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What Ever Happened to January Jones?

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nicepony
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
Where are you getting the information that the Betty Draper character will not return or will return in a very limited way? Not true. #madmen
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heywhat
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
Am I the only one that wants to see her return to Mad Men? I don't really want to see Don whore it up and not have to face any reperecussions from an angry wife. And it was just SNL! The material she had to work with wasn't great and the show doesn't provide a good platform for everyone. She may not have a career as a comedic actress but you guys are acting like this is the death knell for her career. #madmen
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Trixie from Toronto
11/17/09

@heywhat: I think she's great in Mad Men and have never understood this notion that she's a terrible actress. She had me in tears more than once, and I totally bought her as a miserable housewife who desperately hoped there was more to life than tolerating a cheating husband and dreaming of an actual real marriage with someone who loved her back. #madmen
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Sandogg
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
Not everyone is cut out for SNL, but I'm not hearing too much about how bad the Black Eyed Peas bombed. I was extremely uncomfortable watching them perform. Also, they performed three songs, closing the show, something I don't recall a band doing before #madmen
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sarrible
11/16/09

@Sandogg: U2 played three songs and closed the show for the season premiere. I think Coldplay did as well last season. #madmen
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DahlELama
11/17/09

@Sandogg: They're basically terrible every time they perform on live TV because they rely too much on electronic backup. They weren't much better last season on SYTYCD. I don't know why they keep this up; it really never works. #madmen
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hotpinklovesofa
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
It's kind of crazy to decide someone's fate in the biz based on what they did on SNL . With the way things are set up at SNL the writing is all based on cast members vying to get their skits selected so they get the airtime and not with the host's best interests and assets in mind. I hate her character on Mad Men and am happy to see her go but I'd like to see her in something else before completely giving her the heave ho. Could be that she plays Betty so well b/c it's essentially her or we could wind up being very surprised by a meaty turn in something else.

As for Ashton Doucher, where does he get off criticizing her?! He used to be a model too and he's going to say that she's not going to make it as an actress? I think it's funny that he actually insinuated that he could act and, therefore, judge someone else's talent. Now he's making commercials, producing shitty reality shows and famous for marrying Demi Moore. What a talent. #madmen
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SkipToMyLou
11/16/09

@hotpinklovesofa: OK, so you could add Ashton Kutcher's resume to her list of options. Make commercials. Host a reality TV show. Marry up. I don't see how any of these couldn't co-exist with demonstrable lack of acting talent. #madmen
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heartbreakturnip
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
Actual line from the GQ profile of January Jones: "During a visit to Paris, Jones had an epiphany at the gravesite of Doors frontman Jim Morrison." #madmen
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randomnessish
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
Wait, okay, if Betty Draper's presence on Mad Men is hanging by a thread, what about Sally? I mean, obviously no one could give a crap about Bobby (Billy? What? See?), but it seems like the writers wet their pants over Sally and her oh-so-precious lisp. How are they going to include everyone's favorite future lesbian hippie without Betty being at least somewhat present?

Also, is anyone else wondering about Trudy? Her character seems to be on the rise on Mad Men, but isn't she a main character on Community? #madmen
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skt.smth
11/16/09

@randomnessish: As far as I'm concerned, they need to just get rid of both Betty and Sally. Well, perhaps they could keep Sally, but only if the show does a time-jump and we actually get to see her character in hippie/radical mode. Because all she is right now is a lisp.

TV Critics: Lisp doesn't = good acting. Nor does your perception of what a character might become in the speculative future of the TV show. Children still cannot act. Get over it.
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jaxdesert
11/16/09

@skt.smth: This is one of the Great Peeves of my life: child acting. But really, the most horrific hair-raising, crazy-making aspect of that is The Advertisement Narrated by a Child. I simply cannot bear them. #madmen
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skt.smth
11/16/09

@jaxdesert: Child actors can do fine work in supplementary roles. In fact, I don't think the girl who plays Sally is that bad for the role she plays. But all these critics swooning over how "evocative" she is, or whatever? I mean, come on. Just because the character represents some persona that you find appealing/touching (the young girl who will likely rebel against her parents' generation), doesn't mean she's a great actor. #madmen
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NigelAstydameia
11/16/09

@jaxdesert: Almost worse is when the kid comes in at the end of a commercial, like "Al's carpets are the betht!!!" (lisp intended). Shut up, kid.

