The Greatest Event in Television

The Greatest Event in Television aired last night. It's such an auspicious moment in television history, Adult Swim pre-empted Childrens' Hospital.

Hey Simon & Simon fans, hold onto your underwear. This is going to blow them right off your butt.

Jon Hamm...Jon Hamm..

...oh and Lena Dunham!  The lady is on a roll. Dunham, the creator and star of HBO's Girls directed a promo for a new app launched by The New Yorker. 

Jon Hamm Goes Back in Time

Image Credit: Darren Michaels

Jon Hamm will re-appear in the upcoming season of the Emmy nominated Childrens' Hospital as an old timey man of the 1930's. The episode, according to EW,  involves Dr. Downs (Rob Corddry) and Dr. Maestro traveling back in time to uncover the identity of  hospital P.A. announcer Sal Viscuso (voice over performed by Michael Cera).

Hamm has already appeared on the Adult Swim series as Derek Childrens, the illegitimate son of the hospital's founder, who in an absurd way, exists undercover as Dr. Valerie Flame, played by Malin Akerman. Yes, the lady is really a dude.

Childrens' Hospital premieres on August 9th at Midnight, followed by the season premiere of NTSF:SD:SVU.

Also, check out Childrens' Hospital Season 3 on DVD - just released and available on Amazon. 

 

30 Rock Went Out Live, America!

You didn't think I was going to let the month of April get away with only one posting, did you? I almost did. A transition to a new job has me preoccupied, flustered, unhappy,  making me question my choices in life. I've been bereft of words to describe and keep track of all I love in television and comedy. However, it's time to get out of my head and onto the screen for some words about an auspicious occasion that took place this past Thursday night: The second annual live airing of 30 Rock.

The United States, being a large country attached to a massive continent, allowed our time zone situation to provide our eyes and ears with two brilliant, yet slightly different takes of the episode "Live from Studio 6H" with separate east coast and west coast broadcasts direct from 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The plot of both airings was a celebration of the golden years of live television by setting up the premise that 'TGS' would no longer be going live due to budget constraints set upon by their crappy parent company Kabletown.

So, who better than NBC stalker Kenneth Parcel to lock everyone in a dressing room and expound on the virtues (and racism) of NBC pretend live television past, which is what he did. Snark infused send ups of The Huntley Report (Jon Hamm on east coast/Brian Williams on west coast), Laugh In (Alec Baldwin as Nixon on east coast/Baldwin as Paul Lynn on west coast),  The Honeymooners, The Dean Martin Show, Amos and Andy, re-imagined as "Alphie and Abner" with Hamm and Morgan poking a stick at racism in side splitting fashion,  and cigarette ads that turned to class action suit PSA's featuring  the awesome Dr. Spaceman. 



Cameos as Amy Poehler as the young Liz Lemon spending her prom night (east coast)/sweet sixteen (west coast) night languishing in her basement happily eating cheese steaks while watching a telethon and making prank phone calls to a "General Electric" with the young Jack Donaghy, played by Jimmy Fallon, picking up the call. Donald Glover portrayed the young Tracy Jordan, who discovered his talent for being a "ridiculous man" on the same telethon.  Jenna, whose love for Paul, her drag queen doppelganger, is solidified when he appeared during a live TGS sketch floating down from the heavens singing 'Zou Bisou Bisou' ready to propose marriage. Fred Armisen was the featured background player and stand in for Judah Friedlander while he was off sketching it up on another set.

One confounding difference between the two time zone broadcasts was the walk on by Sir Paul McCartney during the east coast transmission, and the appearance of Kim Kardashian's walk through on the west coast. Talk about an inbalance. If you can't get Sir Paul for both broadcasts, at least find someone with equal esteem. Kim Kardashian? No.

The live broadcasts of 30 Rock may be seen as a ratings gimmick. So what if they are? If ratings motivates a network to allow a filmed episodic sitcom whose very essence is being meta to go live for Nielsen, then so be it. As the television season winds down, 30 Rock going live was a refreshing infusion of fun, no matter which coast you were on.

