The themes of Mad Men are generally about loss, change and a miserable existence which are rarely funny but tonight's episode "The Rejected" was infused with some much needed humor. Cleverly directed by the funniest guy in the room, John Slattery aka Roger Sterling, the script by Keith Huff & Matthew Weiner comes alive with great character expressions and zinging one-liners. One would expect nothing less, right?

The episode was basically Pete and Peggy centric but all the characters had some face time and made lasting impressions. All the way from Allison's meltdown through our first glimpse into the burgeoning hippie world to Bert Cooper's blue socks making an appearance. This episode was a big bowl of awesomeness especially if you notice all the hilarious subtleties. It takes place the week of February 21st, 1965 since Peggy mentions Malcolm X's murder just took place. What I would have given to see a Valentine's Day Mad Men show! But I digress . . .

Let's take the episode characters one-by-one:

Peggy the blossoming beatnik poet is up first.
Right off the bat Peggy is putting a focus group of 18-25 year-olds from the SCDP secretarial pool together for Doc Faye Miller to dissect and boil down the real reason why young girls should use Pond's Cold Cream. Why subject them to all of this embarrassing psycho-babble when Freddy already knows they will buy anything to help them just get married? As Peggy wistfully watches the group she tries on Doc Miller's wedding ring and of course Don notices which only proves Freddy correct.

Peggy then meets Life magazine assistant photo editor Joyce in the elevator and doesn't realize that she is way too interested in nude pics of women and with Peggy's body. Joyce flirts with her and it seems like we should know she's a lesbian because she doesn't pluck her eyebrows, wears little make-up and has a tightly pulled back ponytail. Ok, it works. She's a lesbian.

Later, Joyce invites Peggy out to a party while circling the receptionist Megan's desk. We now get a glimpse into the new and fun world of 60's Andy Warhol influenced hippie movement, Mad Men style! A guy in a bear suit walks by; pot is smoked with a big roach clip; guys named Davey Kellogg wear open Nehru jackets (showing his hairless chest) while making really bad art films; really cool leather jacketed people named Abe try to impress girls by telling them they've been arrested and lesbian Joyce says she hungry when she goes to kiss Peggy. All and all another great night in the Village. The police break up the party and as Joyce and Peggy run through the produce market giggling a new friendship and way of life for Peggy is found. Me thinks that Peggy will like this new lifestyle way too much and become a poet of sorts. You watch!

Elizabeth Moss does a great job in this episode, especially with her scenes with Pete. When she finds out that his wife Trudy is pregnant you can really see a full range of emotions on her face. Longing, humiliation, sadness, and regret are all there. Regardless, the connection between the two is undeniable. They would make an electric couple no doubt.

The slick blue suit wearing Pete Campbell was in full on kick-butt mode. When he has to drop the bomb to his father-in-law that SCDP has to drop the Clearasil account because Pond's doesn't like them he goes into survival mode. First he meets up with daddy and fumbles the speech but then finds out Trudy is "with child." With his patented blank look he confronts Trudy and seems very pleased with himself. I guess all those fertility treatments worked! Lane is his typical fake British self when he hears the news and Joey the art dude refuses to chip in for some champagne while sneering; "I would get Trudy soooo pregnant." This is all news to Peggy of course and she confronts him in her usual curt way. She knows that he knows that he got her preggers and she is not going to let him forget it!

Emboldened by his lunch with the ever clueless and happy-go-lucky Ken Cosgrove (he's back!), Pete gets an evil idea. He's gonna strong-arm his father-in-law in giving him all of P&G's (Vick's Chemical) business; the inhalers, cough drops, Vapor Rub and Formula 44. Somehow he gets it and it's worth 6 million which is more than the 2 million from Pond's. His father-in-law calls him a SOB and he shrugs all while channeling LBJ by saying to Roger, Lane and Don that he's "turned chicken shit into chicken salad". Score one for the slickster Pete!

Psychologist Faye Miller is a woman on a mission. She uses her manipulative skills to full impact in that focus group by asking questions that make the secretaries cry. Doesn't seem that hard though. Even Freddy was surprised how quickly it took! Predictably, Don's secretary Allison is in on the group and when the questions get too emotional she runs out of the room as she knows Don is watching. Later Doc Faye and Don get into a psychological ideology fight and Don proves once again he's the smartest guy in the room. Wonder how long it will take for the Doc to make a move on him? She already is curious because of his walk-out when she was getting psych profiles but she couldn't handle the real Don Draper that's for sure. He knows this so I'm sure he'll try and resist her Sharon Stone-like advances. Now that would be a great mind game!

Ah, the magic charm of Don Draper makes all the women go gooey and dorky Allison is no exception. First she breaks down and goes into his office to cry and then when he tries to be his usual gruff self she confronts him about their drunken one-night stand. Typically Don has been downplaying it by simply treating it like it never happened but that's not good enough for her. She obviously fell in love with him because previously she tried to get him to open up about the picture Anna sent and now she brings up the hoop-de-dooh they had. Don apologizes and says they are both adults. Wrong!! Has he not worked with her long enough to know she is an awkward child? Allison tries to appeal to his sense of chivalry by suggesting she leave the company but Don hardly protests. In fact, he tells her to write up her own recommendation letter and he'll sign it. This is not what Allison expects at all so she hurls a glass ball at the wall and says he's not a good person before storming out. Duh!! The last laugh is on Don though as Joan resurrects the old secretary Mrs. Blankenship from the mothballs and installs her as his new Girl Friday. Oh the fun that will be had by all!

Some random thoughts . . .

Lee Garner Jr. just needs to go away! The classic Howard Hawks type conversation in the beginning was amazing. No using athletes or teenagers to promote cigarettes. Check. They can still use sports like bowling or horse racing though, just as long as the jockey and not the horse is smoking! Too funny. But the best part is that SCDP is billing Lucky Strike for all the work the company does for other clients and why not?

Turns out that Harry really, really likes Puerto Rican girls with red rags on their heads and pointy nipples. Who knew?? Love how he still hangs with Ken and goes to the opera with him.

The focus group set up by Peggy and Doc Faye was crazy weird. The secretaries were pretty hilarious when describing their routines. We get introduced to the statuesque and orange wearing SCDP receptionist Megan. It was like watching a train-wreck when she said she was of "French Extraction" and described her mother's face washing routine. Those weird Frenchies!! And what was with one of the girls wearing what looked exactly like a sofa covering? The best one was the secretary with the weird hair-do with pointy ears. Very bizarre indeed. Just getting to see and hear Freddy's reactions was good enough for me though.

I wanna see Pete Campbell's closet. In the morning does he think, hmmm, should I wear the shiny blue suit or the shiny blue suit?

The way Pete treats his father-in-law is classic. Clearly he hates him but just needs him around for the Clearasil account.

So Trudy is having a baby. Hmm, somehow I think something bad will happen. Their back and forth was pretty funny though. There is no way he can pick her up and spin her around and it's great how he tries to find another word for conflict because he thinks she's too stupid. The actress Alison Brie is also on the NBC show "Community" and she does such a great job on both of these shows. Will be interesting to see which direction they go with her on Mad Men. I'm thinking she will have a miscarriage.

Kind of a let down that the show started with "Brief Nudity" disclaimer and then just showed some artsy B&W pictures for a moment. Upsetting.

