In
this edition of the TV Time Machine,
we travel back to 1960 by way of 2008,
to a time and place replete with ambition,
duplicity, creativity, and especially
smoke-filled conference rooms- such
is the world of Mad Men.
TV
Time Machine is proud to present an
interview with creator and executive
producer of Mad Men, Matthew Weiner.
Mr. Weiner's career also includes
executive producer on The Sopranos,
and also writing and producing Becker
and Andy Richter Controls the Universe.
In the following audio segments host
Jim Benson honors this extraordinary
series, as he's joined by co-host
Lisa Rothstein, whose Madison Avenue
career has included positions as copywriter
and creative director for Young &
Rubicam and Ogilvy and Mather
Listen
to the interview below
Mad Men Matthew
Weiner Interview Segment One
In this segment, Mad Men creator
Matthew Weiner discusses his days
growing up in Baltimore, and how he
eventually broke into show business,
ultimately working on such shows as
Becker and the classic HBO TV series,
The Sopranos. Mr. Weiner also discusses
the genesis of Mad Men, and how writers
such as Paddy Chayefsky and Rod Serling,
and classic TV plays such as Patterns,
have inspired him as a writer.
For this segment, Matthew Weiner
discusses The Twilight Zone and the
Zone episodes Walking Distance and
The Self -Improvement of Salvatore
Ross. Mr. Weiner also talks about
the classic Mad Men episodes Red in
the Face and The Wheel. Our producer
also covers the philosophical issues
explored on the show dealing with
youth and age, and the most eccentric
character on the show, Bertram Cooper,
played by Robert Morse (How to Succeed
in Business Without Really Trying).
In this segment, Mad Men executive
producer Matthew Weiner talks about
how he views the era of the 1960's,
and how Rod Serling and The Twilight
Zone commented on social issues of
that time. Mr. Weiner also talks about
the attention to period detail exhibited
on the program, and how even the minor
characters are integral to the show.
Our producer also covers the issues
of smoking and the advancement of
women in business, the character of
Peggy (played by Elisabeth Moss),
and his involvement in the production
of the Mad Men DVD sets.
In
this edition of the TV Time Machine,
we travel back to 1960 by way of 2008,
to a time and place replete with ambition,
duplicity, creativity, and especially
smoke-filled conference rooms- such
is the world of Mad Men. 
TV
Time Machine is proud to present an
interview with creator and executive
producer of Mad Men, Matthew Weiner.
Mr. Weiner's career also includes
executive producer on The Sopranos,
and also writing and producing Becker
and Andy Richter Controls the Universe.
Listen
to the interview below