'Pardo Patrol' with Jon Hamm

'Mad Men' and Mannequins

The newest publicity poster produced by AMC for Mad Men season 5 has media bloggers buzzing about what it all means. Don Draper's reflection in a window as he gazes upon two manequins that may or may not be a metaphor for his life and what's to be expected when the series premieres on March 25th. Could the naked female mannequin with lingerie dropped at her feet be Megan? Is the male dummy in a classy pajama and robe ensemble Don trying to make this naked undefined sex symbol of plaster something that he wants it to be? Maybe that's my take. The possibilities are endless, and that's what makes this scenery so intriguing.

Mad Men season 5 premieres March 25th at 9pm ET/8pn CT with a two hour special. The second episode to air the following week was directed by Jon Hamm.

Jon Hamm on Conan From A Few Days Ago, Lost to Blogspot Crash

Due to Blogspot crashing, I lost a post from Thursday that I refuse to let die. I wrote a happy little commentary that usually takes a lot of time to conjure from my stagnant brain. So when I lose that work, I'm extremely ticked off. I understand crashing, but considering this is the outlet I use to getting my ass in line to write, it's more than annoying.

Anyway - this is the Jon Hamm interview on Conan. Hamm's in the flick Bridesmaids, which is being released today.

Jon Hamm Hosts SNL This Weekend..

...and the promos are up!

SNL with Guest Host Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm is returning as guest host of Saturday Night Live with Michael Buble this week.

Jon Hamm to Host SNL Soon and Comedy Death Ray Christmas Goodies

Photo courtesy of Seth Ornick

Remember how I gushed about Jon Hamm's terrific hosting job on SNL last year? That it was only the first in many invites back to studio 8H because he was rocking funny? Well, as predicted, he's been asked back for another stint as guest of honor. He mentioned on Comedy Death Ray Radio's podcast yesterday he will indeed be hosting the show in 2010. The date wasn't mentioned, but I'm sure it will be officially announced soon.

Update: Jon Hamm will be hosting SNL on January 30th with musical guest Michael Buble.

Speaking of Comedy Death Ray (aka CDR) and Jon Hamm, comedians Scott Auckerman and BJ Porter brought together a crew of alternative comedy friends last Tuesday night for a night of music and hilarious bullshit at Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles, all in the name of charity. (Just some background: Comedy Death Ray is a weekly improv/sketch show at UCB-LA. It's also a weekly podcast that streams on Fridays at 103.1.com and on iTunes. Go to ucbcomedy.com to view some videos of the stage show.)

Tuesday's show was the special CDR Nativity Christmas Pageant, presenting a steroid induced line up of funny people I would have killed a few animals to have seen in person. (Alas, I was in New York City - where nothing seems to really happen anymore.) Guests included performances by Tenacious D, Maria Bamford, Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, Nick Kroll, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, Aziz Ansari, Doug Benson, Paul F. Tomkins, Mad Men guys Hamm/ Michael Gladis, plus James Adomian and many more. Proceeds from ticket sales and online auction (where you could bid on a chance to perform at an Asssscat, be a guest on Zach's Between Two Ferns, or win a ticket to the show) went toward the LA Food Bank. They raised $19,000 + for the cause.

Hilarious moments from the event can be found on flickr taken by super fan and photographer extraordinaire "Liezl", as she in known on aspecialthing.com.

Fun bonus video! The Comedy Death Ray crew came together to record their own version of the 1984 Bob Geldof ego trip and feel good charity anthem "Do They Know It's Christmas". It's funny, and very cool since the spoof is in the spirit of giving. If you know and love these guys, watch this.

Jon Hamm

Photo by Seth Olenick by permission only*

Whether he's Dick Whitman in flashbacks, or Don Draper being a cheating cad on Mad Men, Jon Hamm is compelling. He portrays that dark, mysterious genius of advertising, that philanderer. He owns the character. It would be too easy to associate him as deep and as brooding as his fictional alter ego, especially since he was virtually unknown before nabbing the role. But not so fast.

Something interesting happened during Hamm's time off from the AMC drama. He hosted SNL with a surprising handle on comedy that included a few impressions up his sleeve: JFK and James Mason. Who knew? Then, he guested on a few episodes of 30 Rock as Liz Lemon's neighbor love interest, Dr. Drew Baird, where he was sexy, goofy and funny.

