Oh for the love of gin and smoke... Has anyone been watching the AMC show "Mad Men"? We have been Tivo-ing it since it started, but hadn't had a chance to actually watch them until recently. The mid-century decor is impeccable and we've been drooling over each set. We've become obsessed with the decor of the offices (we especially love how each of the doors in the main room is painted a different color), and this week's LA Times had an article about the attention to detail in this series.
The article mentions how well they've recreated the past, yet also gives nod to current design trends. Set decorator to the show, Amy Wells, mentions that although she doesn't think "frills and knotty pine paneling" will be making a major comeback in today's home, she does think there will be "reinterpreted elements of that look." The article sites the gorgeous tufted velvet headboard in the main character's home as an example of something that was popular then, and also popular now. Another interesting thing to note is that they got most of the furniture for Don Draper's office here locally at Futurama and Denmark 50 in Los Angeles. They also based the Draper's house on a 1916 Colonial Rvival house the production designer Dan Biship found in Pasadena. Read the rest of the article here. There's a neat video about the authenticity of the sets:
Has anyone else been watching? What do you think of it?
posted by
gretchen
on October 18th 2007 at 11:16am view
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I think it may be the best thing I've seen on television. Ever. Really, really brilliant writing, acting, directing, sets, music, costumes - everything.
posted by
sunspot42
on October 18th 2007 at 11:25am view
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Seriously one of the best shows on right now. The set design is fascinating, but I really love the costume design. Stunning!
posted by
heylucy
on October 18th 2007 at 11:28am view
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I fourth that emotion, I absolutely love this show. It astounds me every time I watch it, from the acting to the writing to the costumes to the set design and on and on. Episode 110 was the best by far. Thank you for featuring it.
posted by
MEP
on October 18th 2007 at 12:01pm view
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I love this show.
I'm always torn between drooling over the sets, the dresses, and actually paying attention to what's happening. Which is just fine with me.
posted by
jennifer in sf
on October 18th 2007 at 2:31pm view
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Agreed all around.
posted by
mscot
on October 18th 2007 at 5:04pm view
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I haven't really seen the show, but I did manage to flip past it one night and had to go back and ogle over the MCM design. It's total perfection.
posted by
ll
on October 19th 2007 at 5:50am view
ll's
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I am so addicted to this show and am completely distressed that it's now in hiatus. The cast, scripts, music ... everything is impeccable right down to the sublime politically incorrectness of it. (Remember the scene with the kids playing with the dry cleaning bag???) And the sets ...!!!! I can't remember whose office it is, but one of them has this really soft blue tufted sofa against a paneled wall, and everytime they show that scene, I wish I could blink my eyes and go back to working in a 1960 office ...
I love this show and am sad to have the season end. Cannot wait for it to return!! Great acting. Great script. Great clothing. Great sets!
posted by
carla
on October 23rd 2007 at 9:08am view
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I grew up in this world. My dad had an over the top office - he worked for the US division of a Danish company. He used to come home with SAS Airlines glasses and silverware that he got as a Royal Viking Flier (or whatever they called it). His company shipped their products in teak boxes. His secretary came right out of this show. Man, what a time it was for these guys
It's a great show, and I understand will be back for at least a second season. I've been riveted.
posted by
Deborah
on October 23rd 2007 at 9:40am view
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I need to try to catch reruns on my dvr--it seems to have popped up everywhere now that the season has ended. We have an old-fashioned apartment but I have two side chairs, a side table and a lamp from the Time & Life Building, all 60s danish modern stuff. Great lines and I can't wait to watch the show and see how it would have looked in place before the weird 1970s renovations of our old offices!
posted by
katef
on October 23rd 2007 at 9:58am view
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I'm waiting for it to come out on DVD, it looks fantastic so it's a must buy for me!
I am a Mad Men addict -- one of the reasons being the costumes and set design. they really caught the physical environment of the times perfectly. I am very dismayed that the next season won't appear until summer 2008. Gee, a t.v. show for adults that is actually not a cop/doctor show.
posted by
Kat1
on October 23rd 2007 at 11:21am view
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The bedroom photo is flipped. Don sleeps on the other side!
posted by
Lori
on October 23rd 2007 at 2:33pm view
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I was so happy to see this...I have been blown away by this show and the incredible set and costume design. I so badly want to slip into that bed in a satin slip!
posted by
universal mod
on October 23rd 2007 at 2:58pm view
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profile
Try Dexter on Showtime. It is AMAZING.
