bluestatehog]

I've watched a great deal of the show, and I have to say that it is pretty (at times mindblowingly) dull. Some episodes appear to be little more than an hour of dry dialogue that seemingly goes nowhere. It sometimes feels like a Seinfeld episode with no comedy, just following people through their 1960's daily routines and highlighting the differences between our grandparents' America and ours. That being said, I do enjoying watching it occasionally simply as an avid fan of old movies and post-WWII American culture. I will say that the producers do an excellent job of recapturing that the attitudes, clothing, language, habits, and norms of the period, but some of the acting is terrible (Pete Campbell, among others). I don't enjoy the show, but I understand why others would.

[Quick2822]

I'm not sure what show you're watching, but to say it's dull really makes me wonder.

[shag11]

The show is intense and excellent.

[ptfcNassoc]

Okay good it's not just me, thats good to know. I've heard so much about the show and how great it is, so I felt there's no way I could not like it (being very open minded when it comes to film, both tv and on the big screen), so I gave it a try. But half way through the first season it has been nothing but incredibly boring. And no I'm not some 13 year old kid that needs transforming robots or things to explode to keep me interested. I can appreciate long dialogues and letting a story be told through the characters conversations but you have to give me something to keep my interest. I can appreciate a "realistic" show but at the end of the day it's still a tv show made for ENTERTAINMENT purposes. I don't want to literally watch people's mundane lives and listen to their mundane conversations. The show isn't "about" anything its just people living lives in that era and we are watching them. Like a poster said earlier its like Senfield just without the comedy. Does the show get better? It's going to be hard for me to continue to watch and find out.

[dollardream]

If you haven't gotten it by Season 2.....
change the channel.
Personally, I love me some Don Draper! Yum!

[OT711]

The show is absolutely spectacular. The whole show looks good, feels good, sounds good, and the nostalgia of that era gets to me even though I'm only 20 years old. A tip to the people who think the show is dull: Watch it on your laptop in the dark, it's pure candy for the senses.

Not to mention the writing is PHENOMENAL. Nothing boring about it whatsoever. Don and Peggy are two of my favorite characters of all time.

[dcboomer]

I watched the entire reruns to try to understand what the intrigue was. Otherthan the cars and the costumes -- it is a dull caricature.

I agree with grandma.

These are not good decisions to glamorize a ridiculous misogynistic, xenophobic, racist and homophobic era that discriminated against women and minorities and wasted untold human capital.

I was in college during this era but remember well the anger and frustration we felt. Those of us who worked hard to achieve and to change society for the better really are not interested in revisiting a glamorized and camp version of an ugly reality. We had to sue to have simple human rights. Lets not slide backwards in romanticising these 'real' men.

As Don Draper said "MOVE FORWARD'.

[InsideBrooklyn]

The last couple of weeks I watched the second season again and I applauded while sitting by myself in my living room at the end of episode 213. This is not Seinfeld (of which I am still a fan watching reruns daily) without comedy. Mad Men has superb writing. The second season had betrayal and various forms of backstabbing. It had romance and sex. It showed the brutality of rape. And it showed that not much could be done about an unwanted pregnancy. It showed how women were treated brutally cavalierly but it also shows a young woman who is managing to make it by standing up to the guys and they have to respect her. It dealt with homosexuality It dealt with people wrestling with their religion. In addition it showed that Jim Crowe America is being challenged. It showed family in strife and families that are somewhat happy. It showed that the abuse of children was rather typical behavior at the time. There was even a car crash. In the background meanwhile are the actual historical events of the day. The acting runs from well above par to excellent.. I don't know what everyone who is complaining about this show is watching but come Sunday night I have cleared the decks so I can be at my TV set at 10:00PM to watch Season 3 . . .

[Trogenhorse]

so will I ! Love the storylines and all the history mixed in with the cultural issues of the day. Loved the introduction of big business married to politics via ad agencies

[PresidentRobertBooth]

***but some of the acting is terrible (Pete Campbell, among others).***

I agree with this bit.

Vincent Kartheiser can't act.

[AnglScarlett]

He was excellent in "Angel" though. He is the one cast member who confuses me. I know he can act, yet I don't think the does a good job in this. So maybe it's the character he's playing, I don't know.

[dcboomer]

I watched the entire reruns to try to understand what the intrigue was.

I agree with grandma.

These are not good decisions to glamorize a ridiculous misogynistic, xenophobic, racist and homophobic era that discriminated against women and minorities and wasted untold human capital.

I was in college during this era but remember well the anger and frustration we felt. Those of us who worked hard to achieve and to change society for the better really are not interested in revisiting a glamorized and camp version of an ugly reality. We had to sue to have simple human rights. Lets not slide backwards in romanticising these 'real' men.

As Don Draper said "MOVE FORWARD'.

[MarcoChi]

Best show since "The Wire".