Jon Hamm is actually part of the world of funny people. Before he portrayed Don Draper he appeared in The Sarah Silverman Program as a cable guy (Season 1: Muffin Man). He's buddies with an array of comedians such as Jimmy Kimmel and Paul Rudd. He's been featured on Zach Galifianakis' Between Two Ferns on FunnyorDie. He portrayed Lex Luthor in a film short on the same site. He hangs out at comedy podcasts like Never Not Funny and I Love Movies with Doug Benson, as well as the Comedy Death Ray Radio at UCB.

Here's his gig on Between Two Ferns:

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis from Between Two Ferns

I love to watch Don Draper, but I'm glad he doesn't really exist. There's comfort in knowing the man who portrays him embraces humor, stays real with his posse of comedian friends and keeps that twinkle in his eye.

Mad Men premieres on AMC on Sunday, August 16th at 10pm Et.

*Word on Jon Hamm photo above. It was taken by Seth Olenick, photographer and comedy fan. He's been working on a book of photography featuring today's favorite comedians, and kindly allowed me permission to use some photos for some upcoming commentary here. No sharing shots without asking him first. Please? Thank you!

30 Rock: Larry King

If you tuned into 30 Rock last night, and thought you had joined the Crypt Keeper Hour, with guest Tracy Morgan, you were mistaken. It was just another hilariously odd episode of the Tina Fey show with Larry King playing himself. There was also another installment of Selma Hayek portraying Jack's paramour Elisa. Lest there should be an overload of stunt casting, Jon Hamm wasn't in this one, causing me a tinge of sadness, yet a very nice mention by Liz that she has had sex two more times in 2009 than currently sexless Jack. If we count backwards to all the lovers she's had this past month - that would be zero plus one equals Dr. Baird. So, hats off to you, Liz Lemon, for getting laid by your gorgeous doctor boyfriend and having him take boobie shots of you before the first quarter ends. Kudos.

However, all is not rosey in Liz Land. Her iPhone - the most ubiquitously featured bit of product placement on the show these days - was left in a taxi, and is being held hostage by the driver for $2,000. It's either the money or the picture of Lemon boobage that lives in its hard drive will be spread across Livery cabs from borough to borough like that maple syrup smell from Jersey.

Meanwhile, the economic crisis explodes while Tracy is chatting it up with Larry. Jack is trying to keep Elisa from going off to Puerto Rico while juggling his need for sex, love and his need for greed as GE takes the brunt of the economic freakout. Also, the incredible and sorely missed Pete Hornberger tries to find some money that Tracy has told America he has hidden in a special place in 30 Rock that is hard on top, soft on the bottom but moves everywhere. That place was Kenneth's Page jacket - which came in handy when he helped pay off the ransom for the iPhone. Now Liz's boobs ("for once, the were pointing in the right direction!") will not be posted on the Fairway Billboard on the West Side Highway.

Hilarious episode as always. Since the story between Jack and Elisa appears to have ended (or put on hold), I'll miss Selma. Some bloggers weren't thrilled with her acting style, but I enjoyed the Baldwin/Hayek interaction. She brought out his warmth.

Also major props to Maulik Pancholy, who plays Jack's secretary Jonathan. His turn as the infatuated second hand man with a boy crush was and is always incredibly funny. Watching him play flute shirtless on tape in last night's episode was horrifyingly hysterical.

Now, lets bring back Jon Hamm for the ladies, please.

The Best Week Ever

Jon Hamm will be joining Paul F. Tompkins on The Best Week Ever tomorrow night at 11pm EST on VH1. I love it when Hamm is in his funny mode, and thrilled he's getting in some laughs before he slicks down his hair and gets his Don Drapper on for production on Mad Men this spring.

It's a "Mad" Week: Mad Men Showrunner's Future in Doubt

This has been a busy week in the "Mad Man" camp. First Jon Hamm hosts "Saturday Night Live", then the season finale of the Emmy award winning show airs on Sunday, earning stellar ratings. Now this.

It's been reported that negotiations on bringing back "Mad Men" for a third season have been slow. Anxiety grew high as the second season drew close to an end, only to find that AMC had not officially picked up the show for season three - until a few days ago, when the "all clear" had been rung, and fans rejoiced that, yes children, there will be another year of Don Draper. Yet, all hopes have come to a screeching halt. Nikki Finke has reported that Matthew Weiner and Lionsgate have hit a brick wall when it comes to his contract. CAA and Weiner want $10 million a year, plus control over promotion and advertising, which, as Finke mentions, is fine for a premium channel such as HBO, but it's pretty rich for basic cable AMC.

