Opening TV theme songs have tragically become a lost art. On one level, it makes sense. As the line between television and film has grown increasingly blurry in the 21st century, opening titles have become more and more cinematic. The mix of simple earworms and dialogue-free visuals in the opening titles of shows like "Mad Men" are eloquent works of art in and of themselves. It just wouldn't have the same effect if, instead of David Carbonara's haunting suite accompanied by minimalistic animation of an ad man's world literally falling apart, you had someone singing about that ol' scoundrel Don Draper and how his dastardly, womanizing ways are coming back to bite him (as amazing as that sounds).
Of course, things were different when Sherwood Schwartz created "Gilligan's Island." The show required a tad more exposition than your run-of-the-mill sitcom at the time. Whereas series like "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie...
Of course, things were different when Sherwood Schwartz created "Gilligan's Island." The show required a tad more exposition than your run-of-the-mill sitcom at the time. Whereas series like "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie...
- 3/10/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
A review of tonight's "Mad Men" coming up just as soon as I have two secretaries and three telephones... "Jiminy Christmas. Think you're going to begin your life over and do it right. But what if you never get past the beginning again?" -Pete The latter half of the run "Mad Men" has featured some of the series' most ambitious episodes, as well as some of its most satisfying. It's a more complex show than when it started, and frequently a better one. Yet I often hear complaints from fans who have grown weary of the show, and particularly about how Don keeps making the same mistakes time and again. It may be true to his character, they acknowledge, but if — to borrow Peggy Lee's question from last week's premiere — that's all there is, then why is the show still going? What's the point to it all? The craft...
- 4/13/2015
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
After several cast changes and an eight-year journey to the screen, Matthew Weiner’s feature directorial Are You Here finally made its Hollywood premiere last night at the Arclight on Sunset Blvd. This Friday, Millennium Entertainment will unspool the film, which stars Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis and Amy Poehler, in limited theaters as well as on DVD.
“Like most of what I do, this is a genre-less film,” Weiner told the audience before the projector rolled, “Laugh where you want to laugh.”
Despite his reputation for creating the monumental, award-winning period TV drama Mad Men, Weiner’s uphill battle to get Are You Here made further underscores the challenges of getting adult feature dramas off the ground. With its comedic star wattage cast and a set-up that involves a crazed stoner (Galifianakis) inheriting a farm after his father’s death with his weatherman philandering friend along for the ride (Wilson...
“Like most of what I do, this is a genre-less film,” Weiner told the audience before the projector rolled, “Laugh where you want to laugh.”
Despite his reputation for creating the monumental, award-winning period TV drama Mad Men, Weiner’s uphill battle to get Are You Here made further underscores the challenges of getting adult feature dramas off the ground. With its comedic star wattage cast and a set-up that involves a crazed stoner (Galifianakis) inheriting a farm after his father’s death with his weatherman philandering friend along for the ride (Wilson...
- 8/19/2014
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline
One Has to Ask: Weiner’s Debut a Floundering Misfire
Success sometimes has a blindsiding effect on self-criticism and control, which may very well be the excuse for the feature directorial debut of “Mad Men” and “The Sopranos” scribe Matthew Weiner, Are You Here, which is a nauseous, floundering excuse for a film. If you’re confused about whether you’re meant to laugh at or feel pity for these unengaging stereotyped people, it’s probably because the cast seems unsure of this as well. Painfully, obnoxiously miscast, there isn’t one single moment that works in the entire film, which is nearly two hours. Originally titled You Are Here when it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2013, it’s as if the refashioning of statement to question is posed for anyone left in the audience that stayed until the end credits.
Steve Dallas (Owen Wilson), a fulsome weatherman from Annapolis,...
Success sometimes has a blindsiding effect on self-criticism and control, which may very well be the excuse for the feature directorial debut of “Mad Men” and “The Sopranos” scribe Matthew Weiner, Are You Here, which is a nauseous, floundering excuse for a film. If you’re confused about whether you’re meant to laugh at or feel pity for these unengaging stereotyped people, it’s probably because the cast seems unsure of this as well. Painfully, obnoxiously miscast, there isn’t one single moment that works in the entire film, which is nearly two hours. Originally titled You Are Here when it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2013, it’s as if the refashioning of statement to question is posed for anyone left in the audience that stayed until the end credits.