Liked the revelation that Allison and probably the whole office thinks the reason that Peggy got a "coveted" copyrighter job is because she slept with Don. Ouch, that hurts. Everyone knows she got it because she slept with Pete!! Just kidding.

I hope that this means Ken Cosgrove will be joining SCDP soon. I miss his clueless and fun-loving ways. He leads a charmed life and the agency needs that for sure!

A creeping Peggy looking out over the wall into Don's office has gotta be the single most funniest moment on the show, ever!! Although Bert Cooper sitting in the lobby with Megan chomping on an apple with feet up and his shoes off (in blue sock no less) while Joyce is asking out Peggy is a close second.

We all know Joan runs the entire agency and now Don experiences her full-force when she gets even with a philandering Don by giving him the very old-school Mrs. Blankenship for a secretary. That's pure genius.

It's great that all the lesbians and hippie slackers love Megan and just wanna go look at her. Do they know she only uses water to wash her face? French Extraction style!?

Who knew that banging your head into something was an effective stress dealing technique even in the 60's?

Anyone else feel that the poignant music playing accompanying the longing looks Pete and Peggy threw at each other doesn't bode well for Pete's marriage? How about the look Don gives the old neighbors as they ask about pears? Telling or just John Slattery's sense of humor?

Best Exchange Hands Down:
Joyce kisses Peggy and says: "I'm hungry"
Peggy: "I have a boyfriend"
Joyce: "He doesn't own your vagina!"
Peggy: "No, but he's renting it."

Best Lines:
"The jockey smokes the cigarette." - Roger
"How the hell did this get so sad, so fast?" - Freddy
"I think my strategy was right, they just wanna get married." - Freddy
"Every time you jump to conclusion Tom, it makes me respect you less." Pete to his father-in-law.

This was another great episode in the new stellar season of Mad Men. Something tells me that there won't be this much humor in future episodes so I fully enjoyed it as a sparkling example of what this show could accomplish when it tries new things. It boggles my mind that more people aren't watching this show (2.2 million for last week) I just hope that the writers continue to push the envelope and give us few fans more exceptional episodes and seasons like this. They've already established S&M, cursing and semi-nudity so what's left, murder?? I can't wait!

-- Janaki Cedanna

Editors Note: Just a reminder, I've been informed that all of the Fodder sites including my very own Mad Men Fodder will be shut down effective 9/1/10 due to economic reasons. I will be doing my weekly reviews right up to the end but not after 8/29. It's been a pleasure to write my thoughts on this show and I hope you will still follow me on Twitter @madmenfodder.

Here's a sneak preview scene for next weeks episode; "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" Enjoy!

Sunday's episode of Mad Men was titled "The Good News" was ironic to say the least. Nearly every major character receives bad news at some point and the way they handle it is as smooth as a fine bourbon. I can only imagine that more bad news is coming and in a big way. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Before I get knee deep into the review I want to give Mad props to my guest writers for last weeks review. Twitter followers @alperelman, @clarabela, @maPeel, @dazzlingrayn and @brookeashleyb brought great insights and I appreciate it very much!

The episode was all about Don Draper and our favorite office manager Joan Holloway with a little dash of Lane Pryce thrown in for good measure.

Joan has baby fever. She wants to starts a family with her rapist husband in the worse way. Why I'll never know. Greg is an insensitive and sexist jerk with a terrible bedside manner. When Joan cuts herself in the kitchen he treats her like a child as he stitches her back up against her wishes. Of course it didn't help that Joan got all emotional but that's another story. The reality that he's about to leave for basic training and most likely get shipped off to Vietnam is finally setting in and Joan is not happy about it. She does what any woman does, she goes a little nuts. Mostly on Greg but especially on Lane after what she believes is a major slap in the face.

Lane is immune to her considerable charms when she asks for time off after the holidays and he abruptly tells her so. It was her mistake to ask for a favor under false pretenses but hey it's always worked before so stick to what you know, right? Wrong. Lane tells her not to cry which really gets her Irish up. Later he sends her flowers to apologize but his doorknob of a secretary Sandy mixes up the notes and Joan gets the card meant for his wife in London. What follows has got to be the best Joan scene ever as she storms into his office and heaves the flowers at him (good thing they didn't come in a vase!) and releases all her pent up frustrations all in one go. It must have felt pretty damn good for Joan to finally tell one of her bosses off and you could tell she really relished it. The best part was even when she found out about the mixup she not only didn't apologize to Lane but fired Sandy on the spot! I only wish Roger was there to see it.

The real burning question was the revelation that Joan had two abortions in her life or as she calls them, "procedures." Who could be the culprits? My money is on Roger Sterling and Paul Kinsey. Or could it be that she had an abortion after Greg raped her? Maybe that's why she is so desperately trying to have his baby now. Hmmm. Every bone in my body tells me that not only will she get pregnant with Greg's baby but that he will be killed in Vietnam almost right away. This will leave Joan a single mother on the hunt for a new baby daddy. Call me crazy but Joan and Don would be perfect for each other. She may be the one woman who could keep him faithful and more than happy to slap him around during sex. After all Don's favorite hooker is a Joan type. Now that would be interesting and would most definitely drive Roger bonkers.

As we learned last week, Don is headed to Acapulco for the holidays but first he plans to spend 24 hours in LA and visit Anna Draper. Anna is the only person he can be totally honest with and be himself. There he is Dick Whitman and usually his whole demeanor changes. When he arrives, Anna has a broken leg but looks uncharacteristically radiant. Seems like the burgeoning hippie life agrees with her. He's introduced to his fake niece Stephanie who is a stereotypical representation of California at the time. She's a blonde college student who is starting to rail against the establishment by smoking pot and ridiculing all the out-of-touch old people like Don and Anna. Naturally Don is attracted to her and more than a little intrigued. What better way to stay fresh and current in the world of advertising then to have sex with a college girl? Predictably he puts on the old Don smoothie act but is shot down. Maybe it was his Dick move?

Pseudo hippie/surfer/beatnik girl Stephanie rebuffs the Dick move and drops the bombshell that Anna has cancer and even worse she doesn't know about it. Dick/Don is absolutely shocked at the news but then gets angry that Anna's sister Patty is keeping the news from her. Stephanie and later Patty plead with Don to not tell her the truth and to what I'm sure will be his newest level of guilt Dick reluctantly complies. Personally I don't buy into the fact that Anna is not aware that she's sick or that it could actually be kept from her. What doctor would do such a thing? I don't like Patty's reason for not telling her either. Who is she to keep such major news from her sister? Given the fact that the cancer is all over her body and in her bones is she just waiting for her to be on her deathbed not knowing what's wrong and then tell her? Seems especially cruel. Is Anna having to good of a time smoking pot all day so why ruin the happiness? Nonsense. What will Don do when Anna is gone? She's the only person he can be himself with while recharging his batteries. Stands to reason he won't let this go. The performance Jon Hamm delivered during his talk with Anna was superb. Probably some of the best acting he's done.

Foregoing his trip to Acapulco Don returns to New York and finds Lane working in the office alone. Apparently he's been number crunching and tells Don that they had a very good year. Lane also tells him about the flower mixup and explains that his wife is probably not coming back. Sensing that Lane needs a guys night out he invites him to a movie. They end up at a Godzilla flick after lots of drinks. Throughout the night Jared Harris channels his real life father, legendary actor Richard Harris and gets wild drunk. He abuses a steak at a restaurant with a hilarious Texas accent and agrees to let Don get him a hooker. The sweaty red-headed hooker returns!

