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posts about #madmen more →
What Ever Happened to January Jones?
After Mad Men: Our Fruitless Search for Something to Watch on Sunday Night
AMC: It's Not TV, It's Rich People's TV
January Jones Free to Start Her Movie Career
Who'll Be Back for the Next Season of Mad Men?
Mad Men: The Night of Don's Reckoning
Mad Men's Season Finale: Everyone Gets Eaten By A Dinosaur, And Don Is Pregnant.
Mad Men: The Week Everyone Was Sad for a While
Martha Stewart Thinks Joan Holloway Looks Old
Mad Men: The Night Don Fessed Up

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MisterHippity
11/17/09

In reply to After Mad Men: Our Fruitless Search for Something to Watch on Sunday Night
Wait, Breaking Bad isn't going to be on Sunday nights any more?

Because otherwise, given that it's the best show on television, surely THAT'S "something to watch on Sunday night" no?
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Edited by MisterHippity at 11/17/09 12:57 AM MisterHippity was starred MisterHippity was unstarred

OrneryBabe
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
I think JJ's performance was a combination of awful writing and her limitations as an actress. I was hoping to see some kind of range, since I've only seen her as Betty Draper and always thought she was very convincing.

To me, the problems were evident in the opening monologue. The writers didn't showcase her at all; they diverted our attention by focusing on three die-hard Mad Men fans. That should have been a hint right there. For most of the show, she just stood around with this vacant thousand-yard stare. I really wonder whether the show planned to use her more, but dialed back her contribution because she was so bad during rehearsal.

The writing shares much of the blame. It was worse than usual, and that's saying something. It's really bizzare that with some hosts, SNL can be hilarious (Alec Baldwin, Justin Timberlake, Jim Carrey) and others, not so much.

I can't say this performance will spell the end of JJ's career, as she'll get by on her looks. For me it answered the question of whether she can pull off any role aside from BD: no, not really. #madmen
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NigelAstydameia
11/16/09

In reply to After Mad Men: Our Fruitless Search for Something to Watch on Sunday Night
WWII in HD (the History Channel). #madmen
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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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Zira
11/16/09

In reply to What Ever Happened to January Jones?
There's always room for another blonde with nice titties in Hollywood. January Jones' future is secure. #madmen
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ShawnP promoted this comment Zira was starred Zira was unstarred

ShawnP
11/17/09

@Zira: I agree. As soon as she finds a blonde with nice titties to manage, she'll be set. #madmen
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evan7257
11/16/09

In reply to After Mad Men: Our Fruitless Search for Something to Watch on Sunday Night
Venture Brothers
Similarities to Mad Men: Complex underlying mythos with blunt/subtle references to historical events and past culture done in a stunning art design.
An overall message of personal failure, father issues, and the decline of the American family, combined with large-breasted women.
Also, sometimes people get their feet chopped off.
Differences from Mad Men: Well, its a cartoon. Also, more lasers and slightly less ridiculous costumes.
Reasons to watch: Think of it like Mad Men for the Adult Swim crowd.
Reasons to avoid: Think of it like Mad Men for the Adult Swim crowd.
Replacement Analogy: If Dick Whitman had changed his name not to Don Draper, but THE WIT-MAN, whose soothing voice and insight into the American psyche has made him a feared and beloved SUPERADVERTISOR! #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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Edited by skt.smth at 11/16/09 6:18 PM skt.smth was starred skt.smth was unstarred

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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kookla promoted this comment

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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