"Mad Men" Blowing Smoke (TV Episode 2010) Poster

(TV Series)

(2010)

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9/10
Uncertain future
jotix1005 August 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Don Draper is seen talking to Raymond Geiger, an executive of Heinz, an account the agency is trying to represent. The man is impressed with Don's idea. The company has been split in two divisions, Mr. Geiger is not connected to the more popular ketchup, his area deals with all the bean products. Despite the good rapport Don is told there is no deal as the man tells Don he does not know if the agency is going to be around in six months.

The partners meet with their adviser, Geoff Atherton, who has brought to them an idea about a new cigarette Phillip Morris is targeting to women. He feels the agency does well in this area, so he promises to get them a chance to compete. The partners are reminded by Lane about the loans they are trying to secure from a bank. Each senior man is supposed to contribute 100,000 dollars, while he and Pete Campbell must come with 50,000 each. Pete is horrified since he does not have the money. Geoff returns with bad news, the cigarette account goes to Leo Burnett.

Sally has been seeing Dr. Edna, the child psychiatrist. She has done remarkably well. Dr. Edna wants to try to see Sally once a week because of this reason. Betty, on the other hand, feels like talking to her, something the doctor reminds her she cannot do because she only treats children. Sally has been sneaking out to meet Glen Bishop, the boy that has been banished from her house. Betty catches Sally going to the place where she goes to see Glen. Getting out of the car, she takes her daughter home.

With the rejection from Philip Morris, Don decides to write a full page ad in the New York Times citing the reasons his agency will not have anything to do with any tobacco related business. Everyone has seen the paper. Don had received a lot of phone calls. One in particular gets his attention, it is from senator Robert Kennedy, something he realizes is a joke from Ted Chaough, a rival from another agency. Things around the office get extremely uncomfortable as Don and the other members of the board begin the firings. The personnel is all concerned if they will have a job. Don begins to call people to his office to notify them personally.

Don meets Midge one day as he is going home. She tells him the reason for her being there was to show some of her drawings to a company in the building. Midge is interested in showing Don her recent paintings. As they arrive at her apartment, she introduces her husband who tries to sell Don her "No. 4" painting. The man offers to make dinner and Don gives him a ten dollar bill. Midge proceeds to tell him her man is going to have a fix with the money. Trying to give her a check for the picture, Midge rejects it. Instead, Don gives her all the cash he has with him, leaving him with nothing to take a taxi home. Midge suggests he walks through the park.

Phil Abrahams directed the episode. Erin Levy is credited as having written the screenplay. The atmosphere about the agency going under is well documented. There are not many options, or avenues to explore. The idea of losing good workers is also another point this chapter makes. It is a sad time for everyone concerned. The New York Times ad turns most of the people against Don. Despair is in the air. This was another good episode in the 2010 season that sadly will end soon.
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The return of an old character...
Red_Identity10 October 2010
Blowing Smoke shows the agency at it's most desperate. What can they do? The episode revolves around all of their attempts, and includes the return of one of the best guest stars ever on Mad Men...

Who is that guest star? Rosemarie DeWiit of course, who played midge back in the first season. In this episode, DeWitt is amazing, and she has proved that she is probably one of the most talented actors to ever star on this show, if not the best. Saying that, her character is definitely interesting and perhaps unlikeable in hidden attempts, but DeWitt plays her brilliantly. There is one more week to go before the finale, and I for one cannot wait, and do not know what to expect
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7/10
Return of Midge, and Glen
TheFearmakers8 September 2023
Right when the show is getting really edgy and Don's entire career and the company we're following is down to the wire, and suddenly we're thrust into a story that keeps popping up like a bad penny...

Worse yet, a BAD ACTOR penny, and that's creator Matt Weiner's son as Glen, the creepy Peter Lorre-looking kid that now has a crush no longer on Betty but Sally...

Meanwhile, Sally is so little and chaste while Glen has had a growth spurt, and he resembles a giant cardboard box (especially with that jersey) and looks far too old for the little girl, and not only that but he's like a bad-advice devil on her shoulder, and he should just go away...

I realize this doesn't happen and he comes back after another growth spurt but he's just as robotic as ever... it's amazing how a kid can be forced onto a profession like acting when they cannot act, and will inherit millions and doesn't have to work anyway...

Anyway...

This is the Don's Tobacco Letter episode and it's a pretty good one... Another chance to see Don Draper going against the flow, taking a giant risk, and without anyone believing in him, until they do...

Meanwhile another original cast member returns, and it's Don's first love affair, the progressive Midge, who was once ahead of the times and now that her people have taken over the culture, she seems rather ordinary and...

Well it's not worth spoiling what's become of her, and while it's not as bad as what they eventually do with Kinsey, it's pretty lame...

Anyhow, ugh, Glen needs to go away but... nepotism, you know, you just can't fight it.
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