Turns out that hookers in 1964 are quite a good deal. For $25 they join you out on the town, fix you drinks, kiss you on the mouth and have sex with you. Of course Lane gets the friend hooker with a giant face-eating mole and I have to wonder what kind of disease he'll walk away with. Probably herpes. The next morning Lane tips pimp Don five bucks and does the walk of shame out of Don's "manly" apartment. What a great way to spend New Years, right?

Some random thoughts . . .

It was pretty MASH-like to have Greg stitch up Joan while they were wearing lei's. His treatment of Joan is unbearable to watch. Personally, I can't wait till Greg is finally gone!

Again love the fact that Joan tried to butter up Lane with chicken breasts and thighs. She was working that sexuality and it must have been a real shock to her system that Lane not only saw right through it but belittled her in the process. More proof that Lane is a robot alien of some sort.

Seems like the big C agrees with Anna. I know it's nasty to say but she never looked better. If she actually has cancer throughout her entire body and in her bones wouldn't she look a little sickly instead of radiant? What if Patty faked the news to get Don out of her life? That would be interesting.

Jon Hamm gives a whole new meaning to "Dick in his underwear" but what's with all the UFO talk? Is Stephanie slipping some hash in Anna's pot? Weird but funny.

Anna's sister Patty hates Dick for some reason. Presumably it's because he assumed the Don Draper identity but I think she believes Dick broke Anna's heart. Who knows? She could also just be the angry and bitter older sister.

Very funny that given the choice of a Catherine Deneuve film or a Godzilla flick, new best pals Don and Lane pick the latter. And was that insulting stand-up comedian supposed to Lenny Bruce or what?

I was surprised that you can actually say "shit" and "handjobs" on basic cable. When did that change? Love that the show is pushing the boundaries. Keep it up!

The partners meeting at the end clearly showed that both Pete and Harry are at the big boys table but where was Bert Cooper? Peggy was also glaringly missing. I'm not sure if she is a partner though. Most likely not. It was great seeing Joan at the head of the table though even if she doesn't get the respect she deserves.

Overall, we were treated to another stellar episode of the best damn drama that apparently no one watches on television. I look forward to what Matthew Weiner is gonna give us this season. Aren't you??

-- Janaki Cedanna

Editors Note: I have some sad news to report. I've been informed that all of the Fodder sites including my very own Mad Men Fodder will be shut down effective 9/1/10 due to economic reasons. I will be doing my weekly reviews right up to the end but not after 8/29. It's been a pleasure to write my thoughts on this show and I hope you will still follow me on Twitter @madmenfodder.

Here is a sneak preview of next weeks episode "The Rejected" as Ken Cosgrove reappears. Enjoy!

Well Christmas comes but once a year, but for us Maddicts each new episode sure feels like Christmas morning. This episode, like Christmas itself, was all about old traditions and new customs, familiar faces and intriguing acquaintances, wishes and responsibilities. Though most characters didn’t write a letter to Santa, by the end of the hour it seems as if each character was struggling with his or her deepest conflict: what I want versus what is expected of me. This tension is as essential to Mad Men as it is to advertising, so to review this week’s episode I thought I would recap how the some of the main characters dealt with this struggle.
 
Roger: What does Roger want? Well, that’s easy—to see Joan in that red dress! But then again, who doesn’t? As he once said in Season 2, “I want everything I want.” And for Roger, advertising is the means for him to get everything that he wants: an endless supply of cigarettes, three martini lunches, and a pool of secretaries to go fishing in. If only those pesky clients would stop getting in the way. In this episode, we caught the rare sight of Roger having to deal with what is expected of him rather than just going for what he wants. Lee Garner Jr., heir to the Lucky Strike fortune and a nightmare client, is in town. He calls Roger, who accidentally mentions Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce’s up-coming Christmas party. Lee Jr. has high expectations of what a Madison Ave Christmas party should be, and he decides he wants to come. Considering that Lucky Strike accounts for 69% of SCDP’s business, what Lee Jr. wants Lee Jr. gets. But meeting Lee Jr.’s expectations means a lot more that hiring a bartender and ordering Chinese food. At the party, Lee Jr. decides he wants to humiliate Roger for his own amusement by having him dress like Santa Claus. Lee Jr. then adds insult to injury by having the SCDP staff (and the male staff at that) sit on Roger’s lap and pose for a Polaroid picture. Roger does as expected, because he has to for the sake of SCDP’s survival. But don’t feel too bad for Roger. After all, he got to go home with that young bride he wanted.
 
Peggy: Peggy’s storyline this week introduced us to a new face and reunited us with an old friend. Am I the only one who jumped up and shouted “Freddy!” when Freddy Rumsen walked in? Just me? Old Freddy returns to the SCDP gang, and just in time with a new client. Peggy is happier than anyone to see him (don’t forget that Freddy was the first to recognize her talent as a copywriter). But soon Peggy and Freddy start to clash. Peggy wants to come up with a fresh, modern ad for new client, Pond’s Cold Cream—SCDP’s image depends on its reputation for being innovative. However, Freddy expects their dynamic to be the same as it was two years ago, when Peggy was a nervous junior copywriter. But that was a promotion, two haircuts and a backbone ago, and New Peggy isn’t going to back down so easily and follow Freddy’s old fashioned ideas. Peggy and Freddy reconcile, but I’ve got a feeling that Freddy’s days at SCDP are numbered if he doesn’t get with the times soon. The conflict between what Peggy wants and what is expected of her doesn’t resolve itself so easily in her love life. Peggy is dating new guy Mark (falsely introduced as her fiancé last week). Peggy wants to takes things slow with Mark, but he wants to love as the Swedes do. The real issue is that Mark expects a reluctant Peggy to be a virginal Peggy—but Peggy is the opposite of a virgin and there’s a baby somewhere out there to prove it. Peggy doesn’t want to repeat her mistakes, but she also doesn’t want to lose Mark. By the end of the episode they do sleep together, but this conflict is far from over.
 
Sally: Poor Sally, all she wants for Christmas is for her family to be together (and a necklace), but instead she gets the return of Glenn Bishop (and a necklace). I was very happy to see Glenn again, but the experience of his parents’ divorce and his mother’s remarriage has turned him into a hardened, little vandal. This is not a good omen for Sally. She is expected to behave like a good little girl, but her positive reaction to Glenn breaking into and trashing her house tells me that Sally will start acting out more, too.
 
Don: And then there’s Don. It’s not just the staff of SCDP who have certain expectations of Don, or his children, or the pretty nurse down the hall. We, the audience of over three seasons, now have come to expect a lot from Don. No one (not anyone from SCDP and not the audience) was surprised when he walked out of the consumer research meeting—don’t ever expect Don to talk openly about his childhood. And no one was surprised at his attraction to Dr. Faye Miller from that meeting—a strong, beautiful, independent career woman who sees right through him and doesn’t stand for any of his BS, who wants to take bets on how many episodes it takes for those two to get together? However, I for one was shocked when he made a pass at Allison, his secretary. And even more surprised when she reciprocated! But should I have been? After all, Allison is also a strong, beautiful, independent career woman who sees right through him and doesn’t stand for any of his BS. Still we know that Don rarely gets involved with the women of Sterling Cooper (Draper Pryce)—he is the only adult, male character who has never hit on Joan, and he chastised Pete for looking Peggy up and down on her first day of work. Granted Don sleeping with his secretary is hardly as shocking as, say, him being slapped by a prostitute, but I was still caught off guard. Don’s world has rapidly changed, and will continue to do so. How have our understanding of Don’s wants and our expectations of Don already changed with the new season?
 
