Show of hands, Modern Philosophers…how many of you have had the “I Want To Buy The World A Coke” jingle stuck in your head since watching Mad Men’s Series Finale?
I have been singing it, humming it, and buying Coca Cola at a ridiculous rate that should leave me bankrupt with a mouthful of cavities by June 1.
Don Draper, you dapper bastard, you really were an advertising genius!
Mad Men is a show that I have always enjoyed, and unlike the Series Finales of some other classic shows (cough, cough, The Sopranos, cough…) the last episode of Matt Weiner’s love letter to the advertising industry left me quite satisfied.
As well as humming and singing that old Coke jingle.
Sure, there was enough ambiguity to make us wonder if Don had come up with one of the most famous commercials of the 70s, but this Mad Men fan chooses to believe that was exactly what happened.
Weiner had been dropping hints all year with Coke popping up in several episodes, and even putting Don and his crew to work at the ad agency that really did create the iconic campaign that brought the episode to an end.
I thought it was the perfect end to a show that really could’ve gone on for decades. Advertising is a field that has always intrigued me, and when I was in my mid-twenties, I thought about trying to get into the business.
I created several ad campaigns for actual products, as well as for companies that my friends and I had talked about starting someday. My production company would’ve had the best ad campaign the world had ever seen if I’d ever actually founded the company.
A couple of my ads did sneak into my former father-in-law’s zine. I’d done a couple on the virtues of recycling, and he surprised me by running them with the actual paid ads in his little publication.
So maybe for one crazy summer, Modern Philosophers, I was a Man Man, too.
When you think about it, aren’t we all in the advertising biz? We might not write copy for actual advertising campaigns, but aren’t we forever pitching ourselves, our writing, and our blogs?
Writing is a business where we are always making a pitch, trying to convince the public to choose our product over all the others on the market, and using words to sell something that often times sounds better in our minds than in the actual final product.
Sure, none of us look as good as Don Draper doing it, but we are a lot like him. Don Draper wasn’t even real. Dick Whitman stole someone’s identity and turned Don Draper into a larger than life character, who was a millionaire, a playboy, a lousy husband and father, and a great idea man. That makes Dick Whitman a pretty awesome writer.
Would any of you not want to walk in Don Draper’s shoes for a day, Modern Philosophers?
I think in the end, much like the soda he made famous, Don Draper turned out to be the real thing.
Just when it looked like he had reached the end of his rope…he was telling people he had retired, he found out the mother of his children was dying, he’d been abandoned at some hippie retreat, and called his protege to say goodbye…Don Draper decided to do a little yoga and a bell went off in his mind.
The greatest ad campaign of his career was created at a moment in his life when creativity, as well as all hope, should have abandoned him.
But Don Draper proved that a creative type can find his Muse at any time. You just need to leave your mind open to the possibilities, and before you know it, people all over the world are singing your words from the mountaintops!
For his never say die attitude, his mind boggling creativity, his impeccable style, and his Houdini-like ability to escape from career ending traps set by his own hand, I tip my fedora to Don Draper.
I’d also like to buy him a Coke.
Then I’d pick his brain about writing, marketing, self-confidence, and maybe most importantly…how to charm the ladies.
You are the real thing, Don, and I am going to miss you.
I never watched Mad Men, but after reading about the show’s ending, I’m intrigued. I always liked Coke… especially with a shot of CC in it. From what I can tell, Don would approve of my drink!
Yes, he would. The final scene seems to be all over the internet. You should watch it.
Good idea. Will do.
Let me know if the jingle gets stuck in your head… 🙂
Although it didn’t make me want to buy Coke, I found the ending was the real thing. 😉
It was nice. Thought it wrapped up the series well.
I think there’s always a little dissatisfaction when a series ends, but that’s because we don’t want it to go. Time to move on… 😉
I was good with this one, though.
Did Peggy really have to just fall in love in the last episode? “I really don’t think about you….I LOVE YOU!” – a weak little piece of writing there.
Have a Coke. It will make it all better, Eric. 🙂
I like Pepsi
I guess Don will have to work on you a little. 🙂
I wouldn’t mind that…..;)
I didn’t think so… 🙂
I think the ending was creepy but then I was around back then and most peaceniks drank herbal tea and not coke. Still, that’s what happens doesn’t it? Eventually every dream becomes an ad man’s path to riches.
That is the American Dream, isn’t it? 🙂
I was a Mad Woman, and so I could identify with most of the show, albeit not the time period. I loved the show, and was sad to see it go. I’m still walking a fine line of love/hate for the ending. But I’d say that’s good writing.
Have a Coke and then watch it again. 🙂
I don’t drink soda 😉 I’ll have a Snapple!!
That doesn’t fit with our theme…
Sorry, I never really liked playing by the rules anyway…
La-La-La-La with my ears plugged, Austin. MDW Karen and I didn’t start on “Mad Men” until this year, and we’re on season four on NetFlix … Love it.
Even if you knew how it ended, it wouldn’t blow the story of you the characters get to the end. It’s not like it’s a murder mystery. 🙂
What! Nobody is murdered up until the finale? Don’t ruin it for me, Austin!
You’re being silly now. Don Draper would not approve of this behavior!
Only if he were celebrating a Cleo I guess, Austin.
Spoken like a fan…in other words, you liked the finale more than me… I’d rather have a Snapple than a Coke, too. One upon a time, I gave up on soda…
I’d don’t really drink soda anymore more, either, but it is in keeping with the spirit of the show…
I ADORE Mad Men. It’s genuinely one of the best shows out there. I haven’t had a chance to watch the last season yet, but now I’m really excited to.
It will be missed. Of course, I did write about my sequel idea… 🙂
And it was a brilliant idea… the writers should totally take you up on that. 😉
I like the way you think!
I’ve only watched a few episodes. Danny and I plan to binge watch it over the summer. My dad was a madman too! I remember everything about that era. The cocktails, the dresses, the hair and the parties.
I really enjoyed the show. Hope you guys like it, too!
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ADDICTING STUFF…A MIND-MUSHING JINGLE!
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