Mad Men season 3 premier live blog

By Rick Morris

The peeps over at Googling Atlee Hammaker hosted a liveblog for the Mad Men season 3 premier Sunday night and we participated in it as fellow members of The 21st Century Media Alliance. We are also replicating the text of the liveblog in its entirety. Enjoy!


9:29
Platinum Smalls: Good evening everyone and welcome to Mad Men Live.... I'm Platinum Smalls, Rick Morris of the FDH Lounge and friends in a moment...
9:31
Platinum Smalls:
Every so often, a series comes along which redefines the phrase critical acclaim... All in the Family and the Sopranos were this kind of series... And with sixteen nominations, Mad Men certainly falls into this category
9:33
Platinum Smalls: It is one of most exquisitely choreographed and presented shows on television and Platinum Bunny Multimedia is honored to present this third season premiere...
9:35
Platinum Smalls:
As we count down to the show, we will discuss the upcoming season, but first, we are joined by Bridgett Weizer from the Mad Men Benefit for Southwestern City Schools in Columbus
9:36
Platinum Smalls: Bridgett, good evening
9:38
Bridget Weizer Granger:
'Evening! We're getting the party underway after 10tv just stopped by.
9:38
Platinum Smalls:
Congratulations...
9:39
Platinum Smalls: Obviously, I want to talk about the charity with you, but first I would be remiss if I didnt ask you what you are most looking forward to in this season premiere?
9:40
Bridget Weizer Granger:
We're all wondering what will happen after Betty announced to Don that she was pregnant at the season finale.
9:41
Platinum Smalls: From everything I have read, that won't be immediately addressed, which is unfortunate considering how beutifully portrayed a scene that was...
9:41
Bridget Weizer Granger: We're also wondering what will happen between Pete and Peggy.
9:42
Platinum Smalls: I am also... Elizabeth Moss is one of the show's best characters....
9:43
Platinum Smalls: Bridgett, for those inside and outside Ohio watching this broadcast, let them know the situation is with the Southwestern City Schools...
9:45
Bridget Weizer Granger:
In talking with folks who actually live in the Southwestern City Schools district, the situation is very bad for the kids in the schools.
9:45
Bridget Weizer Granger: Overall,
9:46
Bridget Weizer Granger: kids have been looking to transfer to other schools where they can play fall and winter sports (they need college scholarships) or play in the band.
9:46
Bridget Weizer Granger: The
9:46
Platinum Smalls:
It was reported on Friday that they have green lit the levy for another election... Can you speak specifically to what it means for the children of the school district if the levy does not pass?
9:48
Bridget Weizer Granger:
If the levy does not pass, the children in the Southwestern City School district will not have busing, will not play any sports, will not have access to the arts, and will not be able to participate in musical programs.
9:49
Platinum Smalls: Obviously, those are an unfortunate set of cuts you have mentioned, but what do you say to critics who question past pay raises in lieu of approaching tax payers for money?
9:49
Bridget Weizer Granger: Additionally, the property values in SWCS will plummet. The average cost of tax increase per home is $25 per month--what most of us spend on Starbucks every month.
9:51
Bridget Weizer Granger: I think the critics do have a point--there has been talk about how much administrators make in relation to teachers. But this is a bit of a red herring--political problems. What we need to focus on is the fact that innocent kids are going to lose out on a great education.
9:52
Platinum Smalls: We are ten minutes away from the season premiere and as we approach the top of the hour, I want to invite people to take part in our first online poll...
9:52
WHat is the most compelling storyline coming into this season?The Firm Merger
( 67% )Peggy & Pete
( 33% )Betty & Don
( 0% )
9:53
Platinum Smalls:
Bridgett, how can people get involved and help raise awareness of how difficult a situation this really is?
9:55
Platinum Smalls: I should also mention as I ask you that question that we are proud to be joined by Rick Morris, multi-talented interviewer and writer, host of the FDH Lounge, lead contributor for the FDH Lounge Multimedia Magazine, and contributor to Googling Atlee Hammaker
9:55
Bridget Weizer Granger:
We all need to be advocates and make people aware about how dire the situation is. Use social media--knock on doors--get the word out!
9:55
Platinum Smalls:
Rick, good evening
9:57
Platinum Smalls:
Bridgett, let me ask you one last question, what are the chances, given the recent close defeat that the levy can pass this next time?
10:00
Platinum Smalls:
We have hit the top of the hour.... Welcome to season three...
