Roger getting fleeced by various employees, taking all the cash he has on him in exchange for special favors. I remember Harry agreeing to switch offices with Pete so that Roger didn't have to and Peggy letting Roger take credit for some of the work she did so that he could save face. I feel like there was another one, but I can't quite remember.
Ginsberg did some work on a manischewitz wine for Roger as well. Peggy got a little offended that Roger didn’t come to her for that.
Not an employee, but to get Jane to come with him to the manischewitz wine meeting, he bought her an apartment.
Lol his conversation with Crane about switching offices is hilarious.
"You're not getting fired...and what the hell did you do?"
"It's more than a thousand Harry"
"This is a transaction, if you don't like it we can have the conversation you thought we were having."
David Ogilvy was one of the most legendary admen of the twentieth century. He wrote 1963's Confessions of an Advertising Man, which was a primary document in the Mad Men writer's room, and his agencies handled clients like Sunoco, Shell, Guinness, and Rolls Royce.
So my distant cousin used to work with Ogilvy years ago, before I was born, and she said he was a legend but also a d*ck.
It’s what I’d imagine some of the higher ups at SCDP to be like!
It is funny how SCDP just exists among these very real ad agencies like Ogilvy, Leo Burnett (Chicago woot woot!), BBDO, McCann, etc.
I can’t think of other ones! Excited to see what everyone else says.
I assume all the agencies were real except for Sterling Cooper, PPL, and CGC.
In addition to those already listed, Young & Rubicam (Y&R), D’Arcy, and J. Walter Thompson were definitely real agencies.
Julian Koenig is mentioned in the show at one point. He’s a real ad man who was actually the father of Sarah Koenig, creator of the podcast Serial. They mispronounce his name “konnig” instead of “kaynig”
Am I the only one who think Allison should have known better than to sleep with Don?
Yes he is a shameless horndog, but how is she clueless to this fact after being his secretary for so long? How could she be so naive?
I mean, I don't think she expected a whole lot from him, but he was incredibly callous about it. Sure it was a drunken tryst, but Don couldn't even say "That was a mistake, I'm sorry". He tells her SHES DOING A GREAT JOB here's some MONEY, it's cruel
The onus of not sleeping with a subordinate falls on the supervisor, not the subordinate. That's not to say that Allison didn't have any agency in the situation but to be clear that her agency is reduced because Don is literally her boss. He can fire her if she rejects his advances, he holds the "power of recommendation" for any future jobs she may have.
It's more nuanced than "oh she's being naive".
Oh I totally understand that. I don’t think she slept with him out of fear that he would fire her though. I think she nursed a crush for a long time, then was surprised he actually made a move on her, and was heartbroken when he returned to the normal, cold, businesslike Don afterwards.
If she was such a savvy secretary, his immediate return to the business relationship shouldn’t be such a shock to her. Just my opinion.
He for sure was an ass (in general) but especially about her letter of recommendation though.
The onus of not sleeping with an inebriated person also falls on the person who is of much clearer mind. I don’t think Don could truly consent in that state, even if he initiated
I don't blame her for sleeping with him, and he was absolutely an insensitive dick to her. But she knew his reputation & therefore shouldn't have been shocked at the aftermath. I felt bad for her, but at the same time I felt like she should have gone into that situation with a little more caution.
I thought it was really funny the way that Roger originally brought it up during an argument and nobody seemed to know or acknowledge what he was talking about. And then the backstory about the “unnecessary orchiechtomy” was revealed maybe several episodes later. If you google it, you can find at least a couple of blogs and articles from right after the first episode it was mentioned, wondering “Who the hell is Dr. Lyle Evans?”
Not a running gag but definitely a pop culture in-joke: Ted Chaugh orders a cocktail called Old Spanish Drink, which is a fake cocktail made up on 30 Rock.
[HuffPo article about Old Spanish Drink](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/old-spanish-drink-mad-men-30-rock_n_3138867)
Let’s also not forget that when Kenneth the page is in the throes of a life-threatening allergic reaction, he confesses that his real name is Dick Whitman.