Steve Dallas (Owen Wilson), a fulsome weatherman from Annapolis,...
- 8/18/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
The one quality that every great scripted show has in common is surprise. Whatever the show is, when you hear the opening credits you lean forward a bit, anticipating that you'll very likely get something different from but as good as whatever you were expecting, and that there's a chance you'll be gobsmacked by an out-of-nowhere plot twist or style choice. "Waterloo," the midpoint of Mad Men's seventh season, is a perfect example of what I mean. As written by Carly Wray and Matthew Weiner and directed by Weiner, it's not a pantheon episode in terms of structure — in fact it's rather choppy, and there are points where David Carbonara's score seems to be struggling to create the illusion of cohesiveness; but in sheer variety of startling momentary delights, it's aces, and the final three minutes rank with the show's greatest. Let's take the ending first. The firm's...
- 5/26/2014
- by Matt Zoller Seitz
- Vulture
Matthew Weiner’s “You Are Here” is the worst “Mad Men”-related disaster since Sally Draper walked in on her father and Linda Cardellini going at it last season. And that was pretty bad, especially since Sally has already barged in on several passionate trysts—happily, not always involving her old man. “You Are Here” is far, far more soul-crushing: a supposed passion project that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival with an air of mystery. Would Weiner’s first feature be a comedy? Would it have the feel of the modern television classic? Or perhaps seem linked to Weiner’s sitcom roots? And would it be any good? The answers to those questions are yes, no, yes, and my goodness, no. “You Are Here” is a shockingly inept comedy, a project with the look and style of a mid-'90s Ivan Reitman or Harold Ramis comedy, not the...
- 9/8/2013
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Playlist
NoHo Arts District, CA, September 13, 2012 – Today the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, along with Producer Spike Jones, Jr. and Coordinating Producer Carole Propp announced additional presenters for the 2012 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy® Awards. Newly announced presenters include Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Johnny Galecki & Bill Prady (The Big Bang Theory), Mark Margolis & Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), Emily Deschanel & Hart Hanson (Bones), LL Cool J & Ken Ehrlich (The Grammy Awards), Mary Murphy & Nigel Lythgoe (So You Think You Can Dance?), Billy Gardell & Mark Roberts (Mike & Molly), Tom Kenny & Dane Boedigheimer (Annoying Orange) and Sig Hansen & Thom Beers (Deadliest Catch), Mark Gardner and David Carbonara (Mad Men), David Neal (2010 Winter Olympics) and Kathy Griffin (Kathy). They join previously announced presenters Lisa Kudrow & Dan Bucatinsky (Web Therapy), Chris O’Donnell & Shane Brennan (NCIS: Los Angeles), Christina Hendricks & Matthew Weiner (Mad Men), Jennifer Morrison, Adam Horowitz & Edward Kitsis (Once Upon A...
- 9/13/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Mad Men, Season 5, Episode 4: “Mystery Date”
Written by Victor Levin & Matthew Weiner
Directed by Matt Shakman
Airs Sundays at 9pm (Et) on AMC
Set against the tense landscape of Richard Speck’s, July 1966 rapes and killings, and the ever-present specter of the Vietnam War, ‘Mystery Date’ is without doubt the strongest episode produced by the show to date.
Exploring the untenable nature of desire and its encompassing issues, the fourth episode blends wonderfully measured suspense, subtle humour and adorns it with an understated, but perfectly scored soundscape. The overwhelming, foreboding tension affords this episode uniqueness amongst the Mad Men pantheon. Pardoning the cliché, ‘Mystery Date’ can literally be described as heart-poundingly suspenseful and should receive due praise come Emmy nod time.
This week, Don is plagued by both a cough that won’t dissipate and as Megan describes it – his “careless appetite” for other women. Following Betty’s cancer scare last week,...
