• Use of Beatles song cost 'Mad Men' $250,000

    By Rolling Stone

    "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner paid $250,000 in licensing fees to use the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows" in last Sunday's episode of "Mad Men," the New York Times reports. It has become notoriously difficult to license the band's music for television, but Weiner felt the high cost was worthwhile because it was thematically and chronologically consistent with the setting of the show, which takes place in the mid-'60s.

    AMC

    Don Draper listens to the Beatles on "Mad Men."

    "It was always my feeling that the show lacked a certain authenticity because we never could have an actual master recording of the Beatles performing," Weiner told the Times, noting that previously attempts to license Beatles music on the show had been declined by Apple Corps. "Not just someone singing their song or a version of their song, but them, doing a song in the show. It always felt to me like a flaw. Because they are the band, probably, of the 20th century."

    Weiner declined to discuss the specifics of the deal, but noted that he understands why Beatles music comes at such a high price point for television licensing. "Whatever people think, this is not about money," says Weiner. "It never is. They are concerned about their legacy and their artistic impact." In order to secure the deal, Weinerhad to share story details with Apple Corps. "It was hard because I had to, writing-wise, commit to the story that I thought was worthy of this incredible opportunity," says Weiner. "The thing about that song in particular was, the Beatles are, throughout their intense existence, constantly pushing the envelope, and I really wanted to show how far ahead of the culture they were. That song to me is revolutionary, as is that album."

    For a sense of scale, most popular songs are licensed to television programs for under $100,000. An episode from the previous season of the show included the Rolling Stones' classic "Satisfaction," which was likely licensed at a similar cost, as the Stones typically demand a high premium for use of their music.


    "Tomorrow Never Knows" was used at the end of Sunday night's episode of "Mad Men," "Lady Lazarus." Don Draper is told by his young wife Megan to play her copy of "Revolver," and is instructed to put on that song, the most artistically radical track the band had produced up to that point. The stodgy, conservative Draper is not impressed by the song and turns it off, underscoring a recurring theme through the season that the character is entirely out of touch with youth culture.

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  • Can 'Mad Men's' Jon Hamm strike out a bunch of nerds at bowling?

    Nerdist

    "Mad Men" get seriously ready to knock down some pins.

    By Randee Dawn

    As slick, suave Don Draper on "Mad Men," is there nothing Jon Hamm can't do well? That's one of the questions the team over at Nerdist wanted to find out, so they invited Hamm and his fellow "Men" Vincent Kartheiser (Pete), Rich Sommer (Harry) and show creator Matt Weiner out for a chance to win money for charity ... if they could beat them in a round of bowling.

    If the "Men" won, that'd be $10,000 to their choice of charity. If not ... well, the nerds (who include site founder Chris Hardwick and "Weird Al" Yankovic) would rule the day.

    (Note: the video has a few bleeped-out words, and some words that aren't bleeped out might not be appropriate for all audiences.)

    Hardwick turned out to be a ringer -- he knew how to bowl well already, only stumbling when he started to get genuine praise from his team members and competitors alike.

    Hamm, bearded, wry and making obscene sculptures out of Play-Doh (pixelated out of the video) certainly held his own in the tight competition. Rich, however, apparently took a "semester of bowling" in college so he would be tough to beat as well. "I skipped a lot," he admitted.

    As the afternoon wore on, however, the activity got more competitive -- fake punches were thrown (someone else clearly wanted to take a swing at Vincent, who got hit recently as Pete on the series), the game of Operation got on everyone's nerves, and then there was all that Play-Doh amidst some surprisingly (or not) juvenile minds. (Hamm conveniently tossed a banana peel on the approach lane just as Hardwick was about to throw once: "I think banana peels are hilarious jokes," said Hamm.)

    So who won in the end? Let Hamm suggest how things went: "Is it [expletive] that he’s inviting people to come so he can beat them at a sport that he’s clearly semi-professional at?" he groused when it was all over, referring to Hardwick. "I think the obvious answer is 'yes.'"

    Well, nobody's perfect.