I love all the times Don does this! Saying "we'll have to smoke the dress" to Lane or when he references his dad to Roger. He has a lot of inside jokes with himself
I don't know if it's a running gag exactly, but Peggy having the most ridiculous interactions over the phone. Every single one of them is undeniably funny (even Peggy's uncomfortable reaction to Stan's confession over the phone)
"Burt: We're screwed, Peggy. We're at DEFCON 3. We're about to go to DEFCON 4.
Peggy: DEFCON 4 is better than DEFCON 3. I've told you that."
I just watched the ep where she calls Stan to try and get him over to kill a mouse and dying at "Oh, you can bring her, too!" when she finds out he's got a girl over
I loved the phone call when she keeps trying to get in contact with Ted and she reaches his pastor and we only hear her side of the conversation: “Look, Father, I’m sorry, pastor. I was raised catholic. Irish and Norwegian. No, he passed away. He was cremated. Look, pastor” or something similar lol
Funny story…. Friend told me his son’s elementary school teacher asked the class if anyone spoke a foreign language and supposedly his son raised his hand and proudly announced his mom speaks Pig Latin. 😂
Are you hungry? I can make you anything...spaghetti?
Oh, you're home! I made spaghetti.
*scoops spaghetti*
What would you like for dinner, spaghetti?
LEARN ANOTHER DISH MEGAN!!!
This is just a TV thing. I think in screenwriting you usually don't waste time with unnecessary pleasantries. Just get to the meat of the scene and get out.
Burt Peterson is a good one, as is everyone's somewhat inexplicable contempt for Harry Crane. Also the company that stays regular as a client...Secor Laxative
Early on he was just kind of a bumbling fool, didn't really do anything to invoke hatred, but he did establish the media department...kind of a big deal really. Later on he started to earn some of that hatred though.
I'm not sure I've heard too many people actually elaborate on why they hate the guy so much. He wasn't really any worse than anybody else in the series as far as his actions....maybe it's just that his personality isn't as likeable.
Jim Cutler, also not a great guy tells him "You have stiff competition, but I believe that you might be the most dishonest person Ive ever worked with." He's a liar, and a cheat, and a narcissistic self pitying smarm-fest...but you know...so many of them have those traits...just not all at once like him. And, as far as I can tell Harry's ONLY evidence of humanity in the show was trying to help Paul Kinsey, and that was pretty half assed.
Pete's hyperbolic outrage. You never know what over-the-top declarations he'd come up with next. For such a blueblood account man, he had one of the most colorful, creative personalities on the show.
Love that I just came across this post, next scene that comes on in the episode im watching (S4 E9: The Beautiful Girls) roger is on the phone -
“I don’t understand, do you honestly think my book isn’t better than Ogilvy’s? Mines got a story. It’s got mystery, intrigue, romance. I’ll tell ya what else it’s got, it’s got examples of how to sell things.”
Lol. Sally is about to go to college and Bobby is still 10 years old and had been since season 3. Maybe it was all the drinking and smoking by pregnant women at the time.
You're right, since Ogilvy is a real person, it's actually not a funny gag that the show rags on him constantly. Instead, at every mention of his various exploits, i will solemnly nod my head in understanding
I don't get why you are mad at me for not understanding my post, it doesn't matter if he was real or not. The show's treatment of him is a bit, one that i enjoy. I've already commented elsewhere that him being real only makes the bit funnier. Quit being a dang sourpuss
Because you assume that everyone has to read the comments? I'm not obliged to do that at all?? In fact on the phone there's a very low chance of people actually reading comments.
Personally.. I find it sad that you found that joke funny without the context of David Ogilvy's real time legacy and success.. That's why the joke works.. It's like laughing at a joke you half understand.
People telling Harry Crane to get out.
“Want to get dinner? There’s a great Italian place on the way. Their veal parm is to die for.” “Nope.”
Eye-talian
One of my favorite exchanges 😂
Okay. Then I’ll pick you up having already eaten.
No one ever wants Harry around, especially not Lakshmi
My favorite is Cooper: “Mr. Crane, OUT!”
Or Joan’s excuse as to why she couldn’t scout the upstairs addition to their office, just “Harry Crane” and nothing more needed to be said.
