hilaria baldwin walked so austin butler could run
oh, you think you can make an accent your personality? why don't you go watch the sopranos, you goons! also i finished mad men everyone i'm a different person now
I can’t believe I just watched a show that no one’s ever heard of. It’s so special to find something before anyone else, and bygone it, I’ve done it! Is that how you say that phrase I’ve literally never used it in my life. I just watched this perfect TV show — from start to finish — that has pretty much never been seen by anyone but me. It’s about an ad agency in the 1960s (a fake decade) and stars no-names like Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss. It’s called Mad Men. See, you’ve never heard of it. But now you have, and you should definitely watch it.
I can’t believe it took me so long to watch this show! It’s actually one of the best lil thangs I’ve ever viewed with my contacts. To create a show about certain types of living in the 60s through a story about people at an ad agency is so niche and smart. I remember in school (which was in the 2000s because I’m young and fresh), we would learn about how ads worked and were given ads to watch and read from that time. But now I’m finding out that JON HAMM was the one who thought of those ads? Are you kidding? How old is this guy? He looks great. And Elisabeth Moss? First the President’s daughter, then a copywriter, and currently a handmaid? What a life! Imagine those were all in the same universe. And now I love John Slattery! Who knew that was gonna happen! Not me!
I was introduced to Jon Hamm in Bridesmaids and 30 Rock, which I knew he was cameoing in because of his bigshot role in Mad Men. And still, I didn’t go watch the show. But my excuse for that is that I’m only two-and-a-half years older than Kiernan Shipka, the actress who grew up on that show as Sally Draper. Hence, I was too young. But now, I am still two-and-a-half years older than Kiernan Shipka, and I am finally old enough to watch it because my dad said I can. So therefore, in conclusion, I have watched the entire thing in a matter of weeks.
A show that is good for seven seasons all the way through is rare. Almost every show I’ve finished that had that many seasons got slow or had bad writing the further I got. But this one was great the entire time: the character arcs — the rise of Peggy Olsen, the tragedy of Betty Draper, the loss of respect for Roger Sterling. It is bonkers how every character had their own change in character as if they were the only star of the show. That’s really something, huh? There are people out there who can write that. And they’re good at it! The world is a beautiful place.
When I finished the show (last night), I checked to see if Jon Hamm won the Emmy that year, and to my surprise but not actually, he did. And in the video, he’s sitting in the front row, and Tiny Fey announces that he won, and then instead of walking to the side to go up the stairs, he climbs onto and then rolls onto the stage and accepts his award. Very not like Don Draper, which made it even more amazing that Jon Hamm made me think that he really was Don Draper. Imagine Don Draper rolling onto the stage to accept an award in advertising. IMPOSSIBLE, RIGHT? Don would never. But Jon? Always.
Matthew Weiner wrote on both and said that Mad Men would not be what it was if he didn’t have the creative freedom and experiences that he had on The Sopranos. So basically Mad Men is a nepo baby because of The Sopranos. Everyone’s a nepo baby these days! So, yeah, now I’m starting The Sopranos.
This weekend, I was in Queens catsitting a cat named Poppy that I’ve really bonded with. Whenever I have to leave, I tell Poppy that I am so sad to leave but that I’ll see them soon. Anyway, where I am in Queens makes it a little difficult to get to any of the places I usually go to in Brooklyn or it just takes a while to get to specific places in Manhattan, so I didn’t leave this area once. This gave me the opportunity to (watch Mad Men) apply to a bunch of jobs. And let me tell ya: if I’m still not hearing back from any of these people, the competition must be tough. I mean, the questions are impossible to get through! Like this one:
If my competition is robots, then I better quit while I’m ahead. When they say to find a panda in a living room, do they mean a living room for humans or nature’s living room, where a panda would actually lounge? Who’s to say? Only a panda, I guess.
Now, I know recently I’ve seen some Parks and Recreation slander on the TL, but this show was big for me in high school. I loved it. It was sweet and it was funny and it was so easy to watch. And to have Leslie Knope and April Ludgate show up on Weekend Update last night, which was expected and did not disappoint, made me a lil nostalgic. This was one of my favorite TV duos, and they weren’t even a main duo on that show. Aubrey Plaza hosted SNL last night, which was a full-circle moment for her. She was a page in the stage design department back in 2004 or so, and then she got an NBC job on Parks, and then she did all these things and did her White Lotus thing and all of her things and then came BACK and did her thing at SNL. That’s what every page dreams of, I’m sure. And she did it! And I think she’s the first one to do it, too. It’s really something. Love this for her, and love this for 16-year-old moi.
The Oscar nominations are releasing soon, and after the Golden Globes, I think we’ve got a pretty good idea of who’s getting the Academy Award invite. Something I’ve noticed this year is how many women in their 50s and 60s have been getting nominations and wins. Jennifer Coolidge, Jamie Lee Curtis, Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Sheryl Lee Ralph — all get nominations. Women in their 30s and 40s used to get grandma roles in Hollywood, even in the past 10 years. And when you were older than that, you weren’t really getting any roles. And now Angela Bassett is going to win Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars this year, and Michelle Yeoh will probably get Best Actress. Two women in their 60s! It’s groundbreaking, even though it shouldn’t be. Long overdue, for sure.
What I’m trying to say, I guess, is that we’ve got so much time! And hopefully, it doesn’t take until we’re 60, but we’re not done, yet! I know I’m only 25, shut up about it. Sometimes, even at 25, it feels like my goals won’t get achieved. But then Aubrey Plaza hosts SNL, and Jennifer Coolidge wins a Golden Globe, and Elizabeth Holmes gets convicted for Theranos. Ok, wait, why did I put that one in there? But these amazing people — these amazing women — prove us wrong. And then I feel better. And I know I’ll achieve my goals. And one day, I will create a Theranos! Ok, I think I’m confusing my goals. Actually, I’m really hungry right now I made a latte with a double espresso and my mom watched me do it on FaceTime and she thought I was so talented even though the espresso machine does it all on its own pretty much but we don’t have to tell my mom that she can just be proud of me but anyway what I was saying was that I made a big ol latte and didn’t eat anything so now I’m hungry and can’t think of anything else aw the cat I’m catsitting just hopped onto the couch and gave me a lil kiss I want a cat one day I will get a cat. We will all achieve our goals! Go watch Mad Men.
movie rec: My Cousin Vinny (1992)
book rec: The Godfather by Mario Puzo — I haven’t read it, but I’m about to start!
tv show rec: if you make me say it, i’m gonna pursue a career in whatever Tony Soprano’s career is