This may all be smoke and mirrors to allow Weiner and Lionsgate to compromise on a decent deal, but it's scary for "Mad Men" viewers who appreciate the intense devotion and imagination of Weiner, whose own vision brought this story to the small screen. When a list of possible new showrunners is being considered to replace him, one of them being Aaron Sorkin (other than "Sports Night" - not a fan, me), the heart thumps through the chest in fear.

Lets hope that this is one of those tactics they use in Baseball, where the free agent holds out, looking at other teams as options, until the favored team wins. Although the show has been signed on for two more years with or without the original showrunner, it's clear: "Mad Man" cannot go on without Matthew Weiner. Here's hoping they reach a fair deal soon.

(Source: www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com)

Update: According to Defamer, reports of Lionsgate looking to replace Weiner was only a rumor. There appears to be slight friction because they are still hashing out details, with back and forth still going on.

Mad Men Season Finale: "Meditations In An Emergency"

This weekend was saturated in "Mad Men". The very dapper Jon Hamm successfully hosted an edition of Saturday Night Live, where he and his "Mad Men" co-stars Elisabeth Moss and John Slattery dabbled in satirizing their beloved drama. Also, "Mad Men's" second season concluded in a powerful season finale on Sunday night.

"Meditations in an Emergency", the beat book of poems by Frank O'Hara, originally published in 1957, was featured in the season premiere. It's a slim book of rambling emotional free flowing thought on a man's personal quest to return to his own center. The book's mention set up a mirror to Don's struggle for his identity, the need to return to his true self, whether that is the roving Dick Whitman, or Don Draper, a man who will be left standing in the mire as the world crumbles around him. It is here where we found Don dealing with his mortality. A visit to the doctor warned of health risks and bad habits. He wasn't getting any younger, and that three pack a day habit wasn't helping.

He and the minions of Sterling Cooper dwelled in the middle of 1962, living in Camelot, waiting for the new space age, defining their roles in the social and professional mores of Madison Avenue, as the world found itself on the brink of a cultural explosion. Yet, last night's episode provided an intrusion on the day to day. The news was grim. The Cuban Missile Crisis was upon them. Kennedy worked to avert a national catastrophe. American's worst fear was at hand: A nuclear attack threatened. This was real.

"Meditations" is rehashed, this time as the title for last night's episode. We find all characters huddled in fear at the prospect of a nuclear attack at the hands of Fidel Castro. Meanwhile another invasion is brewing as Sterling Cooper is about to merge with a high power British advertising agency. The episode was explosive, as the fright of world decimation makes everyone face the reality of their own mortality. The confessions come. The truth begins to hatch.

Do confessions come about when one is on the brink of death? As bombs were pointed in the direction of these shores, there was personal redemption for most characters. In a tender and powerful scene, unforgetable in its grace and pain, the floodgates opened. Pete Campbell admitted his love to Peggy Olsen which in a confessional turn, inspired by Father Gill, Peggy admitted she gave birth to his baby. The crushing blow came in the words that followed, when she gently told him that when she gave the child away, she relinquished any love she may have held for Pete. The irony of their characters has always been devastating. Pete and his wife Trudy couldn't conceive, and adoption, a motion that appalled Pete, was a looming option. And then there's Peggy, the girl he loved and couldn't have, who unknowingly produced his child who was now lost...to adoption. The scene is like a delicate dream, hanging in the mind's eye, leaving the viewer breathless. Kartheiser and Moss shined in this lush exchange of superb acting. The result was stunning.

The center of the story of Mad Men of late has been the damaged marriage of Don and Betty. The glory of "Meditations" is Don's return home. He was indeed a "sight for sore eyes", as Joan uttered in relief. It was a homecoming, a welcome symbol of stability as we see Don walk through the doors of Sterling Cooper once again. But the mere sight of him at the stables, as Betty's pregnancy hung in the balance, was a moment of relief. No matter how liberated he was as the California sun soaked Dick Whitman, those Don Draper New York clothes maketh the man. It is here where Don and Betty's reconciliation has a modicum of hope. Her chilliness is tiresome, fearsome, and quite sad. Yes, Don was a cad in his relentless infidelities. Perhaps Betty's sexual dalliance with the handsome man in the bar will provide a buffer, allowing her the cushion of knowledge that if Don could be untrue, at least she is now even. As they deal with her pregnancy, we are still left in wonder as the bomb threat lessens. Now that they can go on living, what's next?