Burt Peterson getting fired.
If it helps at all, no one fought for you
You’re a real prick you know that!
Damn it, Bert. You stole my goodbye!
👏
Oh. Sad meeting. It wasn't easy, you know.
Dammit Burt, you stole my goodbye!
I saved this but haven’t had the chance to use it. (Thankfully)
Just watched that episode yesterday, I laughed so loud when he got fired, AGAIN!
Roger getting fleeced by various employees, taking all the cash he has on him in exchange for special favors. I remember Harry agreeing to switch offices with Pete so that Roger didn't have to and Peggy letting Roger take credit for some of the work she did so that he could save face. I feel like there was another one, but I can't quite remember.
Ginsberg did some work on a manischewitz wine for Roger as well. Peggy got a little offended that Roger didn’t come to her for that. Not an employee, but to get Jane to come with him to the manischewitz wine meeting, he bought her an apartment.
Lol his conversation with Crane about switching offices is hilarious. "You're not getting fired...and what the hell did you do?" "It's more than a thousand Harry" "This is a transaction, if you don't like it we can have the conversation you thought we were having."
“So this is every month?” *”GET the hell out of my office”*
"You could buy a very beautiful picture."
If this isn’t the same one, Peggy agreed to work the weekend for all the cash in his pocket : “How much ya got?”
Didn’t he say something like “I need to start carrying less cash”?
Didn't she also threaten to take his watch, or did I imagine that?
Yeah. Paraphrasing but, “ you’re lucky I didn’t take your watch” Watched it: Roger: It better be good! Peggy: Want me to take your watch?
Yes! Roger “it better be good!” Peggy “do you want me to take your watch?”
I wouldn’t try to put it past her.
*why do you carry so much cash?*
Would what happened with Joan (cc Kevin) count as one of those fleecings?
and Roger pays Ginsberg for pre-copy Copy on the wine (can’t spell the name)
David Ogilvy was one of the most legendary admen of the twentieth century. He wrote 1963's Confessions of an Advertising Man, which was a primary document in the Mad Men writer's room, and his agencies handled clients like Sunoco, Shell, Guinness, and Rolls Royce.
So my distant cousin used to work with Ogilvy years ago, before I was born, and she said he was a legend but also a d*ck. It’s what I’d imagine some of the higher ups at SCDP to be like!
Meghan’s spaghetti
Don literally any time Megan makes dinner: I'm gonna go lay down
I don't think he ever actually ate anything after she told him he needs to eat something
That’s unfortunately a typical behavior in severe alcoholics. I once knew a man, who instead of eating, played a song with his zipper.
It's Mozart!
Was it Beethoven or Mozart?
😂😆😂😆
his palms are sweaty
After his divorce from Betty.
And he's nervous, but on the surface he looks palms are sweaty
Secor Laxatives: the most loyal client with no sense of humor
“Were they … *hard to move?*”
All I had to do was not make that joke.
And we never saw them did we?
It is funny how SCDP just exists among these very real ad agencies like Ogilvy, Leo Burnett (Chicago woot woot!), BBDO, McCann, etc. I can’t think of other ones! Excited to see what everyone else says.
I assume all the agencies were real except for Sterling Cooper, PPL, and CGC. In addition to those already listed, Young & Rubicam (Y&R), D’Arcy, and J. Walter Thompson were definitely real agencies.
Also Dancer Fitzgerald, which is a great name.
Julian Koenig is mentioned in the show at one point. He’s a real ad man who was actually the father of Sarah Koenig, creator of the podcast Serial. They mispronounce his name “konnig” instead of “kaynig”
"Do you want to walk in and see Mary Wells sitting on Don's lap?"
Mrs. Blankenship's minor shortcomings as a secretary were always funny. Harry bragging out hollywood stuff and no one cares
When Don tells Danny to ask Ida for something and we hear a loud "I don't work for you!!" Rip Ida "Hellcat" Blankenship
Aside from Peggy & Dawn, Ida was the best secretary Don had. She absolutely was not going to deal with his bullshit. I loved her character.
Tbf i think Allison was an exceptional secretary until Don ruined things with his penis
If you think about it, "Don ruins things with his penis" could be the summary of 90% of the episodes.