Finally, I just want to thank Mad Men Fodder for giving me the opportunity to write this review! It was a blast, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. What are your Mad Men wants and Mad Men expectations for the new season and beyond?
-- @alperelman

Here are my thoughts on tonight's episode of Mad Men. 

The title of  week's episode of Mad Men is Christmas Comes But Once A Year, but is could have been called The Visit from Ghost of Episodes Past. Three men from previous seasons returned tonight, each with their own particular brand of gift.

A newly sober Freddy Rumsen comes to SCDP offering the Ponds Cold Creme account, on the condition that he doesn't have work with Pete Campbell. Roger invites the Lucky Strikes VP, Lee Garner Jr.  the office Christmas party, forcing Lane to blow the budget and to change the party "from convalescent home to Roman orgy", complete with Joan in a red dress, leading a conga line. As SCDP's largest client, Lee Garner Jr. is like a kid waving a loaded gun. He has too much power and he will hurt someone. Last year he was responsible for getting Sal Romano fired. This time he humiliates Roger Sterling into wearing a Santa suit. Then to rub salt in the wound, Lee makes Roger pose with male employees sitting on his knee while he take photos with the Polaroid camera they gave him as a Christmas gift. Which makes you wonder, what will he make Roger do next?

But by far the most unwelcome visitor is that of Glenn Bishop, the creepy neighbor kid. Glen has a strange obsession with the Draper women. Tonight he turns his attention from Betty to Sally Draper. While the family is  out, Glenn and another boy break in and vandalize the Draper/Francis house. Every room but Sally's. That kid is destined for a mugshot and poor Sally is already developing a taste for bad boys. 

BIO: Clara Mathews lives in Dallas, TX with her sock-chasing terrier, where she writes about her love of movies at JustChickFlicks.com and her adventures as a freelance writer at ClarabelaMedia.com. Clara is also a regular contributor to CorporateConciergeInc.com. Contact Clara at clarabela@justchickflicks.com. Follow her on Twitter @clarabela and Facebook.
-- Clara Mathews
Dallas, Texas

Christmas Comes But Once a Year
M.A. Peel
 
The episode title is such a specific cultural reference: it’s Max Fleischer’s 1936 animated short about the sad orphans. They wake up on Christmas morning, all happy because it’s Christmas!  When they play with the toys left in their stockings, they are so old and patched that everything falls apart and the tots start crying. Professor Grampy, from Betty Boop’s universe, is passing by, hears the sobs, and stops to see what he can do. He creates imaginative toys from the appliances, dresses up as Santa, and saves the day. The orphans all become truly happy with the new “toys,”  and they have a very Merry Christmas.
 
It’s a short that would be part of the childhood of all the adults in the Mad Men universe. The theme of desire and happiness is an underpinning of the entire series--Dick Whitman desired to be Don Draper; Joan desired a doctor/good provider for a husband; Pete desired to be taken seriously as an account rep. etc.  The attainment of these desires has had mixed results.
 
The idea of Christmas just makes the theme more focused. The episode title reference is then paid off with Lee, Mr. Lucky Strike, a bore of a man who has everything and wants to manipulate others, like making Roger wear the Santa suit. When he opens his present, it’s a Polaroid camera. He says “Reminds me whe I was a kid. You asked for something and you get it and it made you happy,” betraying a sense of nostalgia for his own childhood, when getting something actually made him happy.
@maPeel

Near the beginning of "Christmas Comes But Once a Year", Freddy Rumsen comes to SCDP, bringing the Pond's account with him. He comments on how nice the new offices look, but Roger Sterling responds that it's "Potemkinville". A Potemkin village, in short, is a hollow facade of a village set up to impress a visiting dignitary. It's important to keep this idea in mind as the episode unfolds, because there are several Potemkin villages that the characters of Mad Men have created. Don is, perhaps, the ultimate Potemkin village, pretending that he is happy living the bachelor lifestyle when he is actually lonely, unable to really tell anyone how he feels. Instead, he gets drunk every night and strikes out with his neighbor Phoebe. He is able to have sex with his secretary Allison, telling her how good she smells and uncomfortably asking her to stay. Unfortunately, Don gives Allison her Christmas bonus the next day, making the whole situation seem like the sex was part of the deal. We see Allison typing a letter toward the end of the episode, possibly resigning from the firm.

The other big Potemkin village of the episode is the SCDP Christmas party. Even though Lane Pryce wants a small party to cut down costs, the situation is quickly escalated when Lee Garner Jr. decides to invite himself. Food and drink that the firm cannot afford are ordered and more escorts are invited to make their biggest client (69% of business, as Pryce reminds us) happy. Lee eventually emasculates the whole office, forcing Roger to play Santa and asking the men to sit on Santa's lap while Lee takes pictures. I think that Lee knows the power that he has over SCDP, and he's lording it over them as much as possible. I hope that eventually the situation will come to a head, and Roger will take the Lucky Strike scion's head off with a acerbic quip.

There are several other carefully created facades: Peggy pretending to be an old-fashioned virgin to her grabby boyfriend Mark, Carla having to call the house the Francis residence even though Don still owns it, Cal Rutledge (the guy from Pond's) pretending to go toe to toe with Roger's drinking even though he's a recovering alcoholic, Pete pretending he can dance when everyone sees he is off-beat in the conga line, and so on. I can't wait to see whose facades come crumbling down next.
--Ashley @dazzlingrayn

Sally Draper and Glenn stole the show for me today. Glenn wrecks the Draper-Francis house and then leaves Sally a gift in her room. What is this little boy’s fascination with the Draper women? He might be the creepiest little boy on the planet, but he and Sally seem to get each other. If someone gets stabbed this season, I’m pinning it on one of them.
 
Meanwhile, Don Draper seems to be coming apart at the seams. I’m beginning to agree with Joey. Don is starting to seem pretty pathetic. After last week’s blowup at a potential client, this week he breaks his own no-fraternization-with-the secretary-rule. Then, he gives the poor girl her Christmas bonus the very next morning?!? Bad timing, Don. I’m curious to see what, if anything, will develop from this.
 
Also, I’m beginning to like this new Peggy. Her hair is better; Her clothes are better; and she’s speaking up for herself a lot more. I just wish she wouldn’t apologize so much. You don’t want to sleep with someone? Don’t. (Though, I wonder when she started being so “old-fashioned”. She’s done quite a bit of sleeping around already). Freddie’s being a condescending jerk? Let him have it. No apology necessary. But, those were the times. Ahhh… the 60’s.
@brookeashleyb

That my friends will prove to be the burning question of the highly anticipated 4th season of AMC's Mad Men.

After monumental changes in last seasons finale tonight we got to see the aftermath, albeit one year later. It's Thanksgiving 1964 and the more things have seemed to change the more they have stayed the same. On the surface maybe.