I actually like the Draper kids--that girl is kind of dark in a good way. It would be fun to require that all kid parts be played by midgets, though.
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DahlELama
11/17/09

@jaxdesert: Those E*Trade commercials probably make you want to set fire to stuff, don't they. #madmen
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Trixie from Toronto
11/17/09

@skt.smth: I so disagree with you on this. The kid who plays Sally is a great little actress. Most child actresses suck, but not all of them (Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine, to name one example). I will be pissed if we never see Sally again, because I want to see what happens to her now that she's being raised almost entirely by the unhappy ice queen. #madmen
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jaxdesert
11/17/09

@NigelAstydameia: I have to say, I did like that episode where she stole poor old grandad's money then put it back where it looked like he'd lost it given his dementia and all..... #madmen
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randomnessish
11/17/09

@skt.smth: ugh, oh god, I haaaate child actors, especially ones with lisps. It just screams of planned twee-ness. Oh, look at me, I'm so cute and blonde and adorable, look at my dimples and watch me say incredibly insightful things that magically push on the plot! Gag me with a spoon.

@Iamdoingit: ...this is true. Supporting cast in Mad Men main character in Community. #madmen
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skt.smth
11/17/09

@Trixie from Toronto: I think your response keys in to exactly what I'm saying. "What happens to Sally" is far more interesting a proposition than watching her raw acting ability, which has basically been limited to her paying rapt attention to "significant moments in American history" on the TV, and throwing selfish tantrums at her parents. #madmen
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Trixie from Toronto
11/17/09

@skt.smth: Or grieving for her grandfather, the only person in the house who outwardly did so. I found her to be a really compelling little actress. #madmen
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skt.smth
11/17/09

@Trixie from Toronto: Again, what she does (grieving for grandpa) is more interesting than her acting. The acting itself, I've found largely passable, but at times borderline obnoxious. Her indignance at how everyone acted upon the grandfather's death felt cloying to me. It seems like the writers want her to be the Shakespearean clown, setting "the truth" out before her self-absorbed, emotionally deaf/blind parents, but her performances often fail to make me feel like she's doing anything more than begging for attention. And while it's clear that begging for attention is part of her character, I don't think her performance is nuanced enough to convince me that she does more than that in her role. #madmen
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Trixie from Toronto
11/18/09

@skt.smth: We will agree to disagree but the "what she does is more interesting than her acting" makes not a lot of sense. Huh? What she did in those scenes is called acting. I get that you don't like her, but that's a real reach.
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skt.smth
11/18/09

@Trixie from Toronto: What I mean is that what happens to her character as far as the events of the show are concerned (and what her character promises to be) is far more compelling than her actual acting out of those events. What's the difficulty in understanding this distinction?
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Colonel Mustard
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
Being lousy on SNL does not necessarily have any impact on your career. After all, Colin Quinn still gets work sometimes. #madmen
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MartaD
11/16/09

@Colonel Mustard: It's also not evidence of acting talent. Robert DeNiro did horribly on SNL. Britney Spears did great. Sketch comedy is just not the same thing as film or television acting. #madmen
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kookla
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
You can't blame January for the bad writing on SNL. Sometimes, an actor gets a part on a critically successful cable drama that they are perfect for and that's all they get. (See James Gandolfini) #madmen
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randomnessish
11/16/09

@kookla: That, and obviously January Jones wasn't made for the kind of comedy SNL serves, if she's made for comedy at all. I picture her more in gripping thrillers or indie dramas, not horribly written skits about farting on SNL. Of course, I'd like to see her succeed, but wooden, icy, passive characters on TV don't really highlight one's acting talents. #madmen
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kookla
11/16/09

