Smoke Gets In Your Ears

For their final episode of 2014, AJ, Kenn, and Joe continue their discussion of Mad Men season 5 with looks at "At the Codfish Ball," in which someone's cod is getting fished, if you know what I mean; "Lady Lazarus," wherein Don lets the needle drop; and "Dark Shadows," in which smog invades Thanksgiving. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

Things get a little tripy this week, as AJ, Joe, and Kenn continue their look at Mad Men season 5 with a discussion of "Mystery Date," in which Grandma Pauline gives Sally drugs; "Signal 30," wherein the Pryce is wrong for one Pete Campbell; and "Far Away Places," in which Roger discovers he just wasn't made for these times. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

Zou bisou bisou, here's to another season of Mad Men. Seasons 5 gets off to a start with awkward burlesques, hot cleaning action, a trademark Peach Pussy Power Play, and much more. The episodes under discussion are the two-part premiere "A Little Kiss," in which it's Don's party and he'll grump if he wants to; and "Tea Leaves," wherein Betty's, uh, put on a few pounds. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

Don makes another pilgrimage to California as Mad Men season 4 ends, while AJ, Kenn, and Joe engage in some exquisite girl talk about the man's complicated love life. What makes this trip different? What do Don's decisions say about him? Who is Don Draper? The boys try and get to the bottom of things. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

As Mad Men season 4 winds to a close, things seem to be falling apart for damn near everyone at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. AJ, Kenn, and Joe chronicle the various disasters in "Hands and Knees," in which we discover Lane has a sweet tooth for chocolate; "Chinese Wall," wherein Megan goes above and beyond in her secretarial duties; and "Blowing Smoke," in which Don actually finds a use for The New York Times.

This week, AJ, Kenn, and Joe turn toward a very eventful run of Mad Men episodes: "The Suitcase," one of the series' all-time high points; "The Summer Man," in which the new Don struts (and swims) his stuff; and "The Beautiful Girls," wherein Sally falls flat on her face. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch...which, in a bit of a departure, is a review of the Jon Hamm-starring baseball movie Million Dollar Arm.

Let's get liberated. AJ, Kenn, and Joe continue their discussion of Mad Men season 4 with a look at "The Rejected," featuring a Peach Pussy Power Play; "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword," wherein Roger makes a bunch of racist jokes (what else is new?); and "Waldorf Stories," in which that curse from Buffy that made Jonathan all cool and famous is apparently still strong enough that he got to be on Mad Men. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

Who is Don Draper? That's the question asked at the beginning of Mad Men season 4, one that will prove to be very important to the season that follows. AJ, Kenn, and Joe get in a celebratory mood circa 1964, starting with Sally's Thanksgiving regurgitation in "Public Relations"; before moving onto Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce's Roman orgy festivities in "Christmas Comes But Once a Year"; and ending with some bad news in "The Good News," just in time to ring in the new year. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

It's Christmastime in the city, which means 1963 is almost over. Other things at an end: the Draper marriage, Sterling Cooper, and Mad Men season 3. AJ, Kenn, and Joe discuss the finale, "Shut the Door. Have a Seat.," in which our cast of characters, who have so often been at odds with each other this year, are forced to band together to start a new chapter of their lives. It's a heist, Mad Men style; Don's Eleven, if you will. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

Where were you when JFK was shot? The characters on Mad Men find their everyday lives, their ad campaigns, and their affairs interrupted by those bullets in Dallas. AJ, Kenn, and Joe, