Mad Men: "My Old Kentucky Home" -- HuffPost Review

Season 3's third episode, named for a stunning Roger Sterling musical interlude, is as much about tone as advancement of the plot. And a surprisingly musical tone at that.

As always in these reviews, there be spoilers ahead. So if you've not yet seen the episode, you can't say you haven't been warned.

If you missed the previous episode, here's a quick recap.

"My Old Kentucky Home" is structured around four fronts. Three of them are parties, though only two are scheduled to be parties, and one is the inevitable Don and Betty Draper home front. Which was better than those who don't yearn for the domestic scenes might have expected.

As for the plot, the biggest advances came for Peggy Olsen's storyline. Yes, she does want to smoke marijuana, and yes, it stimulates her creativity. Or perhaps her underlying workaholism is just so strong that she feels compelled to work to compensate for getting high. Yet I digress, for a moment. The rest of the episode focuses on tone, character, and establishing new threads and playing along established threads. And some ominous hints about the corporate disarray at Sterling Cooper.

Back to that episode title. It is in fact the notorious old song, complete with lines about happy "darkies" in the cotton fields, sung by Roger Sterling -- in black face! -- at his "Derby Day" party at a Long Island country club. Roger's actually a good singer, which makes it all the more appalling because he is not playing it for laughs. It may be that Roger Sterling is not as cool as we'd like to think.

Don Draper seems far less amused with his old pal than he used to be. As he and very pregnant Betty prepare for the party -- which serves as a sort of coming out party for his 21-year old ex-secretary Jane as Mrs. Roger Sterling, hostess with the mostest -- he's already grumbling about the party. And his mood is not improved with his father-in-law, whose mental faculties are failing him and who Don rather impulsively installed in their home, proceeds to make a federal case out of a missing $5 bill. Which Don naturally offers to replace, only to be immediately rebuffed. But we know where the fiver's disappeared to; into the guilty little paws of adorable little Sally Draper, who needs even more attention than getting to read "The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" to Grandpa Gene.

While this domestic drama wends its way forward, the Drapers make their way from Westchester County to Long Island for the big soiree.

Meanwhile, two other parties are in the works. Because of a screw-up by new accounts co-chiefs Pete Campbell and Ken Cosgrove, the younger creative types have to work on the weekend to come up with a new campaign for Bacardi rum. Resentful, they proceed to get sloshed on the booze while trying out slogans on one another. Soon they're in search of more potent inebriation.

The essential milieu of Mad Men is not all that admirable.

In another part of Manhattan, the real hostess with the mostest, Joan Holloway, is putting on a small dinner party for her new doctor husband and two senior medical colleagues and their wives. She's a whiz, naturally, just as good at putting together a dinner party, and saving it, as she is at not so subtly running the office at Sterling Cooper.

Which probably had Joan, Roger Sterling's longtime backdoor girl, recalling her earlier encounter with the new Mrs. Roger Sterling at the top of the episode. Joan hadn't been very nice to Jane, trying to fire her after a harmless prank, which is ironically what brought Jane together with Roger. So Jane, not surprisingly for someone 21 and foxy, rubs her new status in Joan's face.

And all that was probably particularly galling to Joan as she realizes midway through her dinner party that her perfect doctor husband, who has a decidedly nasty side we don't see in this episode, screwed up an operation and may not make it to the top the way she'd imagined. Indeed, the mention of his medical mishap cast such a pall over the gathering, especially over the new hubster's face, that Joan is literally beseeched to save the party through her singing. And so we have another musical interlude, with Joan, accompanying herself on accordion (!), producing a fetching version of "C'est Magnifique."

Somewhat less magnificently, completing the episode's musical trifecta, the unhappy weekend workers (imagine working on a Saturday!) back at Sterling Cooper show us that Paul Kinsey, in addition to being pompous, can actually sing. Which he first does on a dare from his old Princeton classmate-turned-drug dealer who turned up with the marijuana and decided to hang out, then in a glee club harmony with Mr. Pusher Man. To which Peggy says the only appropriate thing: "I'm so high!"