10:01
Bridget Weizer Granger: We were just talking about that--the chances are still very iffy. The Southwestern City Schools have lost a lot of steam, since this was the fourth time the levy did not pass. Additionally, a lot of people are actively looking to leave the district.
10:02
Platinum Smalls:
The situation is very unfortunate... I hope you will keep us posted and we can work together in the interest of the schools again...
10:03
Bridget Weizer Granger: Absolutely. We're already talking about another Mad Men party in the near future to continue to raise awareness and funds. We thank you for all of your help.
10:04
Platinum Smalls:
Absolutely, stick around with us and enjoy the show...
10:04
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: These flashbacks are always confusing.
10:04
Bridget Weizer Granger:
Everyone is wondering what the flashbacks are about.
10:05
Platinum Smalls:
Rick, glad we worked out the glitches and yes to both of you, I was just thinking the same thing...
10:05
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Eww, not a good visual with the milk.
10:05
Platinum Smalls:
But, the flashback gave us an early nominee for line of the night... Cut your nuts off and boil them in hog fat...
10:06
Bridget Weizer Granger: Touche!
10:06
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Does the daughter wear flannel shirts also?
10:06
Bridget Weizer Granger: Why is Betty so sure the baby is a "her?"
10:07
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Perfect? Well, glad to see Betty's still working the Stepford wife thing.
10:07
Platinum Smalls:
Bridgett I thought the same thing...
10:07
Platinum Smalls: Is it a good thing to be using a beach analogy when your wife is the size of a whale?
10:07
Bridget Weizer Granger: Check out Peggy--big woman on campus!
10:08
Platinum Smalls: I miss sixties fashion and the tight dresses...
10:08
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Ooh, Miss Thang pulling rank.
10:08
Bridget Weizer Granger: I like the role reversal between Lola and Peggy.
10:08
Platinum Smalls: Nice line from Peggy...
10:09
Platinum Smalls: Who indeed with that painting
10:09
Platinum Smalls: Whats with the decoration in the room? Is it English or Oriental?
10:10
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Another Bert?
10:10
Bridget Weizer Granger: The metaphors about illusions--especially the London Fog--
10:10
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Unkind, generous and fair?
10:10
Platinum Smalls:
Bert was a common name in the sixties...
10:10
Platinum Smalls: Oh, it's that meeting...
10:11
Platinum Smalls: John Slattery is still the power player...
10:11
Bridget Weizer Granger: We've talked a lot tonight about how the 60's reflect a lot of the changes that we're experiencing now.
10:11
Bridget Weizer Granger: Holy crap, Bert!
10:11
Platinum Smalls: Wait... Who's coming with him to hell?
10:12
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Uh, there goes the severance check.
10:12
Platinum Smalls:
Limee vulture.... You Americans dont know how to handle unemployment lol
10:13
Bridget Weizer Granger: I thought the Limey was Pete. They look so much alike.
10:13
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Yeah, they are similar.
10:14
Platinum Smalls: Should THAT secretary really be having a conversation with someone named Mr. Hooker?
10:14
Platinum Smalls: Bert has left the agency? Spin control anyone?
10:14
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Is that limey related to Fair Hooker?
10:14
Bridget Weizer Granger: A "threesome?" What?!
10:15
Bridget Weizer Granger: Ah, the Peter Principle in motion--they promoted Pete so they could control him.
10:15
Platinum Smalls: Someone pinch Pete, so he knows it's certain...
10:15
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Splendid. Oh, that Pete and his cheesy lingo.
10:15
Platinum Smalls: Even in the sixties... white people still couldn't dance...
10:16
Bridget Weizer Granger: LOL
10:16
Was Pete's dance...Cheesy
( 33% )Geeky
( 33% )Dorky
( 33% )The worst thing you've ever seen?
( 0% )
10:16
Bridget Weizer Granger: Yeah, drinking at work!
10:17
Platinum Smalls: Bridgett, you work in public relations, do you ever drink at work?
10:17
Rick Morris FDH Lounge:
That's what today's workplace is missing, single-malt scotch.
10:17
Bridget Weizer Granger:
I plead the fifth. :)
10:17
Platinum Smalls: I agree Rick.... Same question to you...
10:17
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Oh, awesome!
10:18
Bridget Weizer Granger: What the french toast? Another head of accounts?
10:18
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: I make iced coffee at work and a new person I think thinks I'm making White Russians, but that's about it.