Written by Victor Levin & Matthew Weiner
Directed by Matt Shakman
Airs Sundays at 9pm (Et) on AMC
Set against the tense landscape of Richard Speck’s, July 1966 rapes and killings, and the ever-present specter of the Vietnam War, ‘Mystery Date’ is without doubt the strongest episode produced by the show to date.
Exploring the untenable nature of desire and its encompassing issues, the fourth episode blends wonderfully measured suspense, subtle humour and adorns it with an understated, but perfectly scored soundscape. The overwhelming, foreboding tension affords this episode uniqueness amongst the Mad Men pantheon. Pardoning the cliché, ‘Mystery Date’ can literally be described as heart-poundingly suspenseful and should receive due praise come Emmy nod time.
This week, Don is plagued by both a cough that won’t dissipate and as Megan describes it – his “careless appetite” for other women. Following Betty’s cancer scare last week,...
- 4/9/2012
- by Adam Farrington-Williams
- SoundOnSight
The Season 5 premiere of "Mad Men" marked a few firsts for the AMC series. Not only did the show see a record high of 3.5 million viewers, but Megan (Jessica Pare) became the new Mrs. Draper and made her mark on the employees of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
After throwing Don a surprise party for his 40th birthday, Megan performed a rendition of the catchy french tune "Zou Bisou Bisou," originally recorded by Gillian Hill in 1961.
Pare opened up to HuffPost TV and other journalists during a conference call about the "Mad Men" premiere and her (and Megan's) breakthrough moment.
How did you prepare to sing "Zou Bisou Bisou"?
I listened to it a whole lot, and Matt [Weiner, "Mad Men" creator] gave me some pretty comprehensive notes to go along with it ... I worked with David Carbonara, who does some songs for the show. I got to go to a real,...
After throwing Don a surprise party for his 40th birthday, Megan performed a rendition of the catchy french tune "Zou Bisou Bisou," originally recorded by Gillian Hill in 1961.
Pare opened up to HuffPost TV and other journalists during a conference call about the "Mad Men" premiere and her (and Megan's) breakthrough moment.
How did you prepare to sing "Zou Bisou Bisou"?
I listened to it a whole lot, and Matt [Weiner, "Mad Men" creator] gave me some pretty comprehensive notes to go along with it ... I worked with David Carbonara, who does some songs for the show. I got to go to a real,...
- 3/26/2012
- by Leigh Weingus
- Huffington Post
The Season 5 premiere of "Mad Men" marked a few firsts for the AMC series. Not only did the show see a record high of 3.5 million viewers, but Megan (Jessica Pare) became the new Mrs. Draper and made her mark on the employees of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
After throwing Don a surprise party for his 40th birthday, Megan performed a rendition of the catchy french tune "Zou Bisou Bisou," originally recorded by Gillian Hill in 1961.
Pare opened up to HuffPost TV and other journalists during a conference about the "Mad Men" premiere and her (and Megan's) breakthrough moment.
How did you prepare to sing "Zou Bisou Bisou"?
I listened to it a whole lot, and Matt [Weiner, "Mad Men" creator] gave me some pretty comprehensive notes to go along with it ... I worked with David Carbonara, who does some songs for the show. I got to go to a real, grownup...
After throwing Don a surprise party for his 40th birthday, Megan performed a rendition of the catchy french tune "Zou Bisou Bisou," originally recorded by Gillian Hill in 1961.
Pare opened up to HuffPost TV and other journalists during a conference about the "Mad Men" premiere and her (and Megan's) breakthrough moment.
How did you prepare to sing "Zou Bisou Bisou"?
I listened to it a whole lot, and Matt [Weiner, "Mad Men" creator] gave me some pretty comprehensive notes to go along with it ... I worked with David Carbonara, who does some songs for the show. I got to go to a real, grownup...
- 3/26/2012
- by Leigh Weingus
- Aol TV.
Jessica Paré's cover of 'Zou Bisou Bisou' becomes an instant online sensation after it's performed on season-five premiere.
By Jocelyn Vena
Jessica Paré and Jon Hamm in "Mad Men"
Photo: AMC
During Sunday night's , Don Draper got a sexy birthday gift from his new wife and former secretary, Megan (played by Jessica Paré).
