Basket of Kisses

Mad Men’s achievement: Three consecutive Emmys for Best Dramatic Series, is impressive but not unique. (The most consecutive wins for a Drama Series is four.) I’ve put together some quick numbers so we can put it in context. Interestingly, Emmy voters are far more diverse in drama than an comedy; comedies have far more repeat winners.

Here are the mega-stars of multiple Emmys:

Drama Series
The Defenders, three consecutive wins: 1962—64
Hill Street Blues, four consecutive wins: 1981—84
LA Law, four wins, three of which were consecutive: 1987, 1989—91
West Wing, four consecutive wins: 2000—03
Mad Men, three consecutive wins: 2008—10

Comedy Series
The Dick Van Dyke Show, four consecutive wins: 1963—66
All in the Family, four wins, three of them consecutive: 1971—73, 1978
Mary Tyler Moore Show, three consecutive wins: 1975—77
Taxi, three consecutive wins: 1979—81
Cheers, four wins, two of them consecutive: 1983, 1984, 1989, 1991
Frasier, five consecutive wins: 1994—98
30 Rock, three consecutive wins: 2007—09

Christina Hendricks wore a Zac Posen Resort gown in lavender silk chiffon with ostrich feather trim..

The Red Carpet shows didn’t show us as much of Mad Men’s cast as I would have liked, though Christina Hendricks and husband Geoffrey Arend did spend a bit of time talking with one interviewer. Christina’s lovely lavender chiffon gown (from the Zac Posen Resort collection) was one of a surprising number of purple gowns, also seen on Jane Lynch (deep purple satin one-shoulder), Emily Deschanel (tiered, ruffled, sparkly deep violet), Katrina Bowden (pale orchid chiffon with tiered skirt) and Nancy O’Dell (deep violet silk charmeuse sheath). Other colors that seemed on trend for this awards ceremony were pale pink, ivory and pale to dark grey. The muted but rich lavender color was gorgeous on Christina, who wore a black gown by Christian Siriano  at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards last week (Siriano, a former winner of Project Runaway, designed the stunning low-cut pale apricot satin gown she wore at last year’s Emmy’s). Black is dramatic on her pale skin, but the lavender really shows off her complex, Renoiresque skin tone beautifully. The low neckline was sexy, the feather trim on shoulders and skirt gave a touch of flirtatious glamour, and the pleats in front showed off her hourglass shape (which looks slimmer than last season, but still deliciously shapely).

Elisabeth Moss wore an ivory chiffon one-shoulder gown (redcarpet-fashionawards.com called it “dove grey”) with simple, flawless draping, custom-made by Donna Karan. Simple make-up, pale rose lips, and hair that looked a bit retro but soft. Elisabeth looked glamorous but approachable. It would have been nice to see her or Christina on that stage accepting a trophy.

January Jones in an Atelier Versace gown in lapis blue silk.

The “what was she thinking?” outfit was seen on Best Actress in a Drama nominee January Jones, whose Atelier Versace gown was dramatic but too structured and quirky. I think someone of her classic beauty should keep it simple; then again, someone of her simplicity and grace can pull it off. The color wasn’t the worst part: the bright cobalt (or is it lapis?) blue was dramatic against her blonde hair, which was loose, straightened and wispy. But the wide open circle skirt (shorter in front, with a fairly long train) seemed too voluminous for her. A great couture look, but on this gamine, non-flashy actress, maybe just too much.

Kiernan Shipka was adorable yet classy looking in a lavender floral on white print short dress with full skirt, silver sandals with a hint of a heel, and a sparkling headband (that looked just a bit like a tiara).

Jon Hamm looked great in a Giorgio Armani tux; and can I say, he was wonderful in the opening musical video and stage number! Especially when he was channelling Bruce Springsteen.

John Slattery was also in a classic tux, looking dapper (thanks to whoever told me it was Dior Homme).