If there was any doubt that Don Draper was a rock star, tonight's episode went out of it's way to show that he certainly is now. Finally divorced from mother of the year candidate Betty, Don's gone straight into hedonism. But more on that later. First off he's worshipped not only in the world of advertising but at his own Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce agency as well. Everyone wants a piece of him and grown men even giggle when they get to meet him. Problem with being a rockstar though is that you're only as good as your last hit song. And as evidenced by the new client reaction to his sexy ad campaign as well as an article written about him the honeymoon may be over. But that's the fun right? Don is at his best as a underdog and not so much as someone at the top with a huge bulls eye on his back, right? Maybe.

If tonight's "Public Relations" episode was any indication on the direction the show will take in this 13 episode season then sign me up! I like seeing Don up against the wall for one reason, he comes out swinging. And let me tell you nobody puts Don Draper into a corner! Er, sorry. Remember it was Don's idea to break away from the old Sterling Cooper and take ALL the top people with him and it's Don idea to not get cuddly with new perspective clients. Time will tell how that strategy works out. Don is a huge success for his groundbreaking ideas and everyone is along for the ride. Just hope they can handle the bumps in the road!

While he's in control at work (bad article notwithstanding) his private life is in disarray. Betty divorced him and is effectively squatting in their old house with Henry Francis. I didn't think Betty could get any meaner but she pulls it off by force feeding little Sally at the Thanksgiving table. I actually thought she was gonna hit her with the phone as well. They'll be time for that later I suppose. All of Henry's family can't stand Betty and with good reason. She seems to have no desire to pretend anymore. My money is that Henry will kill himself very soon. Just you wait!

Back to Don and his, ahem, extracurricular activities. Now, we all know Don is a control freak so it's actually not a surprise that he likes to be punished sexually. Tonight we were treated to some sadomasochistic action with Don and a sweaty hooker slapping him around during sex. I would have LOVED to see the reaction from the huge crowd watching the show live in Times Square but I digress . . . Ironically, Peggy later tells Don off by saying that everyone just wants to please him. If she only knew that the true way to his heart is whips and slapping, well, that would be a different story arc all together.

Speaking of Peggy, we saw her grow so much more confident at the end of the season so when she kept acting scared and sheepish in front of Don I was kinda surprised and a little upset. Somehow I have to believe that she's emulating Don's personal life by playing the field which will surely lead to all kinds of complications. I can only hope! Time has seemed to heal the wounds between her and Pete though. I guess you can't hold a grudge over a baby forever! The shorthand brainstorming she had with her creative guy Joey was a sight to see and way overdue. But I do miss Sal.

Moving on, we did see a glimpse of nearly all the central characters like Roger (with great one-liners as usual); Joan in her own office and looking every bit the bombshell; Cooper with the same exact suit and bow tie he usually wears, worrying as usual; Lane being stuffy; and Harry fresh off his California trip meeting with Desi and Lucy, vicious sunburn and all. Or was that skin cancer?

Random Thoughts . . .
I think Roger is still mad at Don and that's the reason he tried to set him up with Jane's friend. He wants, no, he NEEDS Don to suffer like he is. Hey Don, stay away from the actress that thinks she's seen everything and knows it all. That will definitely be trouble!

The new Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce has a special line for whores in their expense account but not actual creative. Figures! Love the new digs though . . .

Don has culturally moved into the 20th century by not having an African-American maid but instead getting a snotty woman named Celia who's always nagging him. Who needs marriage?

Very happy to see Kiernan Shipka in the title credits, she totally deserves it. I predict drug addict/teen pregnancy in her near future; the character not the actress! Or at least running away from home. "Free Sally Draper" now! Courtesy of tweeter @ssmirnov

Funny that everyone freaks out about the article the reporter wrote. To have Don Draper you need to take the good with the bad. I guess they haven't heard of the adage that there's no such thing as bad press.

Some questions do remain, such as: Where's Joan's husband Greg? Did he join the Army? Where's Ken Cosgrove and Paul Kinsey? Michael Gladdis who plays Kinsey is not in the season 4 cast photo (and Ken is) so that doesn't bode well for him. Are Pete and Peggy a couple? It's kinda hinted that they are, sorta. I would love that pairing. Where's Duck?

Best Lines:
"They're so cheap they can't even afford a whole reporter." - Roger
"I learned a valuable lesson, stay away from one-legged reporters." - Don
"I just got off the phone with Ho-Ho, Jai Alai is leaving" - Pete
"Who gives a crap what I say anyway, my work speaks for me." - Don
"Honestly Henry, I don't how can stand living in that man's dirt." - Henry's Mom?
"Get your things and get out of my office, NOW!" - Don to new clients.
"How are your balls? You enjoying yourself?" - Don's attorney.

Know that this episode was ALL about Don Draper and who he is. As I mentioned, when put into a corner he comes out fighting, screaming and threatening. Some say he's the devil, but I for one think he's the ultimate survivor. After all, he was a used car salesmen! For a guy with so many (open) secrets the worst question to ask is who they are. I have a feeling that the reporter is not the last person to ask that question this year. I'm more than okay with that and judging from the tweets tonight, so is everyone else. Mad Men has become the equivalent of a true "water cooler" show for the 21st century with Tweets replacing actual humans speaking. Ironic that the show takes place in the soon-to-be swinging 60's.

I know who Don Draper is, He. Is. The. Man. And this season should be quite a ride.

-- Janaki Cedanna

Check out the sneak peak of next weeks episode - "Christmas Comes Once a Year"

The 3rd season finale of the gloriously decadent Mad Men has come and gone and let me tell you it's been one hell of a ride. I thought there was no way that after last weeks mind-numbingly and thought provoking episode show runner Matthew Weiner would be able to pull out another gem from his bag of tricks but I was completely and utterly wrong. Great writing, sublime acting and incredibly funny lines punctuated this phenomenal season ending episode.

My oh my, what an amazing ending to what has got to be the best television drama in American history. Many questions have been raised this year and on any other show the answers might have been neatly tied up, but not this show. As often stated, this years theme was about change and Weiner & Co delivered. Big time.

"Shut the Door. Have a Seat" was all about two things; Betty and Don's marriage and the fate of Sterling Cooper. Everything else was just along for the ride just like the audience. Old friends are thrown together to try and find a way to get along while Don can't seem to keep his marriage from crumbling. During which there was betrayal, change, conspiracy, rebirth and redemption. But makes no bones about it but this was a FUN episode. The times are a changin', so let's dive right in!

On to my epic recap and review . . .

Jumping ahead to December 11th, 1963 Don is relegated to sleeping in Gene's old room and the ghost must have turned off his alarm as he wakes up late for a meeting with Connie. It was worth the wait as Connie tells Don that the agency McCann Erickson is going to buy PPL and of course that comes with Sterling Cooper. Don sees Connie for what he really is (a crazy businessman?) and starts to tell him off when Connie gives him some sage advice about being his own man.

Upon arriving at the office Don has a flashback about how his father is being undercut in the wheat farming business and it seems as though Don is not going to let himself be sold out. He visits Cooper and confronts him about the impending sale. Cooper doesn't know what's happening; Don gets upset and tells him they should buy SC from PPL. "I'm sick of being bounced around like a ping-pong ball" he says and convinces Cooper to at least try to get company control. They can't do it without Roger and the newly formed dynamic duo pay Roger Sterling a visit. Roger is naturally defensive and resists Don's ideas until Cooper says "Join or Die." Roger lets loose with some funny zingers Don's way and then shows that after all that's happened between them he melts over Don's puppy eyed zealotry.