    What did you think of the matchup? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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  • Ka-pow! Lane decks Pete on 'Mad Men'

    Ron Jaffe / AMC

    Lane decks Pete at the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce as Don and Roger look on.


    By Anna Chan

    Who would've thought that kind, gentle Lane Pryce would ever get into a fist fight on "Mad Men"? In the office? With a co-worker?! Well, it happened on Sunday's episode when the Englishman lost his cool with Pete Campbell at the start of a partners' meeting.

    Sure, it was pretty ridiculous, what with Don drawing the shades so that the rest of the office wouldn't see the brawl. But as Joan later noted to Lane, "Everyone in this office has wanted to do that to Pete Campbell."

    What did you think of the fight? Did Pete deserve it?

    Have more to say about the fight? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!


     

     

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    Results
    Total of 4,277 votes

    79.4%
    Yes! He was rude and disrespectful. It's time someone put him in his place.
    3,398 votes
    4.3%
    No. That behavior is unacceptable in the office no matter what.
    185 votes
    16.2%
    Pete needed to be reminded of his place, but not with a fist fight.
    694 votes

  • The secret to Christina Hendrick's sexy success on 'Mad Men'? Her underwear

    TBS

    "Mad Men" star Christina Hendricks shared her sexy, on-screen secret on "Conan" Thursday night.

    By Ree Hines

    If you've ever wondered just what the secret behind Christina Hendricks' sexy look on "Mad Men" is, then wonder no more. The woman who brings Joan Holloway to life has revealed that it's all about what she wears underneath those sleek '60s fashions -- era-appropriate underwear.

    OK, obviously, Hendricks' sexy look has a heck of a lot to do with what she's packing before she ever hits the wardrobe department. But in an interview with Conan O'Brien, she gave plenty of credit to her supportive foundation garments.

    "Everything is incredibly authentic and meticulous," Hendricks said of the show's clothes. "We have the full undergarments and the slips and the thing over that. It's a little bit of work to get dressed."

    But it's worth the work. After all, those form-fitted under layers are what give Hendricks her on-screen wiggle.

    "You put these things (on) and they sort of make you stand upright and your body just naturally moves a certain way. I always thought that's what made this sort of walk happen -- you put these undergarments on and this tight dress. My husband teases me and says I walk like that at home as well, but I attribute it to the undergarments."


    See what you think of Hendricks' wardrobe and her walk when "Mad Men" airs Sunday night at 10 p.m. on AMC.

    Do you think it's really the underclothes that give Hendricks' her sexy look? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

     

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  • Don Draper eats brains on 'Walking Dead Mad Men'


    By Anna Chan

    It's no secret that Don Draper loves a good Old Fashioned on "Mad Men," but brains? Yeah, not so much, unless you're referring to the smarts of his staff at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.

    But in the spoof "Walking Dead Mad Men," the ad man and his staff exhibit quite the appetite for prime cuts of human in a mashup of the drama with zombie hit "The Walking Dead." And of course, the video wouldn't be complete without "Walking Dead's" Rick, Lori and, wait ... Where's Carl?!

    Check it out:

    What did you think of zombie Don and "Walking Dead Mad Men"? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!


     

     

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  • Fat suit-wearing January Jones returns to 'Mad Men' in a really big way

    AMC

    Betty is a long way from being the slim young thing she was in previous seasons of "Mad Men."

    By The Hollywood Reporter

    Following a Betty Draper/Francis void from "Mad Men's" season 5 premiere, January Jones returned to the small screen in a big way on Sunday.

    The episode, directed by Jon Hamm, focused significantly on Betty's weight gain. Most critics and viewers are in agreement that the storyline was drawn as a result of Jones' real-life pregnancy, though a hefty -- and possibly ill -- Betty also opened up a new door in her character's development. Upon learning that there was a tumor on her thyroid, Betty called upon ex-husband Don Draper (Hamm), rather than her current husband, to express her fear of leaving their children motherless. In the end, the tumor turned out to be benign and Betty was quickly back to her old sharp-tongued self.

