What historical and / or pop cultural touchstones would you like to see addressed on "Mad Men"?

Cafe Society
1

In a silly mood the other night, I began writing a fan-fic short story entitled “Peter Campbell Among the Flower Children” in which everyone’s favorite under-appreciated account manager goes to San Francisco to sign up a new client and gets shanghied and dosed with acid by a couple of hippie girls who want to loosen up the square. (I’m still working on it, but if the teeming millions demand - I’ll post it sometime over the weekend. :dubious:)

Anyway, the new season’s debut episode is set in early June of '66. Seeing as most seasons cover a span of many months, what big moments in history are you hoping get a name dropping, or even intrude on the narrative in some way, shape or form?

Of course, Truman Capote’s Black & White Ball (November of '66) is already a topic of discussion among the jet set elite. I imagine Roger Sterling will be mightily pissed off if he doesn’t make the guest list.

“Dark Shadows” - the campy cult TV show is about to begin airing. No doubt Sally would be a fan (“Oh Glen, I’m like Angelique to your Barnabas!”) And can you imagine Harry trying to line up advertisers for the show? (It’s a soap opera - with vampires. No it’s not- it’s a great idea!")

In fact, I’ve been waiting for about two seasons for Harry or somebody to mention “Bewitched” - a show about a Madison Avenue advertising whiz married to a blonde witch, the ad agency is run by a white-haired drip, and then a black-haired doppleganger for the blonde wife occasionally shows up. God, it practically BEGS for a comparison!

I’ve no doubt in my mind that Joan’s husband will be coming home from 'Nam in a bag.

John Lennon is poised his infamous remark about the Beatles being more popular than Jesus. That ought’a rile up Peggy’s Bay Ridge clan a bit. Not that Peggy cares much - she’s too busy plowing through a copy of “Valley of the Dolls” her room-mate loaned her. (She’ll deny reading it though, dismissing it as trash if any of her co-workers mention it.)

Anyway, that’s just off the top of my head. What do you expect, think or just plain hope gets discussed in the show’s new season?

2

I’d be surprised if “Dark Shadows” gets a nod, but there’s another obscure sci-fi show that premiered in the fall of 1966. You may have heard of it, it’s a little show called STAR TREK :D. I’d like to see that get mentioned somewhere.

I don’t know how far this season will go, but if it makes it through 1967 some events from the Summer of Love might make it into the series. The release of Sgt. Pepper’s, the Monterrey Pop Festival, The Doors performance on The Ed Sullivan Show, etc.

Also, construction began on The World Trade Center in 1966. I’m not sure how big of a deal that was at the time, but it might have been a water cooler topic in a NYC office.

3

…I have similar thoughts about Greg (Joan’s husband). My guess is him coming home maimed, disfigured, or blind, although most of my Mad Men friends predict he’ll be killed. I’m waiting for it to happen, but I don’t know how realistic it is. My impression from both the show and history is that in Vietnam surgeons would have been stationed far from the enemy. I’m sure the writers could come up with something though (helicopter crash ala Henry Blake, some contrived set of circumstances that forced him to travel to the front, etc).

4

I know it’s a little out there, but Expo 67. Megan is French-Canadian after all.

5

The Surgeon General’s report on smoking.

6

What’s the most time they’ve ever covered in one season?

1968 is going to be a bear: Tet Offensive, MLK and RFK assassinations, but I doubt they’ll get there this season.

7

[QUOTE=wheresmymind]

Also, construction began on The World Trade Center in 1966. I’m not sure how big of a deal that was at the time, but it might have been a water cooler topic in a NYC office.
[/QUOTE]

Pretty big I think. It required buying lots of land so that could conceivably make some money for some of the partners, and if business picks up SCDP might be interested in becoming an early lessor (getting in the penthouse on the ground floor so to speak). Of course initially it was a major money loser for those who invested, but that’s too long term for the series.

8

Have they had any pop songs playing in the background in any episode?

It might be a conscious decision not to, I dunno. I like the show a lot, but it has zero mental calories for me. I find when a new season starts, I don’t really remember any of the previous one.

9

I think Greg Harris dying conveniently in Viet Nam is a little too easy. Hope they find a better way to kill him off.

The great Northeast Blackout in November 1965 led to the myth of a baby boom in August 1966.

From a couple of seasons ago, I always wish Conrad Hilton would have make some kind of comment about what he was leaving for his great-grandchildren.