That night when Don gets home "Mother of the Year" Betty immediately tells the kids to go upstairs as she wants to talk to him. She wants a divorce, plain and simple. Don can't handle this and suggests she see a doctor which doesn't sit well with Betty. Don utters "I'm not going to let you break up this family" which was so crazy I had to laugh. That's all you've done Don!

The next morning Don, Roger and Cooper set there plan in motion by calling Lane in to see them with the news that they want to buy SC from PPL. Problem is Lane only knows part of the story. Cooper pitches his offer of 12% over the original purchase price and Lane scoffs all the way out which prompts Roger to talk about their contracts. Hmm, more on that later.

Betty is seeing a divorce attorney with Henry Francis and he tells her that divorce is not really an option in New York but if she establishes a residency in Reno, Nevada for six weeks it's quick and easy. This scenario is very suspicious as the lawyer seems to be on Henry's payroll and when she balks Henry immediately offers to take care of her and the three kids. Sounds like a mafia strong arm tactic to me. This can't end well for Betty!

Lane goes and calls Saint John (it sounds like Cinjun to me) and finds out that Connie's news was 100% percent accurate and that PPLY is being sold along with himself to McCann. Lane is pissed but shows impeccable manners.

That night Don watches Sally sleep in Gene's ghost bed and has another flashback to the night his drunk father argues with his mother over the unsold wheat and decides to go to town in the rain and sell it. Umm, ok. While in the barn his dad gives Little Dick (Whitman) some moonshine and stupidly puts his head behind a horse with thunder and lightning crashing. The horse let's loose and kicks old daddy in the head killing him instantly. How humiliating! Present day Don then curls up in bed with Sally and goes to sleep.

This is where the story really gets entertaining. Don calls Cooper, Roger and Lane into his office at 9:30am to stage a coup. Yes, folks there's a conspiracy a foot. Lane is resistant at first and there's some arguing but then Don realizes that just about the only good thing Lane has done was fire people; that is the answer! He wants Lane to fire them all so they will be released from their contracts and suddenly Lane "gets" what Don has in mind. Don even offers him a partnership over Roger's feeble objection. Quickly and without warning Lane starts spinning an elaborate plan about what they need to do to make this coup work. They need accounts, all the necessary paperwork and like-minded people. They immediately set the plan into motion. It was actually pretty exciting to see all the power guys making nice and having a goal. Don's first thought is about Pete and then yells for Peggy to come into his office. Very flippantly Don TELLS Peggy what she is going to do which lights a fire under her. She tells Don off and out right refuses his "offer." She's got all the cards and isn't afraid of using them.

Next stop is Pete's house because he had called in sick and is not responding to phone calls. Pete is already planning to jump ship and is taking all his accounts with him. Roger and Don show up at his door and offer him a job but Pete goes into into survival mode and refuses and then takes a "what's in it for me" approach. For the 5th time in this episode Don has to actually tell someone how important they are to them. He is the ultimate spinmeister and lays it on think to old sneaky Pete. Pete wants to be a partner and Don agrees if he can deliver in two days. They leave satisfied and Pete gets to work!

It's just like old times as Don and Roger go drinking together and Roger let's slip that he knows about Betty and Henry Francis because his daughter Margaret is friends with Henry's daughter. Don says he needs an attorney and Roger tells him that it sounds like they're serious. Don is drunk and very upset as he goes home and confronts Betty about Henry. He lays into her big time just stopping short of smacking her around. He threatens her and calls her a whore but baby Gene wakes up before things get really bad.

Sunday night comes and Harry joins Pete on the elevator to SC. Turns out Cooper called Harry to get him to join the team. Harry vacillates and Cooper lays a passive aggressive sales pitch on him, basically strong arming him to agree. Classic. The guys are sitting around trying to figure out the nuts and bolts of the business when they realize that they need someone who can guide them through all the specifics and Roger gets an idea. Call Joan! Oh yeah.

Now comes the talk to the kids as Betty and Don try to make them understand why Don is leaving for good. Understandably upset, Sally first attacks her daddy and then unleashes some venom towards her mother. This scene really drove home the point of how screwed up these kids will be with an ice princess for a mother and an apathetic father. For the first time Betty actually shows caring for her children or does she?

On his way to the Sunday night office massacre, Don visits Peggy to try one last time to get her to come to his new agency. She doesn't make it easy for him as she forces him to tell her exactly why he needs her. Don is really being put through the wringer. Don makes a heartfelt pitch to her and after some tears she relents and agrees to go with him. Clearly Peggy has daddy issues and this works in Don's favor, big time.

Joan returns to save the day and immediately starts telling the boys what they need to do. All of them and I mean all of them get super happy and by the looks on their faces fully realize that their coup might actually work. Joan knows exactly what to do and what to take and hopefully they will recognize that she is more valuable then everyone realized before. Don walk in with Peggy and they all storm the art department with Don kicking in the locked door. Then we get treated to a delightful montage of the core SC people looting and pillaging the place in the middle of the night with movers hauling stuff out at record pace. It was pretty funny that the only thing Pete took was his shotgun! Joan's arranged for "office space" at the Pierre hotel and as they leave Roger waxes nostalgic and tells Don to leave the door unlocked. The next morning Allison walks into Don's empty office and declare they've been robbed. Saint John calls up Lane and fires him from all the way across the ocean and a delighted Lane has John Hooker send him his things at their new office. Kinsey, Ken, Kurt and Smitty gather around a crying Allison to find out what happened. Great scene.

Joan is dividing up the hotel room according to department and assigns Pete and Peggy to the same desk; Harry to the bedroom; has phone lines installed and lays down some ground rules. We also hear the new agency name: Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. The new office is humming when Trudy comes in with sandwiches and cake for lunch and Don takes this opportunity to call Betty and pseudo apologize and tell her he won't fight her. They have a sad moment and then Don walk into the bustling "office" and beams with pride at his new family of Roger, Bert Cooper, Lane Pryce, Pete, Peggy, Joan and Harry. How could things go wrong?

The last images of the episode show Betty flying with baby Gene and Henry to Reno; Carla at home watching the kids right before Christmas and Don moving into his new furnished apartment. Why doesn't he just go home since Betty will be gone for six weeks? And thus ends the last episode this decade!

Random Thoughts:

Major kudos to Matthew Weiner and fired writer Kater Gordon for delivering such excitement and funny lines after the incredible seriousness of the last few weeks. I can't tell you how fulfilling it was to actually see most of regular gang getting along and working together. I've missed that so much!

Great idea to have crazy Conrad Hilton tell Don PPL's plans and set their devious conspiracy into motion. Why couldn't they setup office at a Hilton?

Don was epic tonight. All in one episode he was violent, stubborn, goal-oriented, humbled, conflicted and brilliant. Oh yeah and amidst of all the turmoil at work his wife is divorcing him and he had flashbacks of his father's death. Wow. It seemed like a dozen people wanted him to tell them how much they mean to him. He bares his soul and does what he does best, SELL. And we all love him for it. Jon Hamm deserves the Emmy next year, hands down. My favorite was Don burying the hatchet with Roger and them doing things together just like old times. He even got to kick a door in! Nicely done.

We now have the illustrious Sterling Cooper Draper and Pryce. But the way it sounded next year it could be Sterling Cooper Draper, Pryce, Olsen, Campbell, Crane and Harris or SCDPOCCH for short. I can't wait to see what these guys to do and how far the timeline will jump ahead. So many possibilities! Since their main account is American Tobacco (Lucky Strike) that means Sal won't be coming back, booo!