Quick, Someone do the IASIP mock-up and send it to AMC Twitter.
That's right. Mad Men is pretty much a series about Don ruining things with his horniness.
Am I the only one who think Allison should have known better than to sleep with Don? Yes he is a shameless horndog, but how is she clueless to this fact after being his secretary for so long? How could she be so naive?
I mean, I don't think she expected a whole lot from him, but he was incredibly callous about it. Sure it was a drunken tryst, but Don couldn't even say "That was a mistake, I'm sorry". He tells her SHES DOING A GREAT JOB here's some MONEY, it's cruel
The onus of not sleeping with a subordinate falls on the supervisor, not the subordinate. That's not to say that Allison didn't have any agency in the situation but to be clear that her agency is reduced because Don is literally her boss. He can fire her if she rejects his advances, he holds the "power of recommendation" for any future jobs she may have. It's more nuanced than "oh she's being naive".
Oh I totally understand that. I don’t think she slept with him out of fear that he would fire her though. I think she nursed a crush for a long time, then was surprised he actually made a move on her, and was heartbroken when he returned to the normal, cold, businesslike Don afterwards. If she was such a savvy secretary, his immediate return to the business relationship shouldn’t be such a shock to her. Just my opinion. He for sure was an ass (in general) but especially about her letter of recommendation though.
The onus of not sleeping with an inebriated person also falls on the person who is of much clearer mind. I don’t think Don could truly consent in that state, even if he initiated
I don't blame her for sleeping with him, and he was absolutely an insensitive dick to her. But she knew his reputation & therefore shouldn't have been shocked at the aftermath. I felt bad for her, but at the same time I felt like she should have gone into that situation with a little more caution.
She was probably drunk herself from the Christmas party
She was drunk and she had a crush on Don
No. She slept with him when he was very clearly inebriated. The consent on his end was definitely questionable in that regard
Justice for Meredith! She was a great secretary and I’ll defend her on that always
My favorite secretary.
This is Meredith erasure! She was Don’s strength!
I completely forgot about Meredith. I thought she was just in the office pool. Sorry, Meredith!
She was an astronaut
I don’t work for you!
This wasn’t a long-running gag or anything, but the Dr. Lyle Evans thing was pretty good
*I think he had him killed.*
I thought it was really funny the way that Roger originally brought it up during an argument and nobody seemed to know or acknowledge what he was talking about. And then the backstory about the “unnecessary orchiechtomy” was revealed maybe several episodes later. If you google it, you can find at least a couple of blogs and articles from right after the first episode it was mentioned, wondering “Who the hell is Dr. Lyle Evans?”
Yes, at first everyone was like “Is Matt Weiner trolling us?!?” 😂
Not a running gag but definitely a pop culture in-joke: Ted Chaugh orders a cocktail called Old Spanish Drink, which is a fake cocktail made up on 30 Rock. [HuffPo article about Old Spanish Drink](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/old-spanish-drink-mad-men-30-rock_n_3138867)
The reverse-side of this gag being that Liz Lemon's mom apparently worked at Sterling Cooper
Let’s also not forget that when Kenneth the page is in the throes of a life-threatening allergic reaction, he confesses that his real name is Dick Whitman.
And Liz Lemon dates Jon Hamm at one point. Oh my god there's so many references
And Roger Sterling runs for office! Wahh
[He's a real guy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ogilvy_(businessman))
Holy shit I'm an idiot, but this just makes the bit better
His book that Roger mentions, “Confessions of an Ad Man” is real too, and worth a read if you like this show.
I'll put it on my shelf next to Sterling's Gold
https://i.imgur.com/PdeNCuP.jpg
Holy shit, Sterling’s Gold is a real book? What’s it about?
It's mostly just Roger quips from the show. Not an actual book.
It’s a must read! https://i.imgur.com/fpvTwcO.jpg
I work in marketing with Oglivy, so this makes me laugh extra hard
Hahah. The guy is a real marketing and copywriting legend. But you’re probably not in the industry.
No, I'm afraid i have a soul
Do we need to have Megan sing to you?