10:18
Platinum Smalls: I wouldnt be the financial chief if I wasnt prepared to dissapoint you... OUTSTANDING
10:18
Rick Morris FDH Lounge:
How many heads of accounts will there be? This is sweet!
10:19
Bridget Weizer Granger: "That's not a bottle, that's his date." Love it!
10:19
Platinum Smalls: Does the person in that add resemble Bree Vandekamp or is it me?
10:19
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Oh, Sal, you fey little swisher you.
10:19
Platinum Smalls: Awww the sixties.... When the skies were much friendlier lol
10:19
Bridget Weizer Granger: Don's at it again--old dog.
10:20
At what point in the episode will the stewardess and him hook up10:30
( 67% )10:40
( 33% )10:50
( 0% )
10:20
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Stewardess, no. Steward, yes.
10:20
Platinum Smalls: They got trapped in the ugly elevator
10:22
Platinum Smalls:
I cant imagine her being unlady like...
10:22
Bridget Weizer Granger: Oh, naughty girl! Binging on Fritos!
10:24
Platinum Smalls: Isnt the service exquisite? Should she be the one asking that question...
10:24
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Hey Sal, I think that captain's a go-er!
10:25
Bridget Weizer Granger: I think I'm gonna win the 10:30 bet.
10:25
Platinum Smalls: Bridgett, I am right there with you.....
10:25
Bridget Weizer Granger: Should have put money on it...
10:25
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Actually, Don may puss out.
10:26
Platinum Smalls:
What are we doin is the wrong question to ask in that situation
10:26
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Engaged? That's OK, my wife is knocked up!!!
10:26
Platinum Smalls: Engaged or last chance... tough dilemma
10:26
Platinum Smalls: Did he seriously just play the birthday card?
10:26
Bridget Weizer Granger:
"I've been married a long time, you get plenty of chances." Say what, willis?
10:26
Platinum Smalls: Its never worked for me...
10:27
Platinum Smalls: Yeah I didnt expect that would be the bed rattling that ended the scene...
10:27
Bridget Weizer Granger:
Oh, commerical time, boo...
10:28
What grade would you give the opening half hour?A
( 33% )B
( 67% )C
( 0% )D
( 0% )F
( 0% )
10:30
Platinum Smalls: He looks like who??
10:31
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Anything you wanna take off is fine, toots.
10:31
Platinum Smalls: See here was the problem with this decade... Way to many layers...
10:31
Bridget Weizer Granger: Easy fellas...
10:31
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Pull them hands down!!!
10:32
Bridget Weizer Granger: Uh, uh oh
10:32
Platinum Smalls: Yes make sure you go all the way through the stack and find the one....
10:33
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Not what I wanna see, AMC!
10:33
Platinum Smalls:
Those bellman sure are aggressive
10:33
Bridget Weizer Granger: Overheard here: Oh, I am so glad that sal's gonna get some...
10:33
Bridget Weizer Granger: Sal's been outed!
10:33
Platinum Smalls: Usually, trists like that end much better for both parties....
10:34
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Uh, that mental image is gonna stick!
10:34
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: "Honestly, Don, it was just a deep tissue massage!"
10:34
Platinum Smalls: Did you see that look.... I think a closet door somewhere is swinging wide open
10:35
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Repellant, reminds me of a doorman. I love Joan!
10:35
Platinum Smalls:
Rick, what you said off air was spot on... Pegs is playing the biatch this season
10:36
Platinum Smalls:
The client may be on your mind, but if he knew what was on Sal's mind, I doubt he'd be a client lol
10:36
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: I have a beard errrrrrrr wife.
10:37
Platinum Smalls: A business has to get bigger... someone tell President Obama that...
10:37
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: You know something about ballsack, don't you Sal!
10:38
Platinum Smalls:
Did she just say Lehman Brothers?
10:39
Bridget Weizer Granger:
Pete is shooting bullets.
10:39
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Oh, so they're ripping off the JR-and-Bobby Ewing gimmick.
10:39
Platinum Smalls: Distinguish yourself... That's British for get your butt to work
10:40
Platinum Smalls: Hey, if there are any guys in this place holding hands, Sal should be involved, shouldnt he?
10:40
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Ken and Pete are doing a double-turn in the old rasslin' lingo.
10:40
Bridget Weizer Granger:
lol

10:40
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: "Sal, are you a homo?"
10:40
Platinum Smalls: Are you gay?
10:41
Rick Morris FDH Lounge:
"Sal, do you like to sit on things that are forbidden in 1963?"
10:41
Platinum Smalls:
Rick, quite simply this is why you are on the broadcast...