It was very funny how Lane turned against his people once he found out he was lied to and Don pitched him the brilliant idea to fire them all. He immediately went into conspiracy mode and even took Don by surprise at his ferocity. Nothing like a coup to bring people together!

The whole Henry Francis and the lawyer thing with Betty was ominously suspicious. I can't shake the feeling that his forcing her to get a divorce and offering to take care of her kids was mob-like. They are going to Reno, Nevada and if memory serves that's the exact time the Corleone's are setting up shop there. I can totally see him turning psycho on Betty and forcing her to dance at the Sands hotel or something. Keep her away from Fredo!

The flashback scenes with Dick Whitman's dad was creepy and prescient. Who knew the rotten daddy died after being kicked in the head by a horse? In the present Don is trying to avoid being kicked in the head by a horse and decides to take charge of his own destiny. Or something like that.

Some great subtleties: Don appealing to Coopers vanity; Don faux apology to Roger was good enough to get him on his side; Cooper offering Lane a partnership hereby saving him from being banished to India or wherever; Don drinking at 9:30 AM; the lawyer not leaving when asked for a moment to discuss; Peggy's daddy issues; Don telling Peggy what to do at all times; Roger calling Joan to fix things; Jane obsessing about the book depository; Betty telling the kids to go upstairs as soon as Don gets home; Don finally understanding Connie's motivations; Don coming up with the whole conspiracy on the fly; Pete calling in sick to interview for a another job; Trudy bringing sandwiches to the crew and Peggy giving Pete a "look" in return; Don and Roger staring at Pete for an inordinately long time; Pete being one day away from bolting SC with all of his clients; the fact they didn't want Ken or Kinsey; Roger asking Peggy for coffee and her saying no; the look on Pete's face when he sees Peggy as a co-conspirator; Cooper asking the movers if they washed their hands; Roger telling Don not to bother to lock the door; Lane's happy-go-lucky attitude with Saint John; Joan's ground rules; Harry not remembering what room the office is in; Trudy's epic head gear; Carla being the kids new mommy and finally Betty holding baby Gene while flying across country.

Pete making his pitch for a partnership and trying to strike while the iron is hot was classic. Glad Pete was one of the chosen few. Just shows how far his relationship with Don has come. I loved how he tried to cover up his being sick and then trying get ahead of Harry off the elevator.

Peggy standing up to Don and really telling her true feelings was unexpected and oddly fulfilling. Clearly she always wants to please him but at the same time wants recognition for all her hard work. I really thought she was going to stick to her guns and not go with him but she was melted by his raw and brutal honesty. Very nice.

Another great touch was that it was Roger that was the one to tell Don about Henry Francis. I liked the way he told him. It was very honest and sad. They were once great friends and you can tell.

Don's drunken violence towards Betty was shocking and harrowing. I really thought he was gonna hit her real hard. Saved by baby Gene! When he had her by the pajama top and called her a whore she looked like she was ten years old.

I can totally see how Bert Cooper was a force to be reckoned with in his younger days. His passive aggressiveness with Harry was classic as well as his handling of Roger and Lane. He was the man!

The family conference at the Draper's was soooo sad. Bobby thought Don was leaving because he lost his cuff links and Sally lashed out at both him and Betty with fervor. Man, these kids are going to be incredibly messed up. Love how she said Betty made Don sleep in Gene's scary room with a Drew Barrymoresque lisp. Can't wait to see what she'll be like next year.

Of course we had the return of the great and powerful Joan Harris. She is so on top of things that she already made plans BEFORE she arrived. Hopefully they ALL realize that Joan is the most valuable person there and reward her accordingly. It would be great to see her and Roger together again, right? Love her ground rules about not bringing any clients to the hotel period. If they listen to her they will be on a top floor before you know it!

On the other hand, Sal didn't make an appearance as I thought he would. It does make sense they didn't call him because their main client is American Tobacco which was the company that forced his firing. Oh, well. He'll probably be around next season right? He'll just have to cruise the park a few more months!

Best Exchanges:
Cooper: "Young men love risk because they can't imagine the consequences."
Don: "And you old men love building golden tombs and sealing the rest of us in with you."

Roger: "How long do you think it will take us to be in a place like this again?"
Don: "I never saw myself working in a place like this."

Best Lines:
"I'm sick of being battered around like a ping-pong ball. Who the hell is in charge? A bunch of accountants trying to make a $1 into $1.10? I want to work. I want to build something of my own. How do you not understand that? You did it yourself 40 years ago!" - Don to Bert Cooper.

"You have absolute authority to fire anyone. Fire us." - Don to Lane.

"Do we vote or something?" - Don to Lane, Cooper and Roger.

"I'm not really sick." - Pete to Don.

"Right when things are almost normal." - Roger to Don.

"I was gonna tell you . . . no I wasn't. I thought you knew. I'm sorry I told you, believe me." - Roger to Don.

"You won't get a nickel. And I'll take the kids. God knows they'll be better off." - Don to Betty.

"You're a whore. You know that?" - Don to Betty.

"This matter is secret and time sensitive. If you turn us down and elect to be a mid-level cog at McCann Erickson we'll have to lock you in the store room until morning. I'm sure you understand." - Cooper to Harry.

"Did you wash you hands?!" - Cooper to the movers.

"We've been robbed!" - Allison

"Accounts get the bed." - Roger to Joan

"Good morning, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. How may I help you? Yes, Harry it's room 435." - Joan answering the new office phone.

"You know, if you leave your shoes outside the door here someone polishes them." - Roger to Cooper.

Overall, I give this outstanding episode a perfect 5 Out of 5 Lucky Strikes because of the great writing and pitch perfect acting. To say that this episode was completely satisfying is not giving it enough justice. It was the perfect end to an electrifying and glorious 3rd season. My one complaint was that there was no Sal appearance. But it was great to see all the principals together again in crisis.

This season went by way too fast. That'll happen when there are only 13 episodes!! AMC already advertised that the show is returning in the summer, let's hope it early summer and not late like this year. That way we only have to wait 7 months instead of 9 but we'll see how that plays out.

Congrats again to Matthew Weiner and the whole cast and crew for giving us many great Sunday nights, lots of water cooler conversations and for keeping us in awe for 13 weeks. A big thanks to everyone of you for reading my rants this year both on this site and on Twitter, come back once in awhile and check out my Mad Men Fodder blog for news and updates throughout the year as I'm sure there will be lots to report. Don't be a stranger!! Feel free to leave your comments below.

Now I'll have to find other ways to keep busy on these cold Sunday nights . . . Any suggestions?

-- Janaki Cedanna

Here's the inside scoop about episode 13. Enjoy!

Ripping out a page of the David Chase playbook, show runner Matthew Weiner is being ultra secretive about the finale airing tonight at 10pm EST on AMC. He has said this season was all about change and boy, he wasn't kidding. The show has been epic from start to finish and there is lots of loose ends to tie up. But will all those story lines get addressed? Don't count on it. Here's the vague episode description in typical Weiner style:

"Don has an important meeting with Connie. Betty receives some advice. Pete talks to his clients."

Careful, you might give too much away!

Here's what we know: Sal will make an appearance to explain to someone what he's been doing since he was fired. Cruising the park seems to be the consensus. We also know that Sterling Cooper is for sale, but who's buying? Rachel Menken? Rockefeller? Connie Hilton? Don has some more flashbacks centered around his childhood as little Dick Whitman. And that's all we know.