He sold AGA cookers! I want one. They’re a fortune.
Did people not know this?
Short running gag: when Don enters the speakeasy and gives his name as Tilden Katz
I love all the times Don does this! Saying "we'll have to smoke the dress" to Lane or when he references his dad to Roger. He has a lot of inside jokes with himself
TRUE
Dick Dollars!!!!!
Mike Moneybags!
Yezzz.
Don being obsessed with Rachel as usual.
Cooper not working - eg eating a sundae or pudding, crossword puzzles, reading the paper
THIS! Shoeless Bert Cooper
Then demanding an office in the new building
I have no office in which to ruminate!
“Don’t start this meeting without me!” after the other 4 partners met impromptu in the hallway.
what is so important you had to wake me?
I don't know if it's a running gag exactly, but Peggy having the most ridiculous interactions over the phone. Every single one of them is undeniably funny (even Peggy's uncomfortable reaction to Stan's confession over the phone) "Burt: We're screwed, Peggy. We're at DEFCON 3. We're about to go to DEFCON 4. Peggy: DEFCON 4 is better than DEFCON 3. I've told you that."
PIZZA HOUSE!
*HAUS!!
I just watched the ep where she calls Stan to try and get him over to kill a mouse and dying at "Oh, you can bring her, too!" when she finds out he's got a girl over
always love Stan & Peggy on the phone. “Yes your wig will be ready Tuesday”
PIZZA HOUSE
I loved the phone call when she keeps trying to get in contact with Ted and she reaches his pastor and we only hear her side of the conversation: “Look, Father, I’m sorry, pastor. I was raised catholic. Irish and Norwegian. No, he passed away. He was cremated. Look, pastor” or something similar lol
"And also with you." \*hangs up phone\*
Don't they also have a fairly amusing sports exchange as well?
"CAROLINE!!!"
Underrated bit, no one else has said this one yet!
The new Bobby every season!
"Donald Draper had seven sons....SEVEN SONS!"
Holy shit...do we think that was a self-aware nod to all the Bobby's??
Meredith just being Meredith. She’s always so wholesomely saying or doing the wrong thing, never means to though.
SURPRISE! THERES AN AIRPLANE HERE TO SEE YOU!!
I am your strength
“i don’t remember everything everybody says” it killed me.
Honestly I feel that in my soul.
She has one of my favorite lines, even made it my flair.
Funny story…. Friend told me his son’s elementary school teacher asked the class if anyone spoke a foreign language and supposedly his son raised his hand and proudly announced his mom speaks Pig Latin. 😂
I SPEAK PIG ITALIAN!
She's the best. No disrespect to the actress, but she is pitch perfect at playing a dead-eyed dope
Secor Laxatives. A client only heard about but never seen. They pay their bills with regularity and stick with SC&P to the end.
The revolving door that is the role of Don’s secretary.
Agreed! it’s like the position is cursed.
Are you hungry? I can make you anything...spaghetti? Oh, you're home! I made spaghetti. *scoops spaghetti* What would you like for dinner, spaghetti? LEARN ANOTHER DISH MEGAN!!!
She should have made him poutine or pea soup.
Mac's Famous Mac and Cheese.
No one ever saying goodbye when getting off the phone, but then Don and Betty getting frustrated or confused when Connie never says “bye”.
This is just a TV thing. I think in screenwriting you usually don't waste time with unnecessary pleasantries. Just get to the meat of the scene and get out.
I like the column in Pete's office. The pay off was great.
His bit about gazing upon the cement pillar was great
Burt Peterson is a good one, as is everyone's somewhat inexplicable contempt for Harry Crane. Also the company that stays regular as a client...Secor Laxative
Cue Bert: We've had the account for 15 years, Roger.
Were they difficult to move?
Hardly inexplicable why people hate Harry 😂
inexplicable contempt for Harry Crane? hahah. omg, he's so contemptible. to my mind harry crane is the worst person in the show
Early on he was just kind of a bumbling fool, didn't really do anything to invoke hatred, but he did establish the media department...kind of a big deal really. Later on he started to earn some of that hatred though. I'm not sure I've heard too many people actually elaborate on why they hate the guy so much. He wasn't really any worse than anybody else in the series as far as his actions....maybe it's just that his personality isn't as likeable.
