That '60s Show

Radar's guide to discussing Mad Men properly

madmencast_lead.jpg
Oh dear. You've been going to parties without studying the latest episode of Mad Men, haven't you? As you should now be aware, the nation is divided. On one hand you have the ignorant—those altogether unaware of AMC's breakout series. On the other, you have devoted fans who exclaim, "You're going to be gangbusters!" on a frequent, cloying basis. You want to be part of the latter group.

Maybe you've been basking in Sunday Night Football. Maybe you are a base unaesthetic troll. I don't know what your problem is and why you haven't been watching. All I know is that you are missing out on enormous opportunities for conversing around the water cooler and ensnaring a mate with good taste—you know, the kind who orders you Old Fashioneds rather than Mike's Hard Lemonade. Mad Men is the cultural capital du jour—it is to 2008 what The Wire was to 2007. Don Draper is the new Omar. Know the man's name.

Of course, In a boy's club like Sterling Cooper, it never hurts to have a cheat sheet to keep up, and that's where Radar comes in to help. Here is a rundown of the main characters, and even a few alluring conversation topics to get you through this weekend's parties without seeming like a totally uninformed social leper.


DonDraper_2_.jpg
DONALD IF YOU'RE NASTY "Don Draper is the new Omar. Know the man's name."
Don Draper, played by hottie and former 2nd grade school teacher Jon Hamm, is the star of the show. A talented ad man with a dark mysterious past, many extramarital affairs, and a young, naïve wife (plus two kiddos), Don is the anti-hero. He does asshole things all the time, but is so doubled over with existential angst he can barely facing himself in the mirror. One loves him the way one loves a remorseful, diarrhea-prone puppy.

So far on the show, Don has slept with:

Betty (His wife)
Rachel Mencken (His client)
Bobbi Barrett (His client's wife)
Midge (His Bohemian mistress)


Conversing about Don is fairly simple, since Mad Men enthusiasts all have a theory about his dark past. Simply ask, "What do you think his backstory is?" It should get people going for a good five to ten minutes. The show has given us several clues so far: he switched identities with a dead guy while fighting in Korea, his real name is Dick Whitman, and he had a craptastic attention-deprived childhood with a poor, rural family and a father who beat him like a red-headed stepchild.

Consider theorizing to your riveted audience that Don has a secret love child from his past he doesn't know about yet. (You can base this on the fact that most male characters with mysterious pasts turn out to have secret love children). If you're looking for humor points, score a few cheap laughs by pointing out that Don's 'incredulous' face comes very close to the expression commonly interpreted as 'constipated.'

Continue >>



< BACK TO Features

 


Sexual Politics
Election 2008 hasn't just been dirty, it's been downright smutty

Full Court Press
Bill Kristol, Jane Mayer, and the rest of this week's winners and sinners

Adult Friends Forever
With more than 30 million users, Adult FriendFinder is the Web's No. 1 meat market. But what kinds of kinksters actually use the site? Radar signed up to find out

Full Court Press
Charles Kaiser on the final presidential debate

Snort Selling
Radar's investment guide to cocaine, hookers, and other vices



Email us at:
tips@radaronline.com
or IM: TipRadar







Meanwhile, the First Best Picture Is...

Heidi Chimes In

Bale's Oscar Pick? Take A Guess

SOS: Rihanna Gets Sued

Liberace's Ex-Love Behind Bars

Love Clean With Bean

Pattinson Lost In Vampire Role

Spencer Fires Back

Star Likes His Gay Friends, But...

Victoria's Secret Facebook Page





Opie Taylor for Obama
Richie Cunningham too

Sarah Meets Woody
The perfect romantic comedy for purple states

McCain Left On Campaign Bus Overnight
From The Onion News Network

Terry Tate: Reading Is Fundamental
He's back!

O'Reilly vs. Frank, Round 2
Barney Frank enters the no spin zone, again!