Peggy has a rather motherly new secretary, having dumped the one we saw in the season opener. She had the bad habit of paying much more attention to the attentions of "Moneypenny," the assistant to the agency's new British overseer, than to her own boss.

We don't see the Brits at all in this episode, incidentally, including at the big Roger Sterling party. Which doesn't seem like a good omen for corporate relations.

Peggy's new secretary is worried about her young superior's smoking marijuana and all, which she finds quite scandalizing. But Peggy reassures that she's going to be fine in the agency, which means that they'll both be fine, and that this young proto-feminist is going to fly. And while you're at it, get me a glass of water and set up the dictaphone, because there's some advertising to be conceived.

While that takes care of all the musical interludes, I haven't mentioned the dance number yet.

Yes, this was the variety show episode of Mad Men.

Meet Don Draper, the protagonist/anti-hero of Mad Men.

Don Draper is really not thrilled with the Roger Sterling party, especially after Roger's little vocal performance. He wants to leave, but Betty wants to stay. Among other things, there's lots of really good food, and she's thankfully stopped trying to diet her way through her pregnancy.

Pete Campbell's wife Trudy, who is actually charming, is doing the best of any of the wives at helping promote their husbands, and befriends Betty, who accompanies her to the ladies room. With Trudy stuck inside in a typical line, Betty has a very intriguing encounter with a suave political type who introduces himself only by his first name and proceeds, with Betty's rapt acquiescence, to feel up her very pregnant belly.

Later we find, through his introduction by Bert Cooper, that he's a top aide to not long divorced New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who has that day scandalized the political world by marrying the just-divorced ex-wife of one of Rockefeller's close friends. Cooper's upset, as that means the Republicans will likely be stuck with Barry Goldwater running against President Kennedy in 1964. Why'd Rockefeller do it? "Love," explains the Rockefeller aide, making discreet eyes with Betty Draper.

Earlier, Don Draper has a now familiar character moment, when he encounters a fellow sympathizer to his view that the place is filled with stiffs, an older fellow from the Southwest who I'd bet is actually the richest guy on the grounds. He says he's a registered Republican, like most of the folks there, but he really feels like he wears the head of a jackass. Which is to say, a Democrat.

He also does a "Great Gatsby" riff about being entranced by the lights of the elegant parties as a kid and then finding out it's not nearly so nice inside. Don, who has the amusing habit of opening up to strangers who, naturally, don't know who he is, recounts his teenage story of working at a roadhouse where he wasn't allowed to use the facilities, leading him to piss into the trunks of "the fancy people's" cars.

In case you missed the season opener, here's a quick recap.

Don Draper, meet Dick Whitman.

Roger Sterling, who is not a stiff, urges people to dance, though not, notably, his own very young and not quite steady wife, who's beginning to unfurl her sheets to the wind. Then, in a moment almost as disconcerting as Sterling's black face rendition of "My Old Kentucky Home," Trudy and Pete Campbell cut the rug with a dance contest-worthy version of ... the Charleston!

Speaking of time warps, the show did a good job of getting viewers -- especially those who recall his mistaking daughter Betty for his late wife -- to think that something bad is going to happen between little Sally Draper and Grandpa Gene in this episode. His dissatisfaction over the loss of his $5 bill does not abate during the episode. Now, the actor who plays Betty's father, Ryan Cutrona, played the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 24, so he can do intimidating.

With the tension mounting, young Sally, guilty and scared, tosses the purloined fiver onto the kitchen floor as dinner is about to begin. And then "discovers" it. Grandpa Gene's mind may have some major gear slips at times, but he's no dummy. Nevertheless, the tension builds during dinner as you wonder if he will lash out at the child. After, as she says a half-hearted good night, he grumps as he orders her into his room. But he hands her the big history book and asks her to pick up again where they left off. All is well.