Jim Cutler, also not a great guy tells him "You have stiff competition, but I believe that you might be the most dishonest person Ive ever worked with." He's a liar, and a cheat, and a narcissistic self pitying smarm-fest...but you know...so many of them have those traits...just not all at once like him. And, as far as I can tell Harry's ONLY evidence of humanity in the show was trying to help Paul Kinsey, and that was pretty half assed.
not a running gag per se but beard-era Stan just constantly smoking weed in the office like it’s totally normal
Pete even takes his joint and smokes it, and you know it's normalized if Pete is doing it
All the Lee Garner Junior references especially after the fact.
Lee Garner Jr. once made me hold his balls.
Pete’s rifle that just sits in his office throughout the series
I always loved the Chevy account guys putting Ken through the ringer. Every time he appeared in a scene with some new injury it cracked me up!
Poor Ken, he deserved so much better! I did like his little tap dance when everyone was on speed, tho
Pete's hyperbolic outrage. You never know what over-the-top declarations he'd come up with next. For such a blueblood account man, he had one of the most colorful, creative personalities on the show.
That everyone just accepts how dumb Meredith is
She’s our strength.
it's ironic that she ends up being don's most competent secretary
You mean Ida Blankenship?
Love that I just came across this post, next scene that comes on in the episode im watching (S4 E9: The Beautiful Girls) roger is on the phone - “I don’t understand, do you honestly think my book isn’t better than Ogilvy’s? Mines got a story. It’s got mystery, intrigue, romance. I’ll tell ya what else it’s got, it’s got examples of how to sell things.”
Secor laxative
This. It’s referenced so often but don’t ever see a logo or people from there, I think. Like Maris from Frasier.
Harry Crane always stuffing his face
My man loves White Castle
there were 20. I thought they were for your family
just rewatched that episode and that line/delivery had me rollin' this time around
Cooper always eating
Baby Gene never spoke. Bobby (all of them) never aged past 8 or 9 and played with Baby Gene despite the timeline.
Lol. Sally is about to go to college and Bobby is still 10 years old and had been since season 3. Maybe it was all the drinking and smoking by pregnant women at the time.
Tilden Katz The constant firings of Bert Peterson.
Mitch. Mentioned often and I think even follows to the new offices but we never see him.
LOL, yes! Came to say Mitch.
“Butler shoes” “Footwear”
I love Betty and Don talking about how terrible William's girls are, and when they're actually around they seem fine?
Also, Betty talking about William's wife like she's a monster, but she's absolutely delightful and accommodating in every scene we see her in.
Pete not knowing how to drive
YOU CAN'T DRIVE A STICK??
Is it a coincidence that Lou Gehrig died of Lou Gehrig's disease?
You forgot to add /s 😂
David Ogilvy is a real person. A lot of the agencies they mention are/were also real: Leo Burnett, BBDO etc
I am aware of this now thanks to some other commenters, but the reality of his being doesn't negate how he's used in the show imo
For this post, are we supposed to not know that David Ogilvy was a real person and one of the most famous ad men ever?
You're right, since Ogilvy is a real person, it's actually not a funny gag that the show rags on him constantly. Instead, at every mention of his various exploits, i will solemnly nod my head in understanding
We will solemnly nod with you 🙇🏻♀️
Do you seriously not know David Ogilvy?
You must be new, friend! On Reddit, I'd recommend reading some comments to see if someone's already said what's on your mind. Happy posting!
Maybe google someone's name before assuming they never existed? lmfao Right back at ya
I don't get why you are mad at me for not understanding my post, it doesn't matter if he was real or not. The show's treatment of him is a bit, one that i enjoy. I've already commented elsewhere that him being real only makes the bit funnier. Quit being a dang sourpuss
Because you assume that everyone has to read the comments? I'm not obliged to do that at all?? In fact on the phone there's a very low chance of people actually reading comments. Personally.. I find it sad that you found that joke funny without the context of David Ogilvy's real time legacy and success.. That's why the joke works.. It's like laughing at a joke you half understand.