It’s Emmy night, and we’re opening up the floor to all of you. Watch the red carpet events wherever you like, watch for live updates here, chime in and dish, critique, and hopefully cheer like crazy.

A reminder of what we’re looking at:

Mad Men; Outstanding Drama Series

Jon Hamm; Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

January Jones; Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

John Slattery; Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Christina Hendricks; Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Elisabeth Moss; Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Robert Morse; Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series • Shut The Door. Have A Seat. •

Lesli Linka Glatter; Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series • Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency •

Robin Veith, Matthew Weiner; Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series • Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency •

Matthew Weiner, Erin Levy; utstanding Writing for a Drama Series • Shut The Door. Have A Seat. •

Laura Schiff, Carrie Audino; Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series

Christopher Manley; Outstanding Cinematography For A One Hour Series • Shut The Door. Have A Seat. •

Janie Bryant, Le Dawson; Outstanding Costumes For A Series • Souvenir •

Pattye Rogers, Christopher Nelson; Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series • The Gypsy And The Hobo •

Tom Wilson; Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series • Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency •

Lucia Mace, Anthony Wilson, Mary Guerrero, Peggy Semtob; Outstanding Hairstyling For A Single-Camera Series • Souvenir •

Lana Horochowski, Ron Pipes, Maggie Fung, Kate Shorter, Bonita Dehaven, Angie Wells; Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic) • Souvenir •

And don’t forget Hamm’s nomination for his performance as Dr. Drew Baird for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series on 30 Rock.

January Jones talks to AMC about last week’s episode, the fainting couch and more…

The Daily Beast calls Betty Draper “TV’s most misunderstood leading lady.”  Down under, The Vine trawls eBay for Betty’s style.

Was the mention of Dr. Lyle Evans on last week’s show stealth advertising?

Motorcycle USA reports that Honda was not product placement, and examines Honda ads from the period.

GFY gives kudos to Christina Hendricks at the Creative Arts Emmys.

Christina Hendricks is modeling for… London Fog. [Don't limit her exposure. -K]  She is also the cover feature for Capitol File’s fall fashion issue.

Christina Hendricks says some viewers expect her to act like her character Joan in real life, and partially blames social networking sites. She joins Basketcases everywhere in promoting Vincent Kartheiser for an Emmy nod.  Also, she is having difficulty convincing her Dad that she is “there” yet.

Elisabeth Moss has Emmys advice and more for Parade.

John Slattery talks to the L.A. Times about directing, acting with Talia Balsam and more…

Jared Harris says the cast plays a guessing game about future script developments.

(more…)

Jared Harris brings English civility to Mad Men, reports Reuters.

Alexa Alemanni gets a timely Q & A session with AMC. [Watch this space for an Alexa Alemanni Q&A with the Basket!]

Christina Hendricks talks about seasons 3 and 4 with the New York Post.  She also discloses she wants to do a movie where she would get to learn Kung Fu [because she cannot help but push the envelope of awesome --K]  Best Week Ever has her geeky goth high school pictures.  And to think she felt “invisible” in Hollywood prior to being cast on Mad Men. Also, she loves that Joan lightens things up at SCDP.

January Jones talks about the cast’s regimen of eating well and not working out too much.  JJ also talks to the Hollywood Reporter about Season 3′s drama and the Emmys.

Elisabeth Moss talks to New York magazine about Peggy’s new season, her new love interest and her new hairdo.

ABC talked to our Emmy-nominated trio of Mad Women.

(more…)

Burning questions for S4 from the Washington Post.

Modernize your Mad Men fashion.

This might be worth saving for the archives: A map of all the bars visited in Mad Men.

Ten fictional businesses I wish were real mentions Mad Men in an unexpected way.

TV Guide’s weird TV of the week includes weird questions asked of Christina Hendricks. Christina answers more normal questions OntheRedCarpet.  The HuffPo has video of an KTLA news host reduced to incoherence at the thought of Christina taking a bath.  And she is declared an “absolutely fabulous” physical role model for girls by Lynne Featherstone, Britain’s new Equalities Minister.

