The affairs less traveled
For some reason I was thinking about Ally McBeal.
I don’t remember now why the show popped into my head, but what I was reflecting on was how there was always another love interest for Ally, and another ending, and then another one. There were constant romances brewing, even when they didn’t come to fruition; for her, and for most of the characters, and between most of the characters. And beyond the core cast, they’d bring on new boyfriends for her. Tate Donovan, Jesse L. Martin, Robert freaking Downey Jr. (because I’m sorry, but he is supposed to be with me. just saying.)
And so many shows do this. Soap operas are the worst, but many other dramas/comedies do it. Everyone sleeps with everyone, every attraction has to mean something, has to lead somewhere, has to threaten a marriage or dangle like a carrot.
(wait for it…)
…except for Mad Men.
In two seasons we did see a lot of affairs, but most of them were Don, and that is a key element of his character.
Other than that, here are some affairs that might have happened had the show been in another writer’s hands:
Don and Joan
Don and Peggy
Joan and Paul revisited
Joan and Carol
Don and Helen
Helen and Carlton
Don and Juanita
Don and the Asian hostess
Betty and the air conditioning salesman
Betty and Arthur
Betty and the mechanic
Peggy and Father Gil
Trudy and Charlie
Peggy and Ken
Ken and Salvatore
Elliott and Salvatore
Lois Sadler and Salvatore
Freddy and Peggy
Jimmy and Betty
Don and Jane
Bertram and… anyone
Duck and…
You get it.
Basket of Kisses: The unofficial blog of AMC's Mad Men. Where all the cool kids meet & greet to talk about Don Draper, Janie Bryant, Christina Hendricks, Jon Hamm, Matthew Weiner, & subtexty things.
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July 8th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
We're not that far into it. Some of those things may actually happen. For example, I'm thinking we may see Peggy and Ken or Elliot and Salvatore before the series has completed its run.
My personal hope for Bertram Cooper is that he'll hook up with someone like Diahann Carroll, but it will have more lasting significance and depth than Paul and Sheila's "affair."
July 8th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Yeah, that's one of my pet peeve's about long-running series: usta love Grey's Anatomy, until it seemed every one of the original cast had to have sex/relationships with every other member of the original cast, in every permutation possible, including those that defied sense and rationality.
Thank the cathode tube Mad Men doesn't feel compelled to mix and match the cast like so many paper dolls to be rubbed up against each other arbitrarily.
July 9th, 2009 at 1:17 am
hullaballoo, you're not wrong, and perhaps I didn't say what I quite meant–in a less realistic show, in a show filled with television tricks, it's non-stop with the significant meaningful loves. It isn't just the Who, which is what I indicated, but the When, the How often, and even the How (said significance; in real life, sure, stuff happens, but sometimes it's just nookie and then never mind).
This goes back to my Mad Men is patient theory.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:34 am
Patient indeed.
Look, the show's got to deliver some sparks, being on commercial television and all, so there's always a skin factor. However it's all done in keeping with the motif: what does this say about the character, the time, the culture, ourselves?
Don & Midge – established Don as a philanderer, and provided the creative/sexual counterpoint to Betty and his homelife.
Don & Rachel – allowed us to explore Don's outsider-ness, and witness his propensity for flight over fight.
Pete & Peggy – kind of the emotional core of S1; catalyst for Peggy's character development.
Harry & Hildy – what happens when one of these schnooks tells their wives about an affair? Let's watch! Also, just looking at Hildy get dressed was … y'know.
Don & Bobbie – excuse for Don to quit the Boy Scouts at beginning of S2; culminates in huge emotional payoff in Gold Violin.
Betty & Guy in Bar – beginning of S2's climax (no pun inten- … oh, forget it); for Betty's character, simultaneously meaningless and meaningful.
Betty & The Chicken Drumstick – no explanation necessary.
July 9th, 2009 at 5:29 am
Mr. Cooper, that there was a way better post than mine.
I love every plausible moment of Harry and Hildy, ftr.
