# Mad-Men: 6.12 "The Quality of Mercy" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150 "2013-06-17T01:00:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/101 "2013-06-18T17:20:50Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I thought they said it would be $35,000 just for the residuals. They did, plus the $15k for the ad, which is where the $50k figure came from. Does anybody know if there were any _Rosemary’s Baby_ parody ads? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/102 "2013-06-18T17:46:14Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I thought they said it would be $35,000 just for the residuals. Exactly, just for the extra talent that would be required. $50k would be the entire budget including production. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/103 "2013-06-18T17:51:00Z")
Just to understand the difference, according to the [BLS Inflation Calculator](http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=50000&year1=1968&year2=2013), $15,000 in 1968 is equal to more than $100,000 today and $50,000 is equal to $335,000, so it is pretty insane what Ted was thinking he could get away with. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/104 "2013-06-18T17:53:09Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Just to understand the difference, according to the [BLS Inflation Calculator](http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=50000&year1=1968&year2=2013), $15,000 in 1968 is equal to more than $100,000 today and $50,000 is equal to $335,000, so it is pretty insane what Ted was thinking he could get away with. Using the same calculator, the difference between Sunkist and Ocean Spray would be about $30 _million_ in today’s USD, so Don and Roger and Harry (and Harry Hamlin’s character) were right to say “Sorry Ocean Spray, buh-bye!” over it. Does anybody know how much Sterling Cooper could take off of a major TV/print campaign? Do ad agencies get a percentage or a rate or… what, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/105 "2013-06-18T18:28:43Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Does anybody know how much Sterling Cooper could take off of a major TV/print campaign? Do ad agencies get a percentage or a rate or… what, exactly? At one time, the standard commission for agencies was 15% of the media buy cost. Finally, companies started figuring out that in the age of soaring budgets for television this was an incentive for agencies to overbuy to run up their bills. They started negotiating and flat fee pricing. Agencies fought back by creating special divisions for research, marketing, promotion, branding, consulting, etc. that had their own set of charges. This change took place over a long period. We’re probably still mostly at 15% standard in 1968, although some negotiations on commissions were taking place. Agencies started to be bought up by international conglomerate agencies around then and into the 1970s and that’s when they became supermarkets of services. [Saatchi & Saatchi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saatchi_%26_Saatchi) is the model, though it wasn’t founded until 1970. (Interpublic was earlier.) You can see the long list of agencies and company types they bought over the years. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/106 "2013-06-18T18:37:55Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Open a Meth Advent Calendar until BREAKING BAD returns which will tide us over until WALKING DEAD which will keep us til MAD MEN. > > Whoever turned AMC into the basic cable HBO deserves every penny they get. I LOVE the idea of an Advent Calendar… > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > And his Spanish sounded pretty American-accented to my ears, but that could just be the actor’s best effort. I completely agree. His accent was abysmal. He is still a bit of a mystery. > [@Jophiel](#): > > Does Peggy think Ted will divorce his wife and leave his kids? At the time you’re doing it, you rarely think in such practical terms. Sometimes the guy does, but very rarely. > [@](#): > > Ted & Peggy are being stupid and should nip this off right now. At the time you’re doing it, you rarely think in such practical terms. ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/107 "2013-06-18T18:38:56Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Let’s start with the fact that Ted was trying to make an ad for $50,000 when the client had agreed to $15,000, without first telling the. That is ridiculous and Don knew it. However, instead of talking to Ted himself, he sent the budget to the client and let Ted twist there. That’s not great, but it isn’t horrible either. At the meeting, I think Don was playing out too much as a sort of revenge, but to be honest Ted kind of deserved. I do not think it is a very effective way to work together, it shows pettiness and arrogance, but Ted is far from innocent here. This is exactly correct. Technically, Don did nothing wrong, and followed the code of business as it was in that age. But he used that code expertly to humiliate Ted and gain an advantage. It is indeed petty and arrogant, but at that time business was far more ruthless; pettiness and arrogance were not always recognized as an impediment to good business. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/108 "2013-06-18T18:48:37Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > At the time you’re doing it, you rarely think in such practical terms. Which is why Don was 100% correct to call them on it. I won’t speak to his methods but the fact that it needed to be addressed is obvious. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/109 "2013-06-18T19:03:27Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Which is why Don was 100% correct to call them on it. I won’t speak to his methods but the fact that it needed to be addressed is obvious. I said earlier \*it had to be done. \* ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/110 "2013-06-18T19:08:38Z")
