New Topic: Are Anachronistic Mistakes On Mad Men Intentional? (Discuss.)

In my last column, I wrote about obsessive smoking and drinking on “Mad Men.” Now my hyperawareness of these vices is almost ruining the show.

The constant glug of the bottle and the click of the Zippo are becoming distracting. Plus, when Don taught his daughter Sally how to mix drinks, I was in shock…and awe. (Was there a Girl Scout badge for bartending in the ‘60s?)

Now here’s a new topic: Are Anachronistic Mistakes on Mad Men Intentional?

Before I give you my opinion, I must say, the bloggers are having a blast catching mistakes on “Mad Men.” Here are some quotes from the blogosphere pulled off AMC’s Mad Men site:

“My mother said that the red-striped wallpaper in one of the episodes looked very '80s. There was no way it would have been in use in the early '60s.”

“I don't know where you ever got the idea that one couldn't smoke on commuter trains, in the 1960s, but you're wrong.”

"An extremely bad anachronism, in the first season of MM, was the suggestion that Pete and Trudy would borrow the down payment and get a mortgage for the co-op.  That's just NOT the case!  YOU COULD NOT GET A MORTGAGE FOR A CO-OP in the 1960s in NYC!  You had to have the entire amount for the co-op."

The bloggers are also having a field day with technology blunders.  They argue if remote controls for TVs existed in the '60s, and if Don could have filmed home movies without the use of  floodlights.

On "Mad Men's" site there are 56 comments on the topic of anachronisms.

In an article for New York Times Magazine, staff writer Alex Witch interviews Matthew Weiner, the  executive producer/writer for the show.  He admits that two mistakes really bothered him:  One was Joan's reference to Marshall McLuhan's famous quote, "The Medium is the message," which was not in print at the time.   The second was that Betty was in a sorority at Bryn Mawr--and Bryn Mawr did not have any sororities. 

Let me add my own pet peeve:  In one episode one character said:  "I'm so over you."  To my ears, this was as out of place as if Draper had suddenly said:  "Betty and I are huge fans of Dakota Fanning." 

Viewers LOVE to think someone "goofed,"  or researchers didn't  do their homework.  Don't we all feel smart when we catch someone making a mistake?  Fans of the show don't just talk about it at the office water cooler, today they blab about it on the blogosphere.

What a brilliant strategy:  Embed anachronistic mistakes into the program and let viewers find them and discuss them on the Web. The more people talk about “Mad Men”—the more free publicity—and the more viewers tune in. What a great way to use the power of viral marketing!

So while everyone is talking about the show's brilliant writing, acting, and cinematography--I think "Mad Men" should win an Emmy for their clever mistakes.

Sally Howald is not a professional saint or sinner.  She is an assistant professor of advertising at Webster University. As a small child, she was the creative director of Turec Advertising where she wrote a lot of copy and ordered Chinese carryouts.  She loves traveling and teaching in Southeast Asia. Her favorite ad quote is from the renowned Jerry Della Femina who once said: “I honestly believe that advertising is the most fun you can have with your clothes on."

Comments

[Chuck Nyren]

Fun post!

There were smoking cars on the commuter trains in the 1960s. I was there - although too young to smoke - at least in 1960.

My take on the anachronisms on the show are a bit different than most of the folks commenting:

http://tinyurl.com/5htqoy

[Gary Ford]

As a teenager in the 1960s I believe I lived through a series of anachronistic mistakes.