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New York, 10:51 PM
Sat Dec 5
14 posts in the last 24 hours

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of MisterHippity 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?
     Reply
    Edited by MisterHippity at 11/17/09 12:57 AM MisterHippity was starred MisterHippity was unstarred
    Image of OrneryBabe 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
     Reply
    Matt Cherette promoted this comment OrneryBabe was starred OrneryBabe was unstarred
    Image of NigelAstydameia 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
     Reply
    NigelAstydameia was starred NigelAstydameia was unstarred
    Image of nicepony 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
     Reply
    nicepony was starred nicepony was unstarred
    Image of heywhat 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
     Reply
    heywhat was starred heywhat was unstarred
    Image of Trixie from Toronto 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
     Reply
    Trixie from Toronto was starred Trixie from Toronto was unstarred
    Image of Sandogg 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
     Reply
    Sandogg was starred Sandogg was unstarred
    Image of sarrible 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
     Reply
    sarrible was starred sarrible was unstarred
    Image of DahlELama 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
     Reply
    DahlELama was starred DahlELama was unstarred
    Image of hotpinklovesofa 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
     Reply
    hotpinklovesofa was starred hotpinklovesofa was unstarred
    Image of SkipToMyLou 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
     Reply
    SkipToMyLou was starred SkipToMyLou was unstarred
    Image of Zira 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
     Reply
    ShawnP promoted this comment Zira was starred Zira was unstarred
    Image of ShawnP ShawnP
    11/17/09

    @Zira: I agree. As soon as she finds a blonde with nice titties to manage, she'll be set. #madmen
     Reply
    ShawnP was starred ShawnP was unstarred
    Image of evan7257 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
     Reply
    OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear promoted this comment evan7257 was starred evan7257 was unstarred
    Image of heartbreakturnip 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
     Reply
    heartbreakturnip was starred heartbreakturnip was unstarred
    Image of randomnessish 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
     Reply
    randomnessish was starred randomnessish was unstarred
    Image of skt.smth 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.
     Reply
    Edited by skt.smth at 11/16/09 6:18 PM skt.smth was starred skt.smth was unstarred
    Image of jaxdesert 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
     Reply
    skt.smth promoted this comment jaxdesert was starred jaxdesert was unstarred
    Image of skt.smth 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
     Reply
    skt.smth was starred skt.smth was unstarred
    Image of NigelAstydameia 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.
     Reply
    Edited by NigelAstydameia at 11/16/09 9:02 PM NigelAstydameia was starred NigelAstydameia was unstarred
    Image of DahlELama DahlELama
    11/17/09

    @jaxdesert: Those E*Trade commercials probably make you want to set fire to stuff, don't they. #madmen
     Reply
    DahlELama was starred DahlELama was unstarred
    Image of Trixie from Toronto 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
     Reply
    Trixie from Toronto was starred Trixie from Toronto was unstarred
    Image of jaxdesert 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
     Reply
    jaxdesert was starred jaxdesert was unstarred
    Image of randomnessish 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
     Reply
    randomnessish was starred randomnessish was unstarred
    Image of skt.smth 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
     Reply
    skt.smth was starred skt.smth was unstarred
    Image of Trixie from Toronto 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
     Reply
    Trixie from Toronto was starred Trixie from Toronto was unstarred
    Image of skt.smth 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
     Reply
    skt.smth was starred skt.smth was unstarred
    Image of Trixie from Toronto 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.
     Reply
    Trixie from Toronto was starred Trixie from Toronto was unstarred
    Image of skt.smth 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?
     Reply
    skt.smth was starred skt.smth was unstarred
    Image of Colonel Mustard 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
     Reply
    Colonel Mustard was starred Colonel Mustard was unstarred
    Image of MartaD 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
     Reply
    Colonel Mustard promoted this comment MartaD was starred MartaD was unstarred
    Image of kookla 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
     Reply
    kookla was starred kookla was unstarred
    Image of randomnessish 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
     Reply
    randomnessish was starred randomnessish was unstarred
    Image of kookla kookla
    11/16/09

    @randomnessish: I don't get all the Betty Draper hate either. January was the embodiment of her character. #madmen
     Reply
    kookla was starred kookla was unstarred
    Image of 1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes 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
     Reply
    kookla promoted this comment 1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes was starred 1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes was unstarred
    Image of NoelleBlue 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
     Reply
    NoelleBlue was starred NoelleBlue was unstarred
    Image of 1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes 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
     Reply
    1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes was starred 1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes was unstarred
    Image of Understater 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
     Reply
    Understater was starred Understater was unstarred
    Image of VioletViolet 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
     Reply
    VioletViolet was starred VioletViolet was unstarred
    Image of mimigoliath 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
     Reply
    Nick Denton promoted this comment mimigoliath was starred mimigoliath was unstarred
    Image of Atilla the Bun 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
     Reply
    Nick Denton promoted this comment Atilla the Bun was starred Atilla the Bun was unstarred
    Image of JudyPaceFace JudyPaceFace
    11/16/09

    @Atilla the Bun: Well, yeah #madmen
     Reply
    Atilla the Bun promoted this comment JudyPaceFace was starred JudyPaceFace was unstarred
    Image of Atilla the Bun 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
     Reply
    Atilla the Bun was starred Atilla the Bun was unstarred
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