July 9th, 2009 at 5:49 am
PS – left off your list of possible dalliances:
Hollis and Peggy
Jimmy and Viola
Dale and Bobbie
Alice and Hildy
Alice and Betty
Alice and Lois
Duck and Jane
July 9th, 2009 at 5:53 am
Nice list, B., but you forgot Betty & The Washing Machine and Peggy & The Relaxiciser — sisters are doing it for themselves. (Okay, so not technically affairs, but… something.) In an age when "good girls" supposedly didn't do such things, it's nice to see two young women discovering a new aspect of their own sensuality.
July 9th, 2009 at 6:00 am
B., You just wanted to say 'Duck and Jane'. And I'm so sorry I left Dale out–you know how happy it would make me to see him get some action!
Robin D, and it was all the same episode.
July 9th, 2009 at 6:53 am
These Alice affairs make me snicker.
Don't forget Pete and the Chicken. He tossed it for a reason.
July 9th, 2009 at 7:05 am
I was thinking Bertram and Salvatore….
July 9th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Heh, this thread reminds me of the episode "Beneath You" in Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
Nancy: Is there ANYONE here that hasn't slept together?
[Xander and Spike exchange looks.]
July 9th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Heh. You all left out Don and Francine.
John R., Bertram and Salvatore is fantastic. And how about Mona and Alice?
B. Coop, Hollis and Peggy actually makes sense to me. I could see that happening.
July 9th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Let's not forget Roger & Jane.
An affair I'd like to see is Joan and Jim Brown. Talk about two forces of nature. The question is, who'd be on top?
July 9th, 2009 at 7:55 am
JohnR, you made my head explode.
July 9th, 2009 at 8:09 am
I actually meant to include Don and Francine.
And I agree about Hollis and Peggy.
July 9th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Whenever I watch one of those shows where they're always chucking new relationships together just for variety's sake, it makes me think of when I was a little girl and I'd want to play with all my dolls together. But it was never really satisfying, because some of them just didn't go together. I couldn't suspend disbelief enough to believe that Barbie and Baby Alive were sisters, or that Dawn and My Friend Mandy could work at the same detective agency.
If Pete suddenly started dating Bobbie Barrett, I wouldn't say, "What a mismatch! Look at the sparks fly!" I'd say, "What a mismatch; it's too odd to identify with as a viewer."
July 9th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Melissa, I love that analogy. This is how I felt on Grey's a couple seasons in, even with the friendships. There was a moment when, was it Callie and the Chief kind of bonded? Ridiculous.
July 9th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I would love to see the affair between Joan and Paul revisited but with added maturity on both of their parts from that of pre-1960 season one.
Glenn mentioned to Peggy that his Mom had boyfriends; I would love for Helen to become closer to Betty and confide in her about her relationships. Helen is so up front; this might add a little to the suburban settings even if it's a very small addition to the show.
July 9th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
OMG, never, ever bury such a great thread under a compendium-of-stuff-I-forget-what-you-call-those! This is hilarious! Betty & the Chicken Drumstick, bwahahaha.
Hollis & Peggy would be hot.
July 9th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Speaking of asynchronous pairings–what about Don and Helen a la Mad Men Examiner? Not sure what that was about.
July 10th, 2009 at 10:41 am
I loved the Harry & Hildy scenes also… but if you haven't heard the commentary for them, seek it out. Very funny, starting with the fact that they were shot on Rich Sommers's 2nd wedding anniversary, and the lovely Virginia was out of town.
July 10th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
We forgot one of the most important character matchings of all — random couch and, well, just about anyone. The sofas see a lot of action on this show. I think they even get paid actor's scale because of it…
July 10th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
… and Jesse L. Martin is supposed to be with me. But only when he sings.
The scene that defined why random pairings are not possible on this show? Was Don, Rachel, Bobbie, and Tilden Katz. That was a moment of gut-wrenching truth for Don and Rachel: the real answer to that question she'd asked him on the roof of Mencken's in Season 1.
Does Don just go around kissing women he's not married to? Oh yes he does.
It's a real difference: maybe in terms of time, but certainly in perspective. Most TV shows and their settings have nothing to do with real life. They are a break from it. Mad Men aims to get closer — and you can't do that if your characters' relationships are broken down to a simple matter of throwing them together, like a handful of tiles from a bag.
But what the hell? Peggy & Bobbie for the win.
July 11th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Polly & Chauncey
July 13th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Betty and Roger, definitely.