    PHOTOS: 'Mad Men' Season 5 premiere red carpet arrivals

    "For those who have always had issues with Mad Men’s frosty mommy, the sight of a hefty Betty -- dare I say an ugly Betty, even though she still looked very pretty with a bit more meat on her -- was a terrific schadenfreude opportunity. But it didn’t last long," wrote The Washington Post's Jen Chaney.

    "Kudos to the writers for finding a way to work January Jones’ pregnancy into the story that’s a little more cerebral than having her carry a bunch of large bags," said Paste magazine's Bonnie Stiernberg. "Instead, they’ve got Betty struggling with what’s undoubtedly her worst nightmare -- the loss of her looks. The episode opens with her kids unable to zip her into a too-tight dress, followed by a shot of Don breezily zipping Megan into her dress as they get ready to go out and woo the Heinz folks. It’s a telling image; Betty’s no longer the glamorous, young wife brought along to smile at her husband’s business associates."

    In stark disagreement, HitFix's Alan Sepinwall described Betty's storyline as the "weakest one," noting that "Having a female character get fat is one way of dealing with an actress pregnancy you don't want to write into your show."

    STORY: 'Mad Men' returns to record ratings with season 5 premiere

    "Because January Jones is so slender to begin with, and didn't pack on that much weight, the show apparently had to resort to some of the makeup tricks they used on Elisabeth Moss during Peggy's pregnancy late in season 1, plus a non-pregnant body double for the bath scene," he continued. "I get that it's an awkward position to be in, story-wise, and Betty having another baby so soon after Gene would not only complicate her life but go against the suggestion here that Henry and Betty's sex life tapered off not long after they moved out of the Ossining house."

    E! Online's Christina Dowling seemed to enjoy seeing a new side of Betty, writing: "While there is a possibility of a fatal illness, we see Betty soften. Hug her kids, be nice to her husband, and even weep. Alas, a season-long arc of Betty becoming a saint was not meant to be. But hopefully the residual effects of her near-death experience will carry forward."

    In addition to the usual recaps and reviews that find their way into the blogosphere following each episode, viewers took to Twitter to make cracks about the latest storyline.


    Comedian Michael Ian Black tweeted: "So many of the 'Mad Men' characters seem unhappy, even though none of them have AIDS yet."

    "Girls" creator Lena Dunham ‏wrote, "My dad honestly thinks the reason Mad Men took 17 months off was 'so they'd have time to plump up January Jones!'"

    Producer Damon Lindelof claimed to have learned a lesson from his evening of television. "Between 60 MINUTES expose on sugar and the last scene of Mad Men, that's pretty much the end of Sunday Sundaes at Chez Lindelof," he wrote.

    "Starting a Mad Men inspired rock band? May i suggest the name 'Fat Betty Draper'?" quipped Twitter user @FrankIero.

    "Oooh Fat Betty, Bam-a-lam. Ooooh Fat Betty, Bam-a-lam," joked @rachelrusch.

    "America wanted it to be malignant too, Betty," wrote @JohnNess.

    Referencing Jones' controversial comment, in which she admitted to eating her own placenta after giving birth, @Chet_Cannon said: "Betty Draper looks like she ate about 100 placentas."

    One thing's for sure: Betty came back with a bang.

    What did you think of her triumphant return? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!

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  • Watch the TV ad the Rolling Stones didn't do for 'Mad Men'

    By Andy Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter

    On Sunday's "Mad Men," Heinz executive Raymond Geiger (John Sloman) suggested to Don Draper (Jon Hamm) that he get the Rolling Stones to sing a version of "Heinz is on my side" set to their hit song "Time is on my side" for the commercial promoting the company's baked beans.


    Draper and Harry Crane (Rich Sommer) set off in pursuit of the Rolling Stones, managing to set up a meeting backstage at their concert at the Forest Hills Tennis Club. Don was dubious but Harry said, "The manager sounded greedy."

    Once they arrived at the concert, the meeting kept getting delayed and Harry and Don ended up talking to a couple of college women who managed to get backstage. When one expressed skepticism to Don that the Stones would do a commercial, he said, "They did one for cereal in England … three years ago.” The coed rolled her eyes.

    Turns out, the Rolling Stones did do a cereal commercial -- for Rice Krispies. See a copy of that television commercial below.