We'll find out when "Mad Men" returns in July 2009.

SNL: Guest Host - Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm has established himself as a continuing future guest host of Saturday Night Live, along the lines of Alec Baldwin, Ben Affleck and Carmen Diaz. He was on fire last night in a bevvy of political sketches as well as incredibly fun "Mad Men" spoofs that thrilled this MM fan to the marrow. Cameos by John Slattery and Elisabeth Moss playing their perspective MM characters was a surprise and fun to behold.

Hamm has always had the funny chops to carry off a guest starring stint on SNL. You can see the glimmer of humor in his eyes on Mad Men, and the guy hangs around Jimmy Kimmel for God sakes. For a program that tends to be serious with variable degrees of lighthearted moments, it was a blast to find Hamm portraying Don Draper in a comedic light. Highlight of the night:
"Don Draper's Guide to Picking Up Women".



So much more was in store. A funny Halloween bit involving Will Forte as a neighborhood sex predictor, a hilarious spoof of a Vincent Price fright hour, where Hamm showed his impressionist skills by nailing a perfect James Mason. A great reunion with Maya Rudolph flourished into the Michelle and Barack OBama variety hour, whereby Hamm showed his JFK imitation skills to perfection. Here's hoping that Hamm returns for more appearances. He ruled the show.

Amy Poehler was missing due to the very wonderful fact that she and her husband, comedian Will Arnett had their first child the day before - Archie Arnett. Amy will apparently be leaving SNL, but will be working on the new Greg Daniels (showrunner of "The Office") project for NBC. Go baby mama!

(Photo courtesy of NBC Universal Media)

Mad Men: "King of the Mountain"

Last night's Mad Men, entitled "King of the Mountain" unraveled more layers of Don Draper/Dick Whitman's past. Several episodes earlier, we were taken into a flashback of Don's earlier days as a used car salesman. In walked a lithe blonde woman who took one look at fake Don and proclaimed that he wasn't Don Draper. Cut to 1962. Don's on his California journey, leaving the wealthy band of jet setting gypsies behind. He visits the mysterious blond, who turns out to be the real Mrs. Draper - Anne. Apparently, they share a past of friendship and secrets held close to the vest. Her lack of love for the real Don, made her bow to Dick's need to carry out the false identity, pretending they were married until Don/Dick (this is confusing) falls in love with Betty. "Look at you. You're in the lavender haze". I love that line. There is much to do with baptism, re-birth and renewal as Don walks into the ocean. Who will he be when he comes back to shore?

(Personal wish: I hope that Don's "renewal" makes him come back to tell Betty everything. Betty holds firm in no allowing Don to come back because he won't tell her something. She wants him to admit his infidelities, yet she seems to want to hear more from him. I'm hoping this all comes out. The chips fall. Then when the healing begins, they can find a way to stay together. I want them to work out).

Meanwhile back in Westchester County, Betty's odd desire to punish people is rearing it's Dipity Do head. At the sight of eight year old Sally smoking, she understandably (for those days) unleashes the wrath of mother hell on the child. But she's not finished. For good measure, she rings up the love sick Sarabeth to secretly take a pulse on how her broken heart is going, considering that she threw her into the arms of the young, nubile Arthur. Betty's gift of riding boots for Sally was a lovely touch in acknowledging that she may be engaging in motherhood more than ever. The notion of getting her period at that moment could be telling. There have been teasers forcing us to believe she could be pregnant.

Joan. Poor, lovely, lonely Joan. Here's hoping that she reads Betty Friedan before she does something horrible, like actually marry that rapist doctor.

Peggy is taking charge. Claiming her stake in Freddie's old office takes more testosterone than all the male copywriters can find together. Harry has to "stare at an Orangutan all day", and Paul Kinsey will continue to stew in his own jealousy while Ms. Olsen has her own wet bar.

Pete Campbell is an impressive man, if not a tad infuriating. He's like a stubborn, arrogant child who likes to throw his weight around at work, and in his marriage. Yet, I will say that it's kind of him not to harp about Don's disappearance to Peggy, admitting to knowing about the real Don Draper, but he didn't spill the beans. As for his wife forging ahead with the adoption despite his approval - he was well within his right to be angry with her and her nose butting father. Who cares if the Clearasil account is pulled? Campbell showed some cahones there. Here's hoping that he divorces that little muffin of a wife, and gets it on with Peggy once more.