I have no idea why you’re pseudo-arguing with me then. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/111 "2013-06-18T19:33:43Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > At one time, the standard commission for agencies was 15% of the media buy cost. Finally, companies started figuring out that in the age of soaring budgets for television this was an incentive for agencies to overbuy to run up their bills. They started negotiating and flat fee pricing. Agencies fought back by creating special divisions for research, marketing, promotion, branding, consulting, etc. that had their own set of charges. > > This change took place over a long period. We’re probably still mostly at 15% standard in 1968, although some negotiations on commissions were taking place. Agencies started to be bought up by international conglomerate agencies around then and into the 1970s and that’s when they became supermarkets of services. [Saatchi & Saatchi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saatchi_%26_Saatchi) is the model, though it wasn’t founded until 1970. (Interpublic was earlier.) You can see the long list of agencies and company types they bought over the years. You’re spot on, but I’ll mention that I’ve worked in media buying for awhile and more often than not, you’ll see 15% is still pretty much the standard agency fee. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/112 "2013-06-18T20:11:08Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > At one time, the standard commission for agencies was 15% of the media buy cost. Thanks for the info. So would Sterling Cooper also receive residuals on the TV ads? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/113 "2013-06-18T20:51:49Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Thanks for the info. > > So would Sterling Cooper also receive residuals on the TV ads? Doesn’t seem likely to me, but I’ll defer to Bob. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/114 "2013-06-18T21:31:53Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Thanks for the info. > > So would Sterling Cooper also receive residuals on the TV ads? > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Doesn’t seem likely to me, but I’ll defer to Bob. No residuals for the agency. They’d just get their 15% of that booking (plus 15% of every other media buy.) The last agency I worked at didn’t have their own creative department so we acted as the buying agency for a stand-alone creative shop. They were the agency of record, overall, so they took the 15% and then we got a portion of that, somewhere around 5-7%, less than half anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/115 "2013-06-19T13:22:34Z")
So I got to thinking about Betty calling Don about boarding school and Don’s immediate reaction of “I’ll pay for it” despite it being a rather pedigreed (not cheap) school and Betty & Henry not exactly being strapped for cash. Now, I know this was Don throwing money at a problem to make it go away but it got me wondering about something else. Don is rich. Not top hat & monocle rich but ad exec with Manhattan apartment rich. He’s not hurting for money. Megan wouldn’t have to work if she didn’t want to. But she does and Megan is making soap opera actress money. I assume that’s not tons but enough that if she lived on her own, she’d be able to afford a modest apartment and not eat cat food. So, applying late 1960’s mores, what do you suspect happens with Megan’s paycheck? General fund to keep the lights on? Discretionary income for Megan to spend on red star t-shirts? Savings account? We have no way of knowing for sure, I’m just wondering what the norm would have been for a well paid working husband a wife with a “hobbyist” career. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/116 "2013-06-19T13:56:16Z")
I think it would all be her “fun money” to spend any way she wanted to. In my Texas city in the mid-'70’s I scraped by on $8,8600 per year at a non-profit.[[Median income for a household of 4 in 1978 was $20,428.]](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0104583.html) The boss’s secretary made a little less than I, but she was married to a guy who worked in civil service and whose pride would not let him allow her to spend ANY of her money on household necessities. While I struggled to make ends meet every month, often deciding which bills to skip or rushing to the utility company to slip checks in the night slot to avoid having my electricity cut off, she was forced to spend whatever she didn’t save on herself (makeup, clothes, hair), the kids, vacations, etc. She was British and flew home every year for a couple of weeks. I was bitterly jealous. I’m guessing Megan’s personal financial situation is like this. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/117 "2013-06-19T14:01:25Z")
While Megan’s not a big star and soap operas aren’t primetime or movies she’s probably still earning way more than the average New Yorker. Of course I doubt that she and Don have a pre-nup, so if they split up her settlement and alimony would probably be way more than she has earned on her own. Is Henry richer than Don? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/118 "2013-06-19T14:16:00Z")
Well, they have an 18 room mansion in what I suspect is a wealthy area (hey, it’s an area with 18 room mansions). I don’t know if Henry is _wealthier_ than Don but, had Don suggested to split boarding school 50/50, I don’t think he would have been unreasonable towards Betty & Henry’s finances. I assumed Henry was from old money which helped put him into politics. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/119 "2013-06-19T15:25:01Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > While Megan’s not a big star and soap operas aren’t primetime or movies she’s probably still earning way more than the average New Yorker. Of course I doubt that she and Don have a pre-nup, so if they split up her settlement and alimony would probably be way more than she has earned on her own. I found [this](http://daytimeroyaltyonline.com/topic/239111/1/) on soap opera salaries in 1971, when the union got a raise: > [@](#): > > Daytime TV Magazine, Jan. 1971 - > > > [@](#): > > > > Would you like to know what actors now get on daytime serials? The new AFTRA (union) minimum fee is $175 for one show, $350 for two, $525 for three, $650 for four, and $790 for five shows a week. Those actors who are well established in their roles and have a following often get $1,000 a week. With one small role Megan was probably working only a day or two per week. With two roles, she may have doubled that. She’s not a newcomer any more so she probably makes more than the minimum. But the pay would be a bit less in 1968. So, ballpark, she could be earning $30-50,000 for a dual role. That’s 6-10 times what my father made in 1968. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/120 "2013-06-19T23:26:38Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > …Of course I doubt that she and Don have a pre-nup, so if they split up her settlement and alimony would probably be way more than she has earned on her own… True, but she wouldn’t get nearly as much as Betty could’ve gotten if she didn’t remarry Henry right away. Don & Megan have been married less than 3 yrs, they have no kids, and she’s not even 30. > [@Jophiel](#): > > Well, they have an 18 room mansion in what I suspect is a wealthy area (hey, it’s an area with 18 room mansions). I don’t know if Henry is _wealthier_ than Don but, had Don suggested to split boarding school 50/50, I don’t think he would have been unreasonable towards Betty & Henry’s finances. > > I assumed Henry was from old money which helped put him into politics. It’s pretty obvious Henry is from old money. Even Betty’s made some snide comments about him growing up with servant_s_. Unlike her his nanny, cook, & housekeeper were all separate women. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150.md?page=7)