We were lucky enough to get this awesome Matt Weiner interview-ette from GQ.com a day ahead of schedule (thank you, lovely sourceperson!).
These are all Matt Weiner quotes:
“Roger’s love for Jane put the company in play, and Roger used Don as an excuse to get out of his marriage. Don thought the whole thing was a betrayal. So they have issues to work out.”
“Time has passed. I won’t say how much, but the guys are definitely at different points in their lives.”
“I fought AMC cutting two minutes of the show. I love advertising. I write about advertising. I am an advocate of AMC making money. But an extra ad is a very limited financial reward for altering a show that put AMC on the map. Also, you are fighting the TiVo! Why give people less show?”
“The Cuban Missile Crisis created a situation where the characters could die tomorrow. Of course, some of them – like Betty – don’t even notice and just want to deal with their own problems.”
“This season will be thematically different than what we’ve done before, but it’s the same people in the same world. Pete is there. Peggy is there. I want people who love the show to say, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m so glad to be back with these people. What’s going to happen?’”
22 Responses to “Exclusive Matt Weiner scoop juice from GQ!”
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"What's going to happen?"
I am so thinking the same thing!
There are just so many different directions they could take each character and the show as a whole, I cannot even begin to know for sure what is going to happen. Maybe only a very faint, vague idea with some characters, but with others I have absolutely no idea.
But, this is why I love the show.
( Also, thank you lovely sourceperson as well!
)
I love Matt!
I'm speculating about season 3. In the little interviews that accompany the "10 most shocking' moments in MM, Elisabeth Moss mentions that in just the first two episodes there are 2 things that will make the next shocking list. This is driving me nuts!
Here's my total tongue-in-cheek shocking things I could think of:
Maybe SC would move all or part of its operations to LA where Paul wins a Orson Welles lookalike contest and Joan wins a audition to play Ginger Grant on Gilligan's Island
Sal divorces Kitty and moves in with Ken
Betty and Don adopt creepy Glen when Helen Bishop runs off with the air conditioner guy Betty fantasized about while loving the washing machine.
Pete finds his son only to realize that he's been adopted by Hildy, who forces the baby to wear purple plaid and lime green rompers.
I defintiely think Betty has not reached the levels of crazy that she is capable of, I have a feeling this new baby will push it. I'd like to see her scream more and not be so passive, I feel like Matt is saving that to really pack a punch.
Looking forward to seeing Peggy keep moving up, and maybe Joan too, I don't want her in that abusive relationship!
great scoopy scoop!
If this hasn't been posted before, the making of the Season 3 poster, Don Draper in an office of rising water:
http://www.amctv.com/videos/mad-men/?bcpid=880397…
Silly me, I'd assumed it was digital art. But no, that's full-suited Don and his office, Katrina-style.
Also: whaddaya think of Don's sleeker hair? More '60s, ja? And hot, definitely hot.
I think Matt Weiner should read this book! (he probably has already!) It's a very well written account of the attitudes of the '60's and the Beatles influence. I suspect that in Season 3 we won't be up to 1964 yet, but as I read the 1st chapter of this book, it made me think of Matt and how he sees the '60's.
http://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Head-Beatles-Rec…
May I pose a Season 3 question? I went on iTunes to download the free "10 most shocking moments" featurette and checked out the Season 3 page. The season costs $34.99 and the previous seasons now are priced at $34.99. Did we pay that much in previous years? It seems a little pricey to me, but it's been a while since I bought my downloads.
I never bought them on iTunes, but Roberta did. Eventually, she'll chime in.
also, it's interesting that MW says, "Don thought the whole thing was a betrayal." Presumably, Don wouldn't have questioned a simple affair between Roger and Jane if they kept it quiet, but his objection was being dragged into it — and then seeing the ground beneath his feet shaken.
Maybe that's why he disappeared for a few weeks in California (aside from his separation from Betty) — the feeling that, "If Roger can make a fool of himself with Jane, I can damn well take some time for myself."
Brenda I don't know what the previous iTunes show passes prices were like but I have noticed that song prices have gone from $0.99 to $1.29 on a lot of new releases so I would not be surprised if there is a slow rise in price throughout the store.
Interesting interpretation of Roger/Don and Don taking off in "The Jet Set". I had not thought of it, but it completely makes sense.
I think I paid $22 for each season, although individual episodes were available for $1.99 a piece. I remember once the second season aired, you could download season 1 for $19.99.
$34.99 is a huge price jump.
Speaking of season 3 there is a possible blind item for the show at Ausiello's EW site, it's not exactly a spoiler because it may not be for the show. He includes a list of possible contenders…
JS:
I would be really surprised if Ausiello's blind item was about Mad Men. It's not in keeping with the tone of the show, it would be a much bigger spoiler than what's leaked out in the past, and although the item is about the show's season finale, Mad Men isn't close to filming that yet so it's really unlikely that he would know about it.
What does "thematically different" mean? Guess we'll find out. Hope they didn't jump too far ahead in time. Love the early 60's vibe.
"I would be really surprised if Ausiello’s blind item was about Mad Men."
I would too, but some people think his "cap at a jaunty-angle" was a wink at Mad Men. It sounds melodramatic but The Sopranos pulled it off, so who knows?
What does “thematically different†mean? Guess we’ll find out. Hope they didn’t jump too far ahead in time. Love the early 60’s vibe.
Well, one thing I could think of would be an end to the focus on specific secrets. S1 was all about the Don/Dick mystery, then ended with Peggy’s surprise bundle of guilt. We saw a continuation of Don’s other big secret – his adultery – in S2, along with Peggy grappling with the aftereffects of her secret.
But at the end of S2, all the secrets are out. Peggy told Pete, Don sort-of owned up to Betty (and she retaliated in her own way), Roger is open about his relationship with Jane and Duck’s secret plan to destroy Don failed miserably. I could easily see S3 focus more on the characters themselves as they deal with the cultural changes of the mid-60s.
Brenda – you bought the high def season! I made that mistake with Monk once right when they swiched their format. The high def comes up first and down below it says "also avail in standard". Standard is really good so can't imagine paying more. The standard seasons run $19.99
[...] the link to the GQ interview that we were all scoopy [...]
I always know I truly love a show when I say to myself, "I wonder what they're doing now" – because the characters are so real to me! I did this with the Sopranos, Sex and the City and Friends. I hope they jump no further than about Summer '63; about the time that Betty and Don's baby is due. Also hope Joan dumps the fiancee and Peggy gets a real boyfriend.
"I would too, but some people think his “cap at a jaunty-angle†was a wink at Mad Men. It sounds melodramatic but The Sopranos pulled it off, so who knows?"
Well, Ausiello just ruled out Mad Men in his column, so that seems to answer that.
Um, Debra, what?
I’m so glad to know that I’m actually a legit fan of the show, even though its been a long time since I’ve commented.