# Mad-Men: 7.01 "Time Zones" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051 "2014-04-13T23:14:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/61 "2014-04-15T20:23:30Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I “liked” Pete back when he was more complex and interesting and you could see where his drive was coming from and conflicting with his family, both blood (his father/mother) and married (Trudy steamrolling him on the first apartment, the rifle thing). He was never really “likeable” but he had his moments and I could share in some of his triumphs. Of course now he’s mainly just a cartoonish lech. > > Bob Benson though always just struck me as too precious. All his little conniving bits fall into place: the fake background, the ridiculous side plot of him recommending an ex-lover nurse who then murders Pete’s mom at sea, the Detroit shenanigans, etc – he’s like a daytime soap opera character. He just sticks out as even more fake (as a character, not a personality) than all the rest. Yeah, I don’t know sometimes if I’m hoping he’s more interesting than he is. At first he was this smarmy suckup kind of guy I used to seem to run into all the time when I lived in Philadelphia (home of the prestigious Wharton - no, I don’t say that sarcastically, but there is a certain portion, albeit probably very small - like 10% if that - that are just sooo annoying. It seems to be a species of annoying that resides exclusively within a small geographic area centered by the University of Pennsylvania. To describe it it’s like Donald Trump level annoying without the money and class and good looks). Anyway, I was totally thrown for a loop when it was revealed as only an act, and I keep thinking there will be more to come with that character, but, at the moment there isn’t a _whole_ lot there. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/62 "2014-04-15T21:05:33Z")
The main problem with the character of Bob Benson is, of course, that the actor who portrays him is in a show that CBS picked up this past year. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/63 "2014-04-15T21:46:49Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > The main problem with the character of Bob Benson is, of course, that the actor who portrays him is in a show that CBS picked up this past year. We still occasionally see Trudy and she’s been a series regular on Community for–what–4 years now? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/64 "2014-04-15T21:59:33Z")
Trudy has been a very rare occurrence on the show lately - and it helps that Community keeps getting half seasons (which personally I dislike, but you know… ) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/65 "2014-04-16T00:58:44Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > The main problem with the character of Bob Benson is, of course, that the actor who portrays him is in a show that CBS picked up this past year. and now has cancelled. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/66 "2014-04-16T01:00:55Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > …Don is still getting paid by the agency while he’s on leave, so he doesn’t need Freddy to kick anything back to him… It’s not clear if Don’s still being paid salary while he’s “on leave”, but even if he’s still a partner & due whatever his share of the profits are. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/67 "2014-04-16T01:41:14Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’m missing the significance of the tam and pompom. Please explain for the slow class. Peggy has become the anti-Mary Richards. Instead of twirling around and tossing that tam in the air, she’s doubled over and sobbing. Forgot to add: Peggy’s new secretary has a natural. Is that the first we’ve seen on the show? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/68 "2014-04-16T03:04:38Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > and now has cancelled. Some hope for more Benson in part 2 of the season then. ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/69 "2014-04-16T09:07:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Did Don say Pete was dressed “like a hippie”? More like preppie! > > I know these guys are a stickler for details, but were men still wearing hats in 1969??? There was one scene where Don was walking outside and pretty much all the men were wearing hats. I was 13 in 1969, and I don’t remember that. I don’t think my father even owned a hat. If I recall correctly, the line was “you don’t dress like a hippie but you sound like one” or something very similar- I can remember the inflection but not the exact phrasing. I was baffled by how much I liked Pete in this episode, but I suppose even terrible people flourish in the right weather. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/70 "2014-04-16T12:00:17Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Peggy has become the anti-Mary Richards. Instead of twirling around and tossing that tam in the air, she’s doubled over and sobbing. > > Forgot to add: Peggy’s new secretary has a natural. Is that the first we’ve seen on the show? Ooooooh…yeah. Mary…I get it. Very good. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/71 "2014-04-16T12:02:23Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > It’s not clear if Don’s still being paid salary while he’s “on leave”, but even if he’s still a partner & due whatever his share of the profits are. I think they said he’s still getting his checks. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/72 "2014-04-16T12:08:55Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Peggy has become the anti-Mary Richards. Instead of twirling around and tossing that tam in the air, she’s doubled over and sobbing. > > Forgot to add: Peggy’s new secretary has a natural. Is that the first we’ve seen on the show? A natural? ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/73 "2014-04-16T13:00:58Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I think they said he’s still getting his checks. He did. Speaking of, Don got suspended on Thanksgiving and this episode took place in January. Freddy says “It’s been two months…” (Ted also says “It’s still January in LA”). That’s an usually short gap from season to season; usually it’s more like eight months and we see major shifts between seasons such as SCDP having the entire second level complete and humming with activity. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/74 "2014-04-16T13:41:02Z")
Nixon’s first inaugural was shown on TV which precisely dates the episode. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/75 "2014-04-16T14:08:48Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > It’s not clear if Don’s still being paid salary while he’s “on leave”, but even if he’s still a partner & due whatever his share of the profits are. How do partnerships like this work? Would a partner receive a regular salary or only their share of profits? ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/76 "2014-04-16T14:20:31Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > A natural? Her hair. She had it kept in a natural “afro” kind of state rather than using relaxers as many black women have done/do in order to make their hair less “black.” I’m a middle aged white guy though so happy to be corrected if I explained that wrong. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/77 "2014-04-16T14:23:56Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > How do partnerships like this work? Would a partner receive a regular salary or only their share of profits? There were probably many ways that this was/is addressed and that would be specified in the partnership agreement. It might be that partners don’t get salaries at all, only a profit share. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/78 "2014-04-16T15:09:08Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Nixon’s first inaugural was shown on TV which precisely dates the episode. Oh sure. My point was the narrow lapsed time frame between seasons unlike previous seasons which jumped ahead pretty substantially. I half expected the first episode to have Don back at work after an eight month hiatus or something. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/79 "2014-04-16T15:48:01Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Oh sure. My point was the narrow lapsed time frame between seasons unlike previous seasons which jumped ahead pretty substantially. I half expected the first episode to have Don back at work after an eight month hiatus or something. Got it. I believe that there are 16 episodes to be squeezed into two mini-seasons that all have to be finished in 1969 so they don’t have that luxury this time. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051/80 "2014-04-16T16:16:06Z")
1969 is the moon landing, I wonder how or if that will be worked in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-01-time-zones-open-spoilers/686051.md?page=5)