Me thinks I’m about three years behind the times, but I just discovered the AMC series “Mad Men”.   If you’ve been living under a rock (uh, like me, apparently), you probably don’t know much about this show.  It’s set in the fast-paced, glamorous world of NY advertising – circa 1960.   (The slang term “mad men” was coined by ad guys who worked on Madison Avenue at the time.)  

Of course, I work in the fast-paced, non-glamorous world of Kansas advertising – circa 2009.  It’s relatively devoid of sexism, adultery, homophobia, anti-Semitism and the pronounced ethnic/racial bias of the early 1960’s.  Smoking and drinking still run rampant at our office, though.

The best thing about this show other than its well-developed characters and phenomenal writing – is the look.   I missed the ‘60’s by a decade.  Pity.    Everything was tinged in bright colors and odd patterns.   Back in 1960, smoking was still the norm.  There is nary a scene in the show where someone isn’t lighting up or puffing on a cig.  And everyone guzzled liquor at work.   Man, those WERE the days.  Some days I drink at work … but, technically, it’s not allowed.  Pity.

Of course, even though 50 years have passed, nothing else has changed.   (Save for the typewriter.)   The similarities to the agency I work for are shocking similar.  For instance, there’s a slightly eccentric, but wholly brilliant owner – check.   There’s a slimy, no-good, know-it-all account exec everyone loathes – check (several times over).  There’s a brilliant ingénue no one takes seriously – check.   And quite a few emotionally unstable and underappreciated women – check, check and check.

My favorite character is Don Draper, Creative Director.  He’s played by the too-unspeakably-handsome-for-words Jon Hamm.  He makes being creative look easy, suave and debonair at the same time.  Too bad he has the morals and scruples of a gnat.  Don Draper would have been a helluva lot easier to work for than my ex-creative director.  If Draper were to get fired, the company would implode.  When my former creative director got shitcanned, we started doing our best work to date.  Go figure.

I just ordered season two on DVD.  I’ll let you know how it is.  And if you want to borrow season one – just lemme know.  You’ll have a rough idea of what my life is like on a daily basis … minus the nicotine, booze and whores.  Pity.