@randomnessish: I don't get all the Betty Draper hate either. January was the embodiment of her character. #madmen
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1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes
11/16/09

@kookla: What? James Gandolfini seems to be getting a lot more. Tony nominations, for example. #madmen
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NoelleBlue
11/16/09

@1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes: Also 'In the Loop'. Where he was all sorts of great. #madmen
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1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes
11/17/09

@NoelleBlue: Yes! In the Loop was fantastic. Best comedy of the year so far. #madmen
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Understater
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
She wears the throwback look extraordinarily well, but ask her to express any kind of multi-faceted emotion, and she falls flat. Her blank, monotone, weirdly detached style of acting works perfectly for the character of Betty Draper, but me thinks that's all she's capable of. #madmen
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VioletViolet
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
To me, hosting SNL is like a test to see who actually is a good actor. It takes a lot of talent and confidence to perform live and play characters and be funny. Lindsay Lohan hosted three times, and even when she was obviously strung-out she did a good (not great, but good) job. Gwyneth Paltrow also hosted a few times, and she was actually very versatile and funny. A lot of people think those two are talentless, but they're not. On the other hand, Halle Berry may have an Oscar, but on SNL she came across as very stiff and awkward.

There are exceptions, of course: some athletes have been good hosts and I'm not sure how they'd be as actors. But I still stand by it. #madmen
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mimigoliath
11/16/09

@VioletViolet: I agree wholeheartedly. Clearly, Lindsay Lohan and Gwyneth Paltrow have talent (that they must be hiding away for a rainy day), but they were definitely up for the challenge of one of the most insane schedules and productions that exists right now. Comedy is harder than drama because it's so based on timing, listening and tone, and January Jones just didn't have any of it.

As for the writing, sketch comedy is hit or miss, but a talented person can make the most of a bad sketch and still make it funny in some way. January Jones is not one of those people.

And Peyton Manning was a great host. I really want him to come back. His digital short was super duper. #madmen
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Atilla the Bun
11/16/09

@VioletViolet: Can't say I agree with that logic. My favorite SNL host next to Alec Baldwin has been Justin Timberlake. His episodes are consistently hilarious. So this means he's a better actor than Halle Berry?! #madmen
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JudyPaceFace
11/16/09

@Atilla the Bun: Well, yeah #madmen
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Atilla the Bun
11/17/09

@JudyPaceFace: Based on a comparison of what?

Timberlake does a good job essentially playing himself on SNL and exploiting his talents for singing/dancing/writing music. But acting-wise, his biggest claim to fame is that he will soon voice the character of Boo Boo Bear. That may his only movie to not go straight to DVD.

Sure, Halle Berry has had her disasters like Catwoman and her B*A*P*S. But she has also done great work in Monster's Ball and the Dorothy Dandridge Biopic. #madmen
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Spirit Fingers
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
Firstly, Ashton isn't allowed to comment on such things.

Secondly, she's going to have a bitch of a time beating back "Betty Draper" from every job gig she's offered. If she's smart she'll do an indie, if she's not she'll become Kirsten Dunst or Cameron Diaz at this point (Both of whom have no idea what their career is supposed to be).

More than likely though she'll be the boring wife/girlfriend/mother on a lameduck drama wherein her husband/boyfriend/child is dead/cheating/missing and everyone will say, "Oh, look she's crying and scowling....again." No, if she's smart and going the procedural road she'd do best to land on a comedy where her unpredictable yet charming comedic timing, wows us all, or be the femme fatale on Law & Order: SVU and be absolutely henious and make us say, "Hmmm, didn't know old Betts could cut off a man's privates so spectacularly."
Otherwise it's starring opposite Jack Black in a movie about a tubby loud mouth who likes this girl no one actually believes he could get or co-starring as his demure love interest in the animated comedy A Kung Fu Panda Sings Offkey To No One's Great Surprise.
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jrhys
11/16/09

@Spirit Fingers: Wel she ain't that smart or she wouldn't have let half of her SNL skits be period pieces. #madmen
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Spirit Fingers
11/16/09