Backed by her beatnik pals, she performed a breathy version of the '60s French pop tune tune "Zou Bisou Bisou," which translates to "Oh You, Kiss Kiss."
Decked out in a little black dress, Megan performed the song with the eyes of Don's co-workers and friends on her. But she didn't just sing it: She also provocatively danced her way through the performance to the shock and awe of the partygoers. While Don, who was celebrating the big 4-0, seemed amused during the sultry summer performance, he didn't seem to want to discuss any of...
By Jocelyn Vena
Jessica Paré and Jon Hamm in "Mad Men"
Photo: AMC
During Sunday night's , Don Draper got a sexy birthday gift from his new wife and former secretary, Megan (played by Jessica Paré).
Backed by her beatnik pals, she performed a breathy version of the '60s French pop tune tune "Zou Bisou Bisou," which translates to "Oh You, Kiss Kiss."
Decked out in a little black dress, Megan performed the song with the eyes of Don's co-workers and friends on her. But she didn't just sing it: She also provocatively danced her way through the performance to the shock and awe of the partygoers. While Don, who was celebrating the big 4-0, seemed amused during the sultry summer performance, he didn't seem to want to discuss any of...
- 3/26/2012
- MTV Movie News
Jessica Paré's cover of 'Zou Bisou Bisou' becomes an instant online sensation after it's performed on season-five premiere.
By Jocelyn Vena
Jessica Paré and Jon Hamm in "Mad Men"
Photo: AMC
During Sunday night's , Don Draper got a sexy birthday gift from his new wife and former secretary, Megan (played by Jessica Paré).
Backed by her beatnik pals, she performed a breathy version of the '60s French pop tune tune "Zou Bisou Bisou," which translates to "Oh You, Kiss Kiss."
Decked out in a little black dress, Megan performed the song with the eyes of Don's co-workers and friends on her. But she didn't just sing it: She also provocatively danced her way through the performance to the shock and awe of the partygoers. While Don, who was celebrating the big 4-0, seemed amused during the sultry summer performance, he didn't seem to want to discuss any of...
By Jocelyn Vena
Jessica Paré and Jon Hamm in "Mad Men"
Photo: AMC
During Sunday night's , Don Draper got a sexy birthday gift from his new wife and former secretary, Megan (played by Jessica Paré).
Backed by her beatnik pals, she performed a breathy version of the '60s French pop tune tune "Zou Bisou Bisou," which translates to "Oh You, Kiss Kiss."
Decked out in a little black dress, Megan performed the song with the eyes of Don's co-workers and friends on her. But she didn't just sing it: She also provocatively danced her way through the performance to the shock and awe of the partygoers. While Don, who was celebrating the big 4-0, seemed amused during the sultry summer performance, he didn't seem to want to discuss any of...
- 3/26/2012
- MTV Music News
"Mad Men." Vegas. A match made in heaven, am I right? Back in October, several “Mad Men” cast members appeared in a live revue at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theater. Joel Murray (who plays Freddy Rumsen) emceed the charity event, which featured actors Patrick Fischler (who played Jimmy Barrett and who’ll soon guest on “Lost”), Colin Hanks (Father Gill), Maggie Siff (Rachel Menken) as well as Broadway veterans Bryan Batt (Salvator Romano) and Robert Morse (Bert Cooper), among others. “Mad Men” composer David Carbonara led a 13-piece orchestra, and an online montage posted recently hints at how delightful the evening...
- 11/30/2008
- by Tempo
- The Watcher
"Mad Men." Vegas. A match made in heaven, am I right? Back in October, several “Mad Men” cast members appeared in a live revue at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theater. Joel Murray (who plays Freddy Rumsen) emceed the charity event, which featured actors Patrick Fischler (who played Jimmy Barrett and who’ll soon guest on “Lost”), Colin Hanks (Father Gill), Maggie Siff (Rachel Menken) as well as Broadway veterans Bryan Batt (Salvator Romano) and Robert Morse (Bert Cooper), among others. “Mad Men” composer David Carbonara led a 13-piece orchestra, and an online montage posted recently hints at how delightful the evening...
- 11/30/2008
- by Tempo
- The Watcher
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