Nerve compiles the best advice we’ve ever gotten from Joan.

Chris March (of Project Runway fame) didn’t love Public Relations. [I totally disagree, yet I still love him.--D]

Joe Bua, TV Junkie, is sort of crazy in love with Public Relations, and also with Basket of Kisses. The feeling is moooo-chual, dahling.
(more…)

We’ve all read that January Jones submitted The Gypsy and the Hobo as her Emmy episode. It’s hard to argue with that choice; she is great and has a lot of screen time.

But I just spent an hour with Shut the Door. Have a Seat, and I think it’s by far her best work. She’s frickin’ masterful. Nuanced. Complicated. Reined in yet deeply emotional. She holds firm. She chokes up. She covers her face with her hand at a moment when another actress might have gone all emotive, and lets that hand speak as if was a gasp and a cry. She forgives and does not forgive. She is ashamed and confused and firm and lost and furious.

Betty Draper is a cold character whom many find unlikeable. Some blame January Jones. This episode is enormously, hugely, magnificently the answer.

My (and the Draper’s) local paper interviews residents of Ossining–including the mayor–about Mad Men. That same paper (The Journal News) gives tips for throwing a Mad Men party.

Christina Hendricks speaks about weight. She sounds sane.

The Emmy nominees for Best Actor in a Drama series have chosen their episodes to submit. Jon Hamm chose the only possible episode.

Tom & Lorenzo discuss January Jones.

The Mayfair Hotel in Miami is hosting Mad Men Mondays. In the Boston area, Noir Bar will have Mad Men Sundays (for, I think, the fourth year).

President Obama wrote to Matt Weiner. Yowzer! Also, John McCain is a fan.

(more…)

JibJab has launched “Mad Men Starring Yourself“, a customizable video short in which you can take head shots of yourself or anyone else and insert them into a highlight reel of scenes from the show.

Mad Women answer fan questions on video for AMC.

Alan Sepinwall has non-spoilery love for the Season 4 premiere, though he discloses that Don says something in it.

The New York Times claims to have non-spoilery reasons to get excited for Season 4, then drops a bit of a spoiler — albeit a welcome one.

Roger Friedman has some spoilery speculation (so let’s not comment on it).  [But for those who click, I will say it generally fits with something Slattery said in my Comcast ChannelGuide --K.]
(more…)

Sorry kids, I’m at work and it’s hard to catch it all from the right source. It’s very exciting. Christina Hendricks, Elisabeth Moss, Slattery, Robert Morse–writing, directing, hair makeup casting editing the list just goes on and on. Lovely to see the Gypsy and the Hobo get some props. This is great stuff.

Here’s the fuller scoopage:

Mad Men; Outstanding Drama Series

Jon Hamm; Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

January Jones; Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

John Slattery; Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Christina Hendricks; Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Elisabeth Moss; Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Robert Morse; Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series • Shut The Door. Have A Seat. •

Lesli Linka Glatter; Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series • Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency •

Robin Veith, Matthew Weiner; Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series • Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency •

Matthew Weiner, Erin Levy; utstanding Writing for a Drama Series • Shut The Door. Have A Seat. •

Laura Schiff, Carrie Audino; Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series

Christopher Manley; Outstanding Cinematography For A One Hour Series • Shut The Door. Have A Seat. •

Janie Bryant, Le Dawson; Outstanding Costumes For A Series • Souvenir •

Pattye Rogers, Christopher Nelson; Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series • The Gypsy And The Hobo •

Tom Wilson; Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series • Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency •

Lucia Mace, Anthony Wilson, Mary Guerrero, Peggy Semtob; Outstanding Hairstyling For A Single-Camera Series • Souvenir •

Lana Horochowski, Ron Pipes, Maggie Fung, Kate Shorter, Bonita Dehaven, Angie Wells; Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic) • Souvenir •

Oh hey also, Hamm was nominated again as Dr. Drew Baird for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series on 30 Rock. Shiny!