@jrhys: Yeah, that was lazy. Why not stretch those chops a little. We already know you can do "frosty lady from another era". Let's try "engaging actress living in the present who doesn't need Jon Hamm to be her acting coach." #madmen
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SuperBien
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
I liked her in Love Actually, which incidentally also featured Bond Girl Ivana Milicevic. She's also already done the Adam Sandler thing, albeit in a minor part, in Anger Management.
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DahlELama
11/16/09

@SuperBien: I don't even remember her in Love, Actually. Who was she? IMDB says "Jeannie" but I have no recollection of anyone by that name. #madmen
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nicoleg666
11/16/09

@SuperBien: ha, yes! she was a trashy lesbian in Anger Management. #madmen
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Tara Incognita
11/16/09

@DahlELama: She was one of the girls from the midwest who wanted to sleep with the nerd. #madmen
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howdybeep (runs with monkey wrenches)
11/16/09

@DahlELama: She was the girl in the Wisconsin bar. #madmen
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SuperBien
11/17/09

@DahlELama: Second from left . . . January Jones as Jeannie, The American Angel . . . #madmen
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SuperBien
11/17/09

@nicoleg666: Yup . . . a minor, but very memorably hot role! #madmen
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SuperBien
11/17/09

@DahlELama: Her work in Love Actually was obviously appreciated. She's in Richard Curtis' new one, Pirate Radio (a.k.a. The Boat That Rocked) . . .
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VioletViolet
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
Is she a good actress? I don't know because I've never seen her in anything else other than SNL and Mad Men, but I'm not even sure she'd be as good as Betty Draper if she hadn't been given the scripts, direction, and supporting cast that she had. Yes, SNL gave her horrible material, but it also felt like she didn't really know the material in the first place. #madmen
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se7a7n7
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
I just want to say that her episode of SNL was not nearly as bad as Gawker was making it out to be.

There have been better episodes but there have been much worse. #madmen
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Iron Gossett Jr.
11/16/09

@se7a7n7: Name a few of the worse ones or else it didn't happen. #madmen
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DahlELama
11/16/09

@se7a7n7: @Iron Gossett Jr.: The Michael Phelps ep is literally the only possibility that comes to mind. #madmen
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Excusado
11/16/09

@DahlELama: Derek Jeter is slated to host this season. #madmen
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DahlELama
11/16/09

@Excusado: Oy. Seriously, SNL got beyond lucky with Peyton Manning and The Rock, but I think it's safe to pre-emptively say that Jeter will be an abomination of the highest order. #madmen
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eatsshootsleaves
11/16/09

@DahlELama: Jeter actually has hosted before, and he wasn't horrible. And, mind you, I'm a Sox fan. #madmen
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se7a7n7
11/16/09

@Iron Gossett Jr.: 1 that comes to mind is Tom Green as the host... horrible.

I liked the "Around the Town" skit with Kristen Wiig playing the reporter with a weird lesbian crush on January Jones as a Dairy Queen employee... [foxyurl.com]

And I know GAWKER specifically mentioned the Rear Window skit as being awful but it made me laugh. I can't help it, farts are still funny... [foxyurl.com]

@DahlELama: Jeter's last episode was great. I ended up watching it 3 times. Best part: Derek Jeter in drag playing a sports wife saying "Derek Jeter looks like the Rock had sex with a Muppet".
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DahlELama
11/17/09

@se7a7n7: I'm torn between my curiosity about this supposedly funny Derek Jeter episode you speak of and my lack of faith in you after learning you found those two sketches funny. However, I think that quote might've won me over, so I'll see if I can dig it up online. If he's anything like Peyton, maybe he'll surprise the crap out of me. #madmen
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eatsshootsleaves
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
You know, I didn't watch the SNL episode she was on, but the character she plays on Mad Men is completely recognizable and wonderful to me. Maybe that's due to the directing, or the writing, or the costumes, or just a good match of actor and character -- whatever. She's great on the show, and assuming she's moving on from it, I hope she finds equally fortunate creative circumstances elsewhere. #madmen
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