Mad About Mad Men

It was an innocent enough request. I had some work I had to do in the home office a couple of Friday nights ago so I quickly posted on Facebook that I needed something mindless and fun to watch on Netflix.

A friend responded: Mad Men.

I don’t watch much regular television. My wife and I recently finished up Design Star and are plugging our way through Project Runway. But since LOST and Battlestar Galactica finished their runs, I haven’t had a regular show. Well, I am still waiting on the second season of Glee to show up on Netflix.

Maybe I watch more tv than I thought.

Anyway, I gave Mad Men a try.

That was all it took, and a week and half later, I’ve gone through Seasons 1-4 and am now anxiously awaiting Season 5 coming next year.

Mad Men is AMC nighttime grownup drama about the advertising men (and women) of Madison Avenue in the early 60s. And they’ve won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row.

But, it’s more than that. It’s drama, romance, soap opera and contemporary (more or less) history all in one action packed hour. It’s graphic and there’s lots of people having lots of sex. AMC also must think it’s really cool to get away with saying $#!* on television.

Mad Men is well written and always leaves you wanting more. Like the more I’m waiting on because Season 5 has been delayed until March, 2012.

I particularly love the weaving of history into the events that affect the characters. Events like the fear experienced during the Bay of Pigs Invasion, or the sadness of Marilyn Monroe’s death or even moreso the assasination of President Kennedy. Using actual footage of the event, you felt the shock when one of the characters witnessed the shooting of Lee Harvey oswald on “live” television.

If you’re not already a fan, catch Mad Men on Netflix or on DVD. It’s some of the best television out there.

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