10:42
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: "You will have a lineup? What is this, Amsterdam?"
10:43
Platinum Smalls:
Evidently, there is a red light special in this agency
10:43
Platinum Smalls:
Pete strikes me more as Dennis Kucinich than Harry Truman
10:43
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Trudy is so annoying that I'm hoping there's an episode where Jim Brown takes her out on a balcony.
10:44
Platinum Smalls: See this is the difference between you and I Rick... I think she is delightful
10:44
Bridget Weizer Granger:
Trudy is smarter than Pete.
10:44
Platinum Smalls:
I agree Brigett, Pete married up...
10:45
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: I don't know, she just seems smarmy and yappy to me. If you're going to have an attitude, you better be able to back it up like Joan does. Team Joan!!!
10:45
Platinum Smalls: Rick, will those Team Joan shirts be available on FDH tomorrow?
10:46
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: If only. I'd like to make them 3-D, if you're picking up what I'm putting down.
10:46
10:47
Platinum Smalls: Two men were involved for sure...
10:47
Rick Morris FDH Lounge:
"He looks like the luckiest man in the world!!!"
10:47
Platinum Smalls: Cuban cigars? Wonder how the Prez would feel about that one...
10:48
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Pete, you two-faced goober.
10:49
Platinum Smalls:
What is office lingo for kissing the senior partner's arse...
10:50
Platinum Smalls: Hadn't noticed.... snap...
10:50
Bridget Weizer Granger: Wow, Joan. Way to set Mr. Hooker up.
10:50
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Gi-nocracy. Nice.
10:51
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: "And I have something to say to you too, sweetheart. I didn't fully get the chance to cheat on Mommy on the road trip!"
10:52
Platinum Smalls: Hey look now my daughter will always have a momento of how I tried to make her an illegitmate sister
10:52
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: "On the day you were born, I was getting the four-dollar treatment from an Asian ho in Jersey."
10:53
Bridget Weizer Granger:
Alright guys...it has been fun!
10:53
Platinum Smalls:
Bridgett, any concluding thoughts before you leave?
10:53
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Kind of a lame ending. Does stuff always have to revolve around Betty? I find her storylines the most boring.
10:53
Platinum Smalls: Rick, is this your hatred for January Jones showing through?
10:54
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: This reminds me of last year. Episode 2 is where it really picked up.
10:54
Bridget Weizer Granger: I second that emotion, Rick.
10:54
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Nothing against JJ, I don't hate on her as an actress as a lot of others do, I just find the material less compelling than the office stuff. They're just beating the alienated '60s wife thing into the ground.
10:55
10:55
Platinum Smalls:
Rick, I hope you enjoy our final poll of the evening...
10:57
Platinum Smalls:
As we wrap of the night, Rick what are your closing thoughts?
10:58
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Good episode, not great. They're clearly pacing themselves as they did last year. They're also clearly going to take a few weeks to reveal all of the fallout from the last season -- just as they did last year. I'd give it a B and not any worse, solely based on the fact that they are going to bring more than this.
10:59
Platinum Smalls: I would agree with that assessment... What do you take away from this episode as a memorable moment... Excluding Sal of course
11:00
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: There weren't many. The limey setting up Pete and Don was nice, as well as the fired guy going off. That's the first scene ever where there's that kind of disruption in the office during business hours.
11:01
Platinum Smalls: Yes, I half expected him to grab a goldfish and start campaigning for a revolution
11:02
Platinum Smalls:
I am very intrigued to see how they use the British invasion angle as we go forward
11:02
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Next week: needs more Joan, Pete/Peggy fallout revelations, Sal drama, Roger & his young bimbo and continuing restructuring issues.
11:02
Platinum Smalls:
Absolutely agreed....
11:03
Platinum Smalls:
Well, that's Mad Men Live....
11:03
Platinum Smalls: Before we say good night, I want to say a personal thank you to my broadcast partner Rick Morris...
11:04
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: OK, thanks, it's been fun.
11:04
Platinum Smalls: Without him, these broadcasts wouldnt receive so much hate mail...
11:04
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Or interest!
11:04
Platinum Smalls:
Absolutely....
11:05
Platinum Smalls: CHeck out Googling Atlee Hammaker tomorrow as we release our complete football schedule and show you exactly what we think of Rick Pitino... Until then, good night from Madison Avenue
11:05
Bridget Weizer Granger: Thanks guys!
11:05
Rick Morris FDH Lounge: Outy.