All is decidedly not well at the tail end of the Sterling soiree. The very young Mrs. Sterling, drinking her way through the day to cover her nervousness, has forgotten to eat. With Don and Betty on hand, she gets a plate of food for herself, but drops it and then falls. She babbles about how beautiful Betty is and how Don must love to just look at her and she knew when she was Don's secretary they'd get back together, punching the insecure Betty's departure button.

And since improving matters is clearly not on the agenda, Jane tells Don she's a nice person and wonders why he doesn't like her, all the while grabbing at him in her effort to stand up straight.

Cue Roger Sterling, who wonders what on earth is going on.

"Your wife is drunk," Don says quite coldly to his old friend, who wonders what he did to get under Don's skin.

Oh, let's review. You used Don's line out of context as an excuse to your wife of 25 years why you had to divorce her and marry Don's 21-year old secretary, which caused the sale of Sterling Cooper (in order to pay for your divorce) to a big British firm which is screwing up the business and Don's professional life.

Are we missing anything?

Wounded, Roger tells Don that people can't handle his "conspicuous happiness." In a wounding place, his simmering pissed-off mood breaking through, Don tells Roger that "People don't think you're happy, they think you're foolish."

Yet there Roger and Jane are at the end, poignantly shuffle dancing without music, looking much more happy than not. Which leads Don to seek out Betty at the end of the lawn in the dark, embracing her as passionately as we've seen in a long time.

A most romantic ending for an episode of Mad Men. That means it's probably not a good omen.

Next week, hopefully, on Mad Men: No singing, no flapper dancing.

You can check things during the day on my site, New West Notes ... www.newwestnotes.com.

Comments

[llisa]

I missed this one. I can't find it online. Is there anywhere I can see it, or do I have to wait for the DVD?

[615gal]

This is the first review of yours that I have read, William Bradley, but it won't be the last. Your review was wonderful and will be a must read every week.
I don't know how I was lucky enough to stumble upon the very first Mad Men. I usually am late to the party as far as TV shows go. I love this show and am so happy that it has been picked up for a 4th season.
This musical show was just the best! The Charleston was just so unexpected and well done,,well, all 4 of the musical numbers were just unexpected and a little jolt of delight.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks very much!

[tommytimp]

I have read on a couple of other sites the speculation that the "Connie" with whom Don shared a drink is Conrad Hilton, who was also born in New Mexico before it achieved statehood, and was also a poor man who made good. Not that it matters too much, but it's interesting.

The only thing that bothered me about this eisode was the drum kit at the country club. Mad Men is usually so good at the period details, but they didn't have Zildjian K cymbals and big clunky stands back then. Mystifying to me how they could get that one so wrong. Maybe only my drumming brothers and sisters out there would notice.

And the Charleston may be meant to juxtapose the Campbells, who are young but come from old money like Roger, with the twisting actress at the beginning of the show who is auditioning for Patio, who is young, fresh, and vibrant, just like the twist itself. There was no mention of the fact that the Charleston enjoyed a revival in the 60s, so I think its presence is commentary on old times vs. new.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Whoever that Connie guy is, I got the impression right away that he self-made and aware and very rich.

That would certainly fit with Conrad Hilton's story. Thanks for bringing that.

[roziet]

I love this show. I was a little taken aback by the black face performance, but then had to remember this was before political correctness. It showed how times have changed.

[ksjohnso]

Also, Sterling's black face performance should be juxtapose to the Draper's maid snappy comebacks at the Betty's father as they were looking for his $5. "You know we all don't know each other"--her response to asking her if she knew his former maid Viola. The turbulence of the 60s is about to heat up with the Civil Rights Movement and the death of JFK. I can't wait to see how these social/political issues affect their private lives. By the way, what happened to Paul's girlfriend in Newark? (Sometimes it can be annoying how nothing is ever done, but it keeps you tuning in)

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Paul's black girlfriend dropped him three days into their Freedom Ride down south.

