Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Every TV station wants another Mad Men


Mad Men, the TV series set in New York's advertising world of the '50s and '60s, has been a massive hit these past few years. If you don't know who Don Draper is, well, you need to find out.

So it now seems that TV producers have gone and thought, "well if Mad Men is a hit, we need our own" and rustled up some copycat programmes.  It remains to be seen whether they'll be poor imitations or stand-alone hits, but my money's on the former. Mad Men is shooting its fifth season now, so these other producers might be too late for the party.  Just as vampires were done to death a few years ago, this '60s boat may already have sailed.

Still, it's worth checking out some of the offerings:

First up: The Playboy Club. Where Eddie Cibrian tries to be Don Draper. I'm guessing he'll look hot with his slicked hair and dimples but he'll have none of the subtle nuances that Jon Hamm brings to his interpretation of the complicated character that is Don Draper.


Secondly: Pan Am.Where Christina Ricci tries to be Christina Hendricks and Kelli Garner tries to be Elisabeth Moss. It looks like Gossip Girl set in the 60s. Maybe I'll be wrong....


For a look at all the new shows hitting US screens in the "Fall season", i.e. in the coming weeks, Gawker have put together a great list and summary. Go here to read, see and contemplate.

 I think I'll be giving both The Playboy Club and Pan Am a go, plus Ringer, Prime Suspect and Terra Nova. All the others look like one season wonders or sitcoms from hell.

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