Some burning questions needing answers: In last weeks JFK centric episode Betty lowered the boom on Don Draper by finally telling him what we have all known for a long time; she's not in love with him anymore. We know she's gonna get some advice but from who? Henry Francis? Francine? What's she gonna do to Don this week?

Hot to trot teacher Suzanne Farrell is still out there lurking. Will she exact revenge on Don and or Betty? What happened to her brother? He's got Don's card which can't be good.

Will Pete talk to his clients to lay the foundation for him leaving Sterling Cooper? Will he go work for Duck? What's he gonna do when he finds out Peggy is sleeping with the Duckster?

Now that Peggy knows Duck only wants to have sex with her how is this gonna play out? Will she still agree to those nooners? She can't be pregnant again right?

After the vase smashing incident, Greg joined the military to escape the violence of his home leaving Joan all alone with her phone calls with Roger. Will Joan and Roger make a physical connection once again? What about drunk Jane?

What will Don do now that his marriage is over and all his secrets have been spilled? I'm sure Connie will give him some warped advice.

Will Kinsey have pit stains again?

No doubt there will be some cliffhangers as well as new issues for our favorite characters. Last weeks episode was flat out amazing, how will they top it? Join me for some "live" Tweeting tonight during the episode as it's sure to be very exciting! Watch the video again when Betty tells Don how she really feels about him.

-- Janaki Cedanna

In the second to last episode of this superlative 3rd season of Mad Men so much happened it was difficult to think straight. If any one episode marks the end of innocence of the show, this was it. On top of the main story line there was Margaret's wedding, Pete's frustration and ultimate realization, Betty's epiphany and rejection of Don and Peggy's bad choice in lovers.

It had to happen, right? Creator Matthew Weiner had repeatedly asserted that the timeline of the show would not touch on the President John F. Kennedy assassination but that proved to be a masterful bait and switch. Not only did "The Grown-Ups" feature this incredibly painful time in American history it made the whole circus and subsequent aftermath the focal point of the entire story. We know by now that Weiner likes to jump ahead in the timeline but it really took me by surprise when they went full-throttle three weeks ahead and dove right into the most shocking event in U.S. history. I mean last week was the Halloween episode!

Simply put, this show was epic storytelling as they managed to not only make us feel the characters pain over the realization the President had been killed but that it was expertly wound into the fabric of the story and the characters decisions. This episode will long be remembered for the new perspective it brought to the table and begs the question; Where were you the night JFK was assassinated again on Mad Men?

Just hitting the highlights . . .

On a cold Friday morning November 22nd, 1963 everyone is wrapped up in their lives at Sterling Cooper. I really gotta hand it to Matthew Weiner with his mind-numbing and ultra-realistic (and subtle) reactions to the murder of JFK and of Oswald. For a minute there I thought I was watching Oliver Stone's "JFK" but then I quickly realized that this was much better acted. Nice touch touch to have Carla spark up a Lucky Strike when she found out; Peggy's reaction when Duck plugged in the TV; the use of the actual broadcasts with Walter Cronkite's classic reading of the news; Margaret's typically selfish reaction to her wedding being ruined; Betty's decision to let the kids watch and be glued to the TV as well as her shouting "What's going on!" when she saw Oswald killed on live TV; Don's explanation to the kids; Roger's selfish decision to have his daughter's wedding the next day as planned and utterly classless speech; the irony of Cooper, Ken, Harry and Jane all gathered in the kitchen watching JFK coverage when RFK was killed in a kitchen five years later (Ok, that may be a stretch but was interesting nonetheless); and finally Betty's decision to rekindle her romance with Henry Francis (who oddly delivered the same advice that Don gave.) There's nothing like a Presidential assassination and murder on live TV to make you want to have an affair . . .

Pete gets called into Lane's office office to be told that Ken Cosgrove got the job as Senior VP of Account Services due to his ability to "make the clients feel like they don't have any needs" but that he will be Head of Account Management. Pete doesn't take the news well at all and commiserates with Harry. This will lead to a major Pete meltdown and subsequent epiphany. Seems old sneaky Pete is extremely troubled about the JFK assassination just like he was over the death of his father but this time he can't bury himself in his work. He's only got Trudy and her famous head gear to console and guide him. And boy does she ever. Trudy was pretty impressive with her unwavering advice and support of her extremely troubled and deflated man. Wonder if this will actually cause Pete to fall in love with her for real? Love his line about Margaret being a spoiled brat and realization that his co-workers are all heartless b*stards. I can totally see Pete becoming a protester or a beatnik in a couple of years, especially after seeing him in that Beatlesque turtleneck.

Peggy's roommate gives her grief about seeing Duck but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Remember all those times we haven't seen her in the show lately? That's because she was having a "nooner" with good old Duck (ok, it's been 3 weeks.) This Friday was no different but now she will have to lie for the rest of her life because the "Randy" Duckman turned off the news report so he can get some lovin and in one fell swoop gave himself a great story for the fellas and doomed "Pee Wee" to a life of embarrassment and humiliation. Not exactly a story to tell the grand kids. "Where was I when JFK got killed? I was f*ckin a Duck!" Nice.

Roger's daughter Margaret is throwing a temper tantrum before her wedding because Jane gave her an expensive gift and is offering her advice. Margaret plays the Mommy/Daddy game literally after Mona gives her tough love and not sympathy. She calls up Roger to complain to no avail. Are we really sure that Margaret is actually old enough to get married? I mean she acted like a pre-teen EVERY step of the way. Wow, what a great catch . . . Speaking of Roger, his treatment of Jane was right out of "Gone with the Wind" as I thought he was going to kick the door in and whisk her away but instead he drunk dialed Joan after nearly having his 50th heart attack because of carrying a passed out Jane to bed. Clearly he still has feelings for Joan. They would have made an electrifying couple. Maybe someday soon?

After all the shocking events and rekindled Henry affair good old Betty sees clearly and tells Don she no longer loves him. And thus we have our third assassination of the episode. It was a kill shot, plain and simple right to the chest of Don Draper sure as anything. When he collapsed into the chair after hearing that I felt sooo bad for him even though the writers have tried in earnest to make him unlikeable; it just didn't work. Credit Jon Hamm for inhabiting a multi-layered character that does despicable things and making him likable. The scene with Don coming into a dark office and seeing only Peggy there working spoke volumes about their relationship and showcased just how similar they are in many ways. Bravo!!!

Overall, I give this superlative and amazing episode 5.5 Lucky Strikes Out of 5 because of the deft way the subject matter was handled and how it affected every character on the show. I wasn't alive when JFK was killed but I believe this episode has given me a glimpse of what people must have felt and what this country went through and for that I'm extremely grateful to Matthew Weiner. If there was ever any doubt that this show will win another Emmy next year this episode has completely obliterated it. Extremely powerful stuff.

I can't tell you how sad I am that the season finale is already here as I have NO idea how they can possibly top this but I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with, that's for sure. Leave some comments if you want and please make sure you follow my "live" Tweets this Sunday during the epic finale!

-- Janaki Cedanna

Season Finale Next Week - "Shut the Door. Have a Seat" - Don has an important meeting with Connie. Betty receives some advice. Pete talks to his clients.

No sneak peek this week but here is a inside peek from "The Grown-ups." Enjoy!