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  • After 17-month absence, 'Mad Men' pulls in biggest audience ever

    Ron Jaffe / AMC

    Megan Draper (Jessica Pare) and Don Draper (Jon Hamm) in a scene from the first episode of the new season of "Mad Men."

    By Tim Molloy , The Wrap

    NEW YORK -- AMC's season five premiere of "Mad Men" scored the show's biggest audience yet, as 3.5 million viewers tuned in after the show's 17-month absence.

    The show's two-hour premiere, beginning at 9 p.m., was the first in the history of "Mad Men." In the 18-49 demographic most coveted by advertisers, it had 1.6 million viewers, up 30 percent from the season four premiere. Among 25-54 year-olds, it was up 17 percent to 1.7 million.

    The show took twice as long as usual to return between seasons, in part because of grueling contract negotiations between "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner, AMC, and Lionsgate, which produces the show. In a statement Monday, AMC president Charlie Collier suggested the contentious days were far in the past.


    "For each of the five 'Mad Men' seasons, Matthew Weiner and his team have crafted a beautifully told story and each season a larger audience has responded; a rare accomplishment," he said. "We couldn't be more proud of this program, the brilliant writers, cast and crew, and the entire team on each side of the camera."

    Weiner's deal to return to the series -- the only one to win four consecutive Emmys for best drama -- will carry it through its seventh and final season.

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  • 'Mad Men' series premiere serves up a big surprise for Don

    AMC

    Is Don Draper getting happy this season on "Mad Men"?

    By Erik Pedersen, E! Online

    Spoiler Alert: Don't read this season premiere recap if you haven't yet watched the episode as there will be spoilers. Wait, you're still reading? OK, but don't get mad if we talk plot points.

    Now where were we?

    Last we saw him, manly enigma Don Draper was dropping loving, intelligent Faye for an impulsive proposal to his hot, young, good-with-kids secretary Megan; beleaguered bombshell Joan was attempting to deal with a surprise pregnancy; and the rest of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce was trying to stay in business while having a few drinks.

    And now? Well, the season 5 premiere began with an expected splash...

    MORE: "Mad Men" cheat sheet: Get caught up on season five

    ...as members of a rival advertising firm drop water-filled sacks on the heads of a civil rights-minded picket line -- setting up a neat distinction between the antics of the all-white boys' club boardrooms of Madison Ave. and the sweeping cultural changes taking place out in the streets. And completely missing the point, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce responds to this racist pranksterism with a joke of its own: an ad announcing that it is an equal opportunity employer. Except, as far as they know, they ain't making any changes. Yet.

    But this two-hour premiere written by Matthew Weiner offers plenty of conflicts to dig into: Megan not only married the boss but she's moved from secretary into creative work; the continuing backward behavior of the Mad men toward women, African-Americans and homosexuals is putting them more and more out of step; and, well, a whole host of various marital and family issues. All that, plus we first got the indelible images of Megan singing goofy French song "Zou Bisou Bisou," and then later cleaning the house in her skimpy black underwear ... why exactly? Because she's just so angry at Don, that's why!

    Still, it's nothing a shag on the carpet can't fix -- for the moment anyway.

    MORE: "The Walking Dead": Everything we already know about season three

    So that's the broad scope: The times are a-changing and the skirts are a-rising, but what's going on with Don (Jon Hamm), Peggy (Elisabeth Moss), Pete (Vincent Kartheiser), Roger (John Slattery), Megan (Jessica Par) and the rest?

    Don Digs Domesticity: Newly married and about to turn 40, weekend dad Don dotes on his visiting kids by making breakfast in his huge family-style apartment and using his chiseled straight-arm in place of a seatbelt. Gone is the gloomy pad of last season, Don and Megan live in a colorful high-rise apartment that's just perfect for a groovy surprise 40th birthday bash -- which Don endures even as Megan dances and purrs through a French song that both embarrasses him and titillates all the assembled men. But Don doesn't like surprises, so Don goes to bed drunk and angry. You're welcome.