That was a quick exchange between Paul and the guys on the show last season.

[OneLiberalLady]

Viola's comeback was great! Thanks for the reminder.

[porsche996]

So, I'm hooked for many reasons, the foremost being a memory of my adopted families patriarch a former account manager spent writing for Advertising Age Magazine the industry newsletter in the mid sixties. My friend and I would spend the day traveling to Madison Ave and drinking outrageously and smoking Chesterfields exactly as it's depicted in the show. I never could imagine how anyone got anything done and it does account I think for the idiocy and blandness of our culture then. He had a bar in his Office (which he normally didn't use until after 2 pm, the unwritten rule) but we drank vodka martini's at lunch and passed out on the office couch to be awakened for the train ride back to the Jersey suburbs on a Bar Car. The men getting off of that train each day could no doubt have blown a .2-.3 on a breathalyzer, I know that several times he just slept in his train car until he could drive to the house, or that was his story anyways. What a life...

I record the show....an­d I've noticed a toxic increase in the commercial breaks. This will be seriously detrimental IMO. One of the gifts of the writers of this show had been the rhythm of the exposition and the breaks now are too often and coming at the wrong times, like bad dancing, this will harm the romance of the audience.

[wakupmagy]

Mr. Bradley,
Thanks for a great post.
I just noticed your bio indicating you're a political analyst.
Can you speculate about why the man who flirts with Betty outside the Ladies Room is later identified as a politico? Was it just a convenient device to slip in the "Rocky's marrying Happy thing"--or is there some other significance?
(Jeez. This is getting out of hand. I really need to go back to my real life. Trouble is, Mad Men is just so addictive.­)

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks. It's only speculation because I don't what's to come, but I think we may see that top Rockefeller aide again, suave and obviously smitten with Betty Draper, who was quite intrigued, to say the least.

It was also a way to work in a theme about love, Roger and Jane, despite Don's bitter insinuations, and establish that it's May 1963.

[OneLiberalLady]

I had the same thought, that we'll see the politico again and that Betty was intrigued. But frankly, he didn't seem at all sexy to me, and it was hard to see why she was drawn to him (if in fact she was).

[Truye]

Ah! The dance scene! I read it as Pete and Trudy both came from such privileged (and WASPY. Oh that party was so very very WASPY) backgrounds that OF COURSE they knew the entire Charleston AND could dance it together. Poor Mrs. Crane. They were such obvious outsiders and I feel a lot of it had to do with money and they great disparity in how they were all brought up economically.

I could be reading too much in to this, but that was my take.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

What struck me about that scene is how out of it it all felt.

The Charleston is a dance from decades before 1963.

In five years, Pete and Trudy would like absolute fools doing that dance.

[bipolarbear]

The Charleston was just one of those weird nostalgia fads back in the early 60s. My older sister was 12 that year and taught it to me. It was all the rage among the teenie-boppers.

[OneLiberalLady]

Ah, what a difference five years will make! And maybe that's the point, or part of it.

[Winning09]

I don't think it's about class, I think it's about style.

[beaucoul]

Mr. Bradley:
I was hoping you could offer an explanation for Roger Sterling's response to Draper's statement, "People don't think you're happy, they think you're foolish."

Sterling replies by saying: "You know, that's the great thing about a place like this. You can come here and be happy. And you get to choose your guests."

Maybe I'm over-analyzing it, but I just can't figure out what he meant. It just seems like a non-sequitur to me. Can you shed some light on this?

[Truye]

I read a different recap that said that "You know, that's the great thing about a place like this. You can come here and be happy. And you get to choose your guests."

Was a reference to Don being from a poor background and how he can't fit in. Or something of that vein.

[beaucoul]

Ah...so it was a put-down of Draper because he wouldn't normally be invited to such a place...th­at has the ring of truth to it.

Thanks.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

That writer is apparently forgetting that Don has been placed on a museum board, which is a bigger deal than going to a country club, by Bert Cooper and Roger Sterling.