Next week is the season finale. It should be explosive.

Mad Men News:

- Mad Men has been picked up for a third season by AMC. Details have not been disclosed since Wiener and crew are still in negotiation over minor items.

- Jon Hamm will be hosting "Saturday Night Live" on October 25th, with musical guest Coldplay.

"Early In The Morning, About the Break of Day"

Reality poked it's ugly Jimmy Barrett head into the pretty picture of perfect in Sunday's "Mad Men" (Episode: "A Night to Remember"). After the affairs and lusty surrender to Jimmy's pushy and hoary wife Bobby, Betty threw down the hammer and held up Don's infidelity to his face. He denied away, living in his own state of "it never happened....it's shocking how this all never happened", toying with Betty's sanity, telling her she was wrong. Yet, the pretty blond stood by her guns. This is were the bride and groom on top of the wedding cake drips off the top and falls into the garbage. Betty found her groove. She woke up. Suddenly, the black and white sixties are on the verge of switching to color, not just for Betty, but for the women of "Mad Men".

Much like Don, Peggy Olsen lives her own lie. Her denial is held firm by mental anguish and sheer obstinace. Her accomplishment of landing a copywriter job in a big advertising firm has provided a shield from the realities of her home life, where her mother and sister use passive aggression to open her eyes to her Catholic duties, and the child she bore. When Peggy is asked by her priest, the young Father Gill to help with flyers for a fundraiser, per pride gets in her way. Another sin? Although her defiance of the CYO committee is understandable, there is a sense of conceit over the ladies who disapprove of "A Night To Remember" motif. How dare these old biddies question the creative mind of a Madison Avenue copywriter? Of course she's sensitive to this. Her job is her escape. It's her life. It's what she believes defines her.




Peggy is the ultimate enigma to the audience and to Father Gill, who won't let on his knowledge of her baby; yet, he tries to chip away at her patience, indirectly breaking her down to seek the Lord's help in admitting she had the child. It's interesting to annoy someone into admitting something, and it seems young Father Gill may have broken an emotional wall in that pony tailed head of hers. Peggy held onto her belly as he left the room, perhaps trying to connect to the child she carried and ignored. Later that night, alone in her bath, she sat like stone in the same trance in which we viewed Betty. One could compare the vision to a baptism. For one moment she awakes in a startled fit, almost as if everything she denied hit her between the eyes. It will take subsequent episodes to see how that might play out.

And there is Joan, the wowser, with breasts like bullets and curves that kill. She's a husband seeker who landed a doctor who'd like to keep her in bon-bons for the rest of her life. But being placed as a temporary Broadcast Operations liaison for Harry, allowed her to realize she had a knack for more than just one day ditching the carbon copies for the hairnet and slippers. Reading soap opera scripts and anticipating the needs of the sponsor and network was actually a blast. As Harry introduced Joan to her replacement, a young man with dumb stories and nary a clue about the job, the disappointment, so palpable, seemed to rise like bile into her throat, quietly knocking her for a loop. Joan's image, once the high flying top secretary, riding the wave of gorgeous glamor on Madison Avenue, kept her stuck into the ever solid mold of sexy assistant. At the end of the day, all she has to show for it are bra marks that denote the burden of holding those triple D's high while wiggling those hips, much, perhaps, to her own detriment.


Living a lie is an nasty business. When the truth comes down, it destroys all in its path, creating a catalyst that may awaken others around them to reality. As we observe from the AMC 's original series "Mad Men", Don Draper exists in a cloud of mirrors and falsehoods, where even his own name isn't his own. He borrowed someone else's identity, and created an illusion of Madison Avenue visions as a lifestyle. He found the perfect pretty blond girl and married her. They had the two beautiful children and put them in a house in the country. For Don, or Dick Whitman, it destroyed a family he never knew - the real Draper family - who, at this time, exist in a state of nothingness. His lie destroyed his lonely step brother, who on his last tether of hope, reached out to Don, only to be spurned. Now it will destroy the very image he built up on a pile of lies. However, will the women and children who make up the collateral damage find a path to their own truth? It's too early too tell. They've all just woken up.