    Joan Alone: Home with her baby and her visiting mother, Joan needs to get back to work. She snaps at her mom and seems miserable being away from the office -- though thankfully she doesn't seem to dislike her baby. So there's that, but it's only when she comes to visit Lane that she really starts to feel needed, important and where she belongs.

    MORE: "Mad Men" sneak peek: Photos from the first episode

    Pete Is Growing Up: Sure, he'll always be a bit of the grasping creep who got Peggy pregnant and feels slighted by everything, but Pete is shaping up to be the Man in Charge: He's working hard to bring in clients, avoiding excessive drinking and smoking and developing into a thoughtful husband and father. And if that means butting heads with Roger to get a better office, then so be it. Pete will not be denied.

    Roger, Over and Out? Roger is definitely struggling. But he's at his funniest when times are tough, and the wounded lion spends the episode coaxing the secretaries to sit in front of his office, fending off Pete's advancements and insulting his own trophy wife as he heads off on an early-morning wild goose chase to steal a client.

    And Betty -- Wait, Where's Betty? We don't see January Jones' Betty this episode, but do get a look at the creepy Gothic gloom palace she lives in with her new husband, Henry. "Give my love to Morticia and Lurch," quips Don as he drops the kids off, and we kind of love him for it.

    MORE: Mad over "Mad Men" ads? AMC addresses 9-11 controversy

    There's more potential trouble bubbling under the surface as Lane struggles with money problems and a strange flirtation with a woman over the phone, Peggy works too hard on the Heinz campaign and then shoots her mouth off to Don at the party and Ken (Aaron Stanton) ... well, he always seems perfectly happy and unchanged by the world. Good for you, Ken.

    PHOTOS: "Mad Men's" OMG moments!

    So we got drama, humor and rough housecleaning sex -- as well as insider gags, like Roger seeing Joan with her (and his?) child and announcing, "Where's my baby?" as he kisses Joan on the cheek.

    So what did you think? Was it worth the wait or do you want to send the creative back to work up a new campaign? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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  • Will Don Draper finally be happy this season on 'Mad Men'?

    By Susan C. Young, TODAY.com contributor

    Frank Ockenfels / AMC

    Jon Hamm's Don Draper seemed happy at the end of last season. But what about now?

    There’s a stunning moment in the season four finale of “Mad Men” when Don Draper smiles after announcing to the office his impulsive engagement to secretary Megan.

    Jon Hamm, who plays the dashing ad man, told TODAY.com that even he had doubts about that scene until the viewing party at the 21 Club in New York City.

    “I hadn’t seen it and (creator) Matt (Weiner) will sometimes surprise you with the edits. I thought maybe he would make it all seem like it didn’t happen, like a dream sequence,” Hamm said. “So watching it in a room full of people, when Don proposed to Megan there was an audible gasp. So it worked.”

    So has the tragic Draper finally found happiness in the eagerly anticipated new season, which kicks off Sunday?

    Don’t bet on it.

    “He certainly seemed happy at the end of the season,” Hamm told TODAY.com. “What he went through, and to see him being happy, was refreshing. I think he earned that. But Don has a problem maintaining the status quo and doesn’t feel comfortable resting. I don’t know if he’s done soul searching. He had a lot to do last season and some work to do this season.”

    In season four, Don went diving down to the bottom of the pool and emerged ready to change his life. And this year points to a theme of a career: Does your job define you? Can you find happiness outside of where you work? How adaptable can you be?

    Of course, it's not all about Don at the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.

    “(Ken Cosgrove’s) sense of happiness might not be derived from his job,” Weiner pointed out at a recent PaleyFest panel. “Ambition in the office is not his means to happiness. He’s healthy enough to know the job isn’t the key to happiness, and others in the office may not know that.”

    Harry Crane’s star is rising with the importance of television advertising, and what he’s lost in weight he has gained in ego. In short, Harry’s a bit of a jerk this season. Roger Sterling hasn’t lost his position or his income at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, but he has no clients after losing the Lucky Strike account at the end of season four.

    John Slattery said his character, Roger, is keenly aware of Pete Campbell and Harry’s rising stars – and his own descent after losing his sole account. Slattery reiterated the theme of work defining you.

