Comments on: The affairs less traveled

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:02:31 +0000

Betty and Roger, definitely.

By: CatieIona

CatieIona — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:23:50 +0000

Polly & Chauncey

By: Anne B

Anne B — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:12:17 +0000

… 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.

By: hullaballoo

hullaballoo — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:38:25 +0000

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…

By: Karl

Karl — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:41:57 +0000

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.

By: Susan M

Susan M — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:42:00 +0000

Speaking of asynchronous pairings–what about Don and Helen a la Mad Men Examiner? Not sure what that was about.

By: Donny Brook

Donny Brook — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:52:52 +0000

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.

By: Charlene Freethy

Charlene Freethy — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:29:58 +0000

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.

By: Roberta Lipp

Roberta Lipp — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:45:37 +0000

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.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:31:36 +0000

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."