TV: MAD MEN

I have been catching up with this incredible AMC show over the past few weeks and let me just say....WOW. Matthew Weiner, one of the exec-producers of The Sopranos, created this hour long look at Madison Ave. advertising executives in the early 1960's, and has employed many of his Soprano's crew from cinematographer Phil Abraham to supervising producer Scott Hornbacher. From the spot-on-writing to the beautiful production values, Mad Men has been consistently engrossing from a character, story, and style point of view. It's been fascinating to view old-school office politics from such a unique time in America...needless to say, the treatment of women in the workplace is eye-opening and shocking at times. It's darkly humorous but always smart and believeable. The lead on the show, Jon Hamm, an actor unkown to me until this show, is just terrific, as is the entire supporting cast. I hope this show comes back for a second season next summer.