Mad Men: The Ultimate Quiz
Does the author of Mad Men Revolutions really know the series like the back of his hand?
We are re-sharing this funny interview at the moment when Netflix is putting the entire series back online Mad Men. A series not to be missed!
Film and series critic (and contributor to Première), Damien Leblanc published in 2017 Mad Men Revolutionsa precise and erudite analysis of Matthew Weiner’s series (2007-2015) recounting the alcoholic tribulations of a sex-obsessed adman in New York in the sixties. To check that he really knows his subject well – and, above all, to avoid this article sounding too much like cronyism – we decided to give him the quiz test. Ten very specific questions on Mad Menone point for each correct answer. All guaranteed without cheating.
Simply a classic. pic.twitter.com/gSfSAAurlm
— Netflix France (@NetflixFR) July 21, 2024
Mad Men: A look back at the moving, dancing tribute to Bert Cooper’s character
First: Are you ready, Damien? Let’s go! What was Don Draper’s job before he became an adman?
Damien Leblanc: He was a salesman in a fur store. We learn that in season 4, we see a flashback with Roger. But in fact, at the end of season 1, in the carousel episode, Don talks about the time he was selling furs with a Greek.
Perfect. Full stop. Let’s talk music now. Name the songs that conclude seasons 1, 3 and 5?
Bob Dylan, “Don’t think twice, it’s alright”. Roy Orbison, “Shahdaroba”. Nancy Sinatra, “You Only Live Twice”.
A perfect score, well done. The third question is about advertising. I give you a brand, you have to answer me with the slogan invented by the Mad Men. Lucky Strike?
Easy : “It’s toasted”.
Jaguar?
“Finally, a beauty you can actually own.”
Heinz Beans?
“Pass the Heinz”.
No, be careful, not Heinz Ketchup, Heinz Beans!
Ah, sorry, flageolets! Wait, it’s something about young people, about time travel… Ah, I don’t remember!
“Some things never change”.
But yes, of course! It’s the ad with the astronauts!
Well, so I’m only giving you half a point. Now, since there’s not only Mad Men In life, name me three series with Jon Hamm…
30 Rock. Black Mirror. And, uh… I don’t know. He didn’t play in MacGyver ? Santa Barbara ? Hartley, Hearts on Edge ?
Nothing of that.
Girls ?
No more. You could have said for example A Young Doctor’s Notebookthe series with Daniel Radcliffe.
Oh yeah, I have the DVD too.
Only half a point. Question number 5: What was Don Draper doing at the time of Kennedy’s death?
He was at the office. He had a fight with Lane Pryce that day. And he was on the weekend when Lee Harvey Oswald died.
All right. Now you have one minute to give me five films mentioned in the series, then five films claimed as influences by Matthew Weiner. Top time!
In the series, they talk about The Bachelor Apartmentof Psychosisthey go to the cinema to see The Planet of the Apes, Rosemary’s Baby, Model Shop. And as influences, there are The Good Women, The Night, The Conformist…uh…there are plenty…uh…
Watch out, you’re missing two, only fifteen seconds left…
A lifetime by Claude Lelouch… uh… uh…
Five seconds…
Blue Velvet ! Berlin Alexanderplatz ! The Decalogue !
Phew, that was a close call. Question #7. That’s a tough one. Besides his wives Betty and Megan, how many women has Don Draper slept with on the show? Give or take three.
I’d say… Something like twelve. Maybe even a little less. Ten or twelve? He’s seeing a prostitute, there’s the threesome with Megan’s girlfriend, I don’t know if that counts… Come on, eleven!
Wow! Very impressive. That’s the number I had.
Have you watched the series again?
No, but there is a section “Don Draper and Women” on the character’s Wikipedia page. Moving on: how many episodes of the series did Matthew Weiner direct?
Hmm… He’s done a lot of season finales… Let’s say nine.
Well done. Very strong. Lifestyle question now. What is the recipe for the old-fashioned?
The cocktail? I don’t know anything about it. You put mint, lemon, gin, vodka, an ice cube…
Stop. I’ll stop you, this is nonsense. You need a sugar, Angostura, whiskey, ice and a lemon or orange zest. Don Draper adds a cherry, that was the fashion in the sixties. Come on, last question: Mad Men does it pass the Bechdel test?
Oh yes. There are still a lot of sequences where the women talk to each other: Peggy and Joan, the two black secretaries, Betty and her neighbors… Afterwards, it’s true that they often talk about men. But in the last episode, Peggy and Joan talk about creating their own business… So, at least for that scene, yes.
You got 8 out of 10, well done. Any follow-up questions for the road? Mad Men Is it the greatest series of all time?
I don’t like tops, definitive opinions. Mad Men still owes a lot to the Sopranoshe’s a bit like his little sister. Twin Peaks could become the greatest, if it manages to improve and deepen 25 years later. So, maybe not the best, no, but let’s say one of the 3 or 4 best.
Well, as long as The Sopranos is in front, it suits me. Well done again, Damien!
“Mad Men Revolutions”by Damien Leblanc, Playlist Society editions. On sale in bookstores and on playlistsociety.fr
George RR Martin and his favorite series: Six Feet Under, Fargo, Mad Men, The Sopranos…
