Mad Men Characters Address the Critics

Included with the penultimate episode of season 3 of Mad Men, Matthew Weiner, the show’s creator, included a note to critics explaining to them that AMC would not be sending them a copy of the season’s final show.

Yet the note was unusually friendly, not the sort one receives during the course of a business day.

Here is much of the text of Weiner’s Oct 30 note. All the words, including the parentheses, are his. The letter began: “Dear Friend (and I mean that more than you know).”

It went on to say: “First, I would like to take the opportunity to say how much I personally appreciate your ongoing and steadfast support of Mad Men. It has made this adventure all the more satisfying.”

He then wrote of his request not to distribute the finale to critics in advance. “As much as I would like to share it with each of you, I believe that any advance viewing may take away some of the impact that I feel is inherent to this episode…Given the story lines we will be exploring, I feel that revealing anything before the day of air would not be in the best interest of our fans.”

Weiner took this step, “with a combination of great excitement and deep fear of reprisals…” he wrote.

“That said, your insights and commentary are much appreciated (and every one of them is read!). Once again, thank you for bringing such notice to Mad Men.”

It’s clear that the master of obfuscation, Don Draper, er, Dick Whitman, helped Matt Weiner write this letter. Let me quote: “I believe that any advance viewing may take away some of the impact that I feel is inherent to this episode…Given the story lines we will be exploring, I feel that revealing anything before the day of air would not be in the best interest of our fans.” As little Sally Draper, the lone character on the series who speaks the truth, might say, ‘Matt, what you’re really worried about is critics spilling the beans about the last episode before Sunday night!’ She would be right, of course.

With Weiner’s note in mind, I would like to say how much I’ve been touched by all the comments you, the readers of this blog, have made. I greatly appreciate them.

I’d also like to beg your indulgence in that the blog will be a bit late this week since I’ll be seeing the show on Sunday night for the first time. Last, I was able to ask several people for their opinion on Weiner’s decision to hold back the advance screeners. Their responses are below:

Don Draper/Dick Whitman, Ad Executive, Husband, Alcoholic, Adulterer, Pathological Liar: “Don’t worry about it. Everything will be all right. I need a drink…If you’re really upset why don’t you find Matt Weiner’s car, open his trunk and urinate in it?”

Betty Draper, Housewife, Adulteress: (Yelling) “Stop taking everything personally. Get upstairs. Now!”

Bertram Cooper, Ad Executive, Enigma: “But it was such a nice letter that Matt wrote to you.”

Roger Sterling, Ad Executive, Newlywed, Adulterer, Racist, Professional Cad: (Mockingly) “Oh, you poor critics. (Playing it straight) C’mon, get a life. So you’re not receiving the final episode early. You’ll just have to watch on Sunday at 10 like the rest of us. I’m pretty sure you’ll live.”

Miss Farrell, Schoolteacher, Adulteress: “Sorry that you’ll have to watch the show on Sunday night like normal people. Will you be OK with that? Would you like some hot date-nut bread while you watch the show?”

Henry Francis, Political Adviser, Father, Wife Stealer: “I’ve just ordered a lengthy study on the question of why AMC won’t be sending critics advance screeners. It could take years before we get a definitive answer.”

Conrad Hilton, Hotelier, Lunatic: “By golly, I’d say you’re indecently lucky to receive advance screeners of Mad Men in the first place. On the other hand I understand your interest in getting them free, on the house. Other than building a hotel on the moon, getting things free is what I live for.”