    “Most of the season takes place in the workplace and how it determines your identity,” Slattery told TODAY.com. “Roger says in the first episode, ‘The only thing worse than not getting what you want is someone else getting it.’ ”

    And Roger still wants what Don has.


    “Why would anyone stop being envious of Don?” Slattery said.

    And while Don seems to be in a happy place at the beginning of the premiere episode, it doesn’t look as if that can possibly continue.

    As Elisabeth Moss' Peggy Olson says in the premiere, “I don’t recognize that man, kind and patient.”

    "Mad Men" returns with a two-hour season five premiere on Sunday at 9 p.m. on AMC.

    Which story line are you most excited for this season? Tell us on our Facebook page!

     

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  • Jimmy Fallon declares War on Jon Hamm

    NBC

    Jimmy Fallon declared war on "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm during Tuesday's "Late Night."

    By Ree Hines

    "Late Night" host Jimmy Fallon got all wet on Tuesday night, and he wasn't the only one. "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm joined Fallon for a soggy version of the classic card game War, and there wasn't a dry eye -- or anything else -- on the stage.

    For each round of play, the high-card holder earned the right to splash a glassful of water in his opponent's face, and of course, only one man could win.

    And that man was Fallon. The host had five shots to give Hamm a face full of water (and he thanked the actor for the privilege), while Hamm only scored two shots against Fallon.

    The best part of winning? Fallon earned yet another chance to soak Hamm and his fine Tom Ford suit -- this time with a water cannon.


    What did you think of the wet War action? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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  • 'Mad Men' cast talks long hiatus, a fiery plane crash and 'terrible' reality TV people

    By Randee Dawn

    Many things have happened in the world in the 17 months since "Mad Men" last graced AMC -- star January Jones now has a 6-month-old baby, and co-star John Slattery says (tongue-in-cheek, of course) that there was even time for "gender reassignment surgery."

    But however they want to characterize it, the fact is, it's been too long -- a fact that will be rectified Sunday, when "Men" returns with a two-hour season premiere. Slattery, Jones, fellow stars Jon Hamm, Vincent Kartheiser, Jared Harris, Kiernan Shipka and show creator Matt Weiner joined TODAY's Matt Lauer in the studio Monday to talk about that return ... along with a few other juicy details.

    "It's an unfortunately long hiatus," said Slattery. "But I think now you can DVR shows, you can actually find the show in ways you couldn't before. So we're actually hoping it whetted peoples' appetites more."

    Weiner noted that one of the show's appeals is that it never shows people in black-or-white shades; everyone lives in a world of gray. "It's also not judgmental," he said. "There's something about it that embraces on some level that we are flawed people.... People behave badly; it's why the 10 commandments are there."

    Speaking of people behaving badly on TV, Hamm discussed his recent dust up with Kim Kardashian and reality TV in general (he called reality TV stars "idiots"; Kardashian retaliated by saying his remarks were "careless"). Hamm stood by his comments, and even got some support from a co-star.

    "It's a part of our culture that I certainly don't identify with and I don't really understand the appeal of it other than that car-crash sensibility," said Hamm. "It's not something that I partake in or enjoy, but it is what it is and here we are."

    Kartheiser added, "I agree with everything he said. I mean, I think our society enjoys to turn on the television and seeing someone who is awful; they can say, 'At least I'm not as terrible as that person.'"


    "There are a lot of channels on the dial," said Hamm. "And those channels have to be filled up with things. ... Different strokes for different folks."

    Undoubtedly reality TV will outlast even "Mad Men," which is expected to run for seven seasons (Sunday's episode kicks off the fifth). But even with that deadline looming, don't ask Weiner just how he plans to end anything: "For me, I think that they want the tension alleviated, that there is a plan or something, but for me I really don't even want to think about it ending yet."

    Not even one with a fiery plane crash?

    "We can't afford that," said Weiner. "There would be the reflection of a fiery crash in a window."

    "Mad Men" returns on AMC on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.

    What are you looking forward to most in the new season? Grab a cognac and cigar and discuss over on Facebook.

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