I also think his idea at the end, with the Samsonite TKO, was rather wretched. Peggy’s instincts in her criticism of it were spot-on… but she caved in to Don’s looking all mopey.
Is that black and white painting in Roger’s office not the ugliest damned thing you’ve ever seen?
I definitely took Don’s being absolutely wrong about the Liston fight as evidence he’s losing his ability to analyze.
Don’s meltdown was some of the best acting on the show. The few times I’ve lost it I was almost exactly like that- open your mouth to say something, thinking it’s all under control, and then it just happens and it’s emotional vomiting- it comes out and you can’t control it til it’s over on it’s own. Of course I’m always moved by any dramatic scene in which a character who is never anything but in total control is overcome by emotion.
I gotta say, I was shocked at the explicitness of Duck’s squatting and very audible flatulence. I could practically smell it.
Definitely…Peggy’s ideas were similar to the American Tourister ads Sampiro mentioned, also hugely successful. Either concept (Broadway Joe as sex-symbol or gorilla-like beat-up of luggage) would have been groundbreaking in 1965.
Don’s abilites may have been lacking in some ways but he instantly caught on that the picture of Ali demonstrating over Liston would be famous. It might be the most famous sports picture of all time.
Anybody else catch that the dweeb imitating Joe Namath used a thick southern accent? I was wondering why since Namath , though he played for the U. of Alabama, was a native of Pittsburgh and of eastern European ancestry.
That accent thing confused me too. Is that character supposed to be southern himself?
The whole Ali-Liston thing was interesting as well. Draper’s attitude towards Ali definitely puts him in the grumpy old guy category. I mean, come on, making fun of his name change? Ali was one of the original superstar sports celebrities. What’s not to like about Muhammad Ali? When I was growing up, he had his own cartoon and at least one pop song about him. Everybody loves Ali.
I looked at some videos of that Ali-Liston fight in 1965. Really strange stuff. Ali barely touched Liston when Liston hit the ground. Apparently, years later, Liston claimed he had taken a dive because he was afraid of the Nation of Islam.
Everybody hated Ali. Hated, hated, hated him with exactly the same emotion they are now putting forward toward the 9/11 non-mosque. Not one person in America at the time could imagine a President with the middle name of Hussein. His name change alienated everybody in the country. And he turned Liston into the hero, when Liston was considered a thug earlier. All the mainstream guys were betting against Ali because he was everything they hated about the rising black consciousness.
And Don was one of them. Another sign of his being part of the past with Peggy being the future.
Does anyone think that “Champ” ad was good? Nobody in America would remember that picture by the time the ad would come out, and those who did would hate the association. Peggy was right with her criticism. Most of the ideas Don turned down were far better. Let’s hope that it’s not nominated for next year’s Clio.
I read Don’s “Champ” ad as not so much being about a good piece of advertising but about Don finally embracing the way the culture was headed, especially after he’d spent the episode badmouthing Ali. Could be completely wrong, of course.
Yes, definitely one of those “turning point” moments in the show.
As much as I’ve liked this show, I have never, ever understood Draper’s evaluation of good ideas and bad ideas. They all seem the same to me. I think this just has to be one of those suspension of disbelief things.
Yeah, I don’t think it was good at all. Even in print, the reference to the Ali photo wouldn’t be obvious, and depends on Don being right in his guess that the photo will become iconic and endlessly reproduced. He is right, but there would be reason to doubt him at the time. I agree that Peggy was correct in her criticism. Don brushing it aside is another sign of his simultaneously losing his touch and completely buying into his own hype.
What was Don’s last creative home-run, by the way? One that he was entirely responsible for, I mean. Glow-Coat (or whatever) was a reworked version of Peggy’s idea and he flat-out stole the Life Cereal slogan from Jonathan from Buffy.
Hey all, quick question…what episode did Duck kick out his dog? I completely don’t remember that, and it’s not something I’d forget easily.
I liked, not loved the episode. I like more Roger in an episode, and I felt really bad for the boyfriend overall. He’s just trying to be a family with Peggy, and she’s a workaholic. Duck is a disgusting excuse for a human. I really hope he’s gone for good.
Any chance Sal may come back? I know he wasn’t renewed, but…
It was in “Maidenform,” I believe, in Season 2.
The reason was left ambiguous. Either having the dog was driving him off the wagon or the dog’s gaze was making him feel guilty about falling off the wagon.
My own personal feeling was that Chauncey reminded him too much of times he was trying to put behind him.
Mmm, okay, thank you. I’ll b sure to check it out tonight or tomorrow; I’m sure it’ll just reaffirm how much I hate Duck 
*I wouldn’t be good company anyway.
That’s never stopped me before. *
Comedy gold.
Is Anita’s husband a different actor than before?
Since Peggy makes decent money (not a lot but enough to pay her bills with a roommate and have a little left over), do you think she should reimburse her now ex-boyfriend for any of the money he spent on dinner? On the one hand she didn’t ask him to invite her family on his dime or even want him to, and for that matter they shouldn’t have accepted unless it was to go Dutch, but on the other hand he did so as a gesture of affection for her and her ruining it really was completely inconsiderate and not his fault at all.
Why shouldn’t they have accepted his treat?
Just manners. I’ve had strangers pick up the tab at a place (over my sincere initial protest) but personally I probably wouldn’t go out to a restaurant if it was with the understanding a friend’s boyfriend who I barely know but do know he isn’t well off is going to pay, though admittedly that’s just me.
And I’ll admit I’m a bit inconsistent: I’d have no problem going to a party they gave and eating and drinking an amount that cost just as much perhaps, but I view that as different.