...
Different type of drama than Mad Men. I was really looking forward to liking this show. However, it is lacking any emotional resonance to me. I like Don's character ok, but like the story arc with his assistant better. Overall, after watching Dexter, I find this show to be mediocre.
posted by
Thomas
on October 23rd 2007 at 6:31pm view
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I can understand that for a fan of Dexter, this personality drama would seem mediocre. It's hard to compare this lifestyle a drama to a violent show starring a serial killer as the protagonist. Afterall, not a single person has been killed in two seasons of Mad Men. Dull, huh?
posted by
quiltmaster
on October 25th 2008 at 5:14pm view
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Ah, best show on television.
view gretchen's profile
I think it may be the best thing I've seen on television. Ever. Really, really brilliant writing, acting, directing, sets, music, costumes - everything.
view sunspot42's profile
Seriously one of the best shows on right now. The set design is fascinating, but I really love the costume design. Stunning!
view heylucy's profile
I fourth that emotion, I absolutely love this show. It astounds me every time I watch it, from the acting to the writing to the costumes to the set design and on and on. Episode 110 was the best by far. Thank you for featuring it.
view MEP's profile
I love this show.
I'm always torn between drooling over the sets, the dresses, and actually paying attention to what's happening. Which is just fine with me.
view jennifer in sf's profile
Agreed all around.
view mscot's profile
I haven't really seen the show, but I did manage to flip past it one night and had to go back and ogle over the MCM design. It's total perfection.
view ll's profile
I am so addicted to this show and am completely distressed that it's now in hiatus. The cast, scripts, music ... everything is impeccable right down to the sublime politically incorrectness of it. (Remember the scene with the kids playing with the dry cleaning bag???) And the sets ...!!!! I can't remember whose office it is, but one of them has this really soft blue tufted sofa against a paneled wall, and everytime they show that scene, I wish I could blink my eyes and go back to working in a 1960 office ...
view ridge_van_winkle's profile
I love this show and am sad to have the season end. Cannot wait for it to return!! Great acting. Great script. Great clothing. Great sets!
view carla's profile
I grew up in this world. My dad had an over the top office - he worked for the US division of a Danish company. He used to come home with SAS Airlines glasses and silverware that he got as a Royal Viking Flier (or whatever they called it). His company shipped their products in teak boxes. His secretary came right out of this show. Man, what a time it was for these guys
view Chris - Annapolis's profile
It's a great show, and I understand will be back for at least a second season. I've been riveted.
view Deborah's profile
I need to try to catch reruns on my dvr--it seems to have popped up everywhere now that the season has ended. We have an old-fashioned apartment but I have two side chairs, a side table and a lamp from the Time & Life Building, all 60s danish modern stuff. Great lines and I can't wait to watch the show and see how it would have looked in place before the weird 1970s renovations of our old offices!
view katef's profile
I'm waiting for it to come out on DVD, it looks fantastic so it's a must buy for me!
view Eve in Hochelaga's profile
I am a Mad Men addict -- one of the reasons being the costumes and set design. they really caught the physical environment of the times perfectly. I am very dismayed that the next season won't appear until summer 2008. Gee, a t.v. show for adults that is actually not a cop/doctor show.
view Kat1's profile
The bedroom photo is flipped. Don sleeps on the other side!
view Lori's profile
I was so happy to see this...I have been blown away by this show and the incredible set and costume design. I so badly want to slip into that bed in a satin slip!
view universal mod's profile
Try Dexter on Showtime. It is AMAZING.
...
Different type of drama than Mad Men. I was really looking forward to liking this show. However, it is lacking any emotional resonance to me. I like Don's character ok, but like the story arc with his assistant better. Overall, after watching Dexter, I find this show to be mediocre.
view Thomas's profile
I can understand that for a fan of Dexter, this personality drama would seem mediocre. It's hard to compare this lifestyle a drama to a violent show starring a serial killer as the protagonist. Afterall, not a single person has been killed in two seasons of Mad Men. Dull, huh?
view quiltmaster's profile