Remember, that's why he decided to buy the Cadillac, at Roger's urging, to signal his ascending status in that great episode "The Gold Violin."

[wakupmagy]

I believe the setting is a private country club in Westchester. So he's saying they would not let a guy like Don Draper become a member (maybe because he lacks the proper family ties).

Betty makes a couple of comments about how excited she is about going to this party and she seems in awe of the venue--I think this club might be out of their reach

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

The Drapers already live in Westchester County. The country club is on Long Island.

They're not used to a club iike this yet, but they are certainly on track for it.

[LizM]

Could it have been just a quick-witted retort to Don's hurtful musing about people seeing Roger as foolish, not happy.

You know... Roger trying to make Don feel bad about his 'happiness' comment. That would have been my motivation, anyway. :)

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

It's certainly one of Roger's less snappy comebacks, since we're trying to suss it out.

I think he meant to wound in return, but likes Don and was more wounded than wounding. It seemed to me that he pulled the punch as he threw it.

It's a put-down that doesn't really track.

[LizM]

And, that touches on why I'm beginning to like the Roger character so much.

[Proxy]

I didn't read it as a class comment; it seemed more about the friendship. It felt like, "I invited people here to participate in our happiness. I guess I made a mistake inviting you."

It seems like a big rift arising between Don and Roger, in that Roger used to be vocally cynical about marriage, voicing Don's frustration while Don could still smugly feel that no matter how unfulfilled he was by his marriage, at least he was happier at home than Roger. Now Roger doesn't want to be cynical anymore. He's fully committed to his new marriage (for now) and doesn't want the fantasy punctured.

Don's wandering over to Betty to kiss her in the moonlight reads like him being willing to try out Roger's new approach himself... though he once felt that way about Betty already, when he first met her. (Remember his awestruck retelling of the meeting to the first Mrs. Draper.)

Funnily, one can therefore read Don kissing Betty in that romantic way more as an effort to preserve his "romance" (based on shared worldview) with Roger, than his romance with Betty.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

That's very interesting. I hadn't thought of that, but it sounds right.

[phlashba]

"The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" ;)

[PresidentRobertBooth]

Weirdly, Christina Hendricks played the accordion in an episode of "Kevin Hill" too.

I wonder if she has a clause in her acting contracts requiring the producers to let her play the accordion on the shows she appears on?

I suppose had "Firefly" lasted longer than 14 episodes, Saffron would have definitely returned to the ship and played the accordion with River on harmonica.

[Truye]

Oh definitely! You know Joss loved to make his actors sing...and dance...an­d play the accordion.­..

:) I like to think that people are so thrilled that she can play the accordion, I mean, really, how could you NOT use it!

[wakupmagy]

First--I love this show so much it's almost painful. Cannot believe a commercial TV network had the good grace and good taste to air this series. Thank God.

Anyway, my question is : does anyone else find something disturbingly uncomfortable about Grandpa's interaction with little Sally? It's nothing overt. Just troubling?

[LizM]

I don't find anything particularly disturbingly uncomfortable about that relationship. But, I do find something disturbingly uncomfortable about the relationship between little Sally and her parents, particularly her mother. The relationship with Grandpa may provide a window into this situation.

I'm new to this series and so I don't really know what the heck I'm talking about here...it'­s just a feeling I've gotten over the course of the first few episodes of this season.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Betty is actually very short with Sally, and hardly has any time for her.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

I think it can get that way, and the producers set it up so that the audience halfway expected some violence or molestation. But it played out very benignly.

The problem with Grandpa Gene is that his brain misfires, which is why he lives in the Draper household now. So something bad can still happen.

[KODKOD]

Absolutely agree with you. And thank you for a great synopsis - review. The best I read online. Now I know that HP does the recaps of "Mad Men" and will read all your previous posts.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks very much!

[Winning09]

The Episode 1 recap is helpful, too.

[Winning09]

I like the video of all the Don Draperisms almost as much.