Sunday, August 08, 2010

Before there was Don Draper, there was Michael Steadman

Before there was Mad Men, there was Thirty-Something. Maybe not quite a edgy but....

15 comments:

George said...

I liked the subplot about the company being part of a secret merger or buy-out.

Anonymous said...

Patti - I hadn't thought about thirtysomething for a long time. Thanks for the reminder of a good show. I always appreciate intelligent writing.

pattinase (abbott) said...

More about family life and strife, but the ad business was part of the plot and people's foibles.

Steve Oerkfitz said...

Never understood the appeal of Thirtysomethng.Self centered whiny yuppies never did it for me.

pattinase (abbott) said...

A lot of people say that, but to me, that's how we all are in our worst moments-and this was about worst moments as is MAD MEN.

Todd Mason said...

And each series from Herdkowitz snf Zwick improved on the last. ONCE AND AGAIN even reintroduced Miles.

MAD MEN, while good, doesn't hold a candle to O and A (not OPIE AND ANTHONY). MAD MEN is too consistently use at our petty worst.

Anonymous said...

Michael Steadman (and, even more so, his wife Hope) was a whiner.

If you want to look at a comparison with Don Draper you need to look at Michael's brilliantly devious sometimes boss, Miles Drentell (brilliantly played by David Clennon).

It's the difference between a real grownup and someone playing at it.

Jeff M.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Truthfully I had forgotten the mysterious Miles Drentell. I was thinking along the lines of the handsome family man that really is too troubled to be good at it.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Yes, but TS had Michael Steadman and Once and Again only had Sela Ward. Apples and oranges.

Todd Mason said...

Um, no...while Sela Ward was delightful in the role, the cast as a whole was strong and the writing was stronger. Which had been true of MY S0-CALLED LIFE and more true of RELATIVITY before peaking in O&A (not, mind you, the radio series OPIE AND ANTHONY).

Pleasant enough Stayman apples, THIRTYSOMETHING, and a nice tart McIntosh, ONCE AND AGAIN...

Todd Mason said...

Still holding out hope for the new Herskowitz and Zwick, apparently coming this season...

Todd Mason said...

I think Paul Haggis's involvement with THIRTYSOMETHING might've had something to do with it being so offputting to many. Such a terrible writer.

Kieran Shea said...

yeah, but he was such a wuss when it came to advertising. he would've had his head cut off in the first meeting at the agency i worked for, probably break down and cry.

pattinase (abbott) said...

That's because he was really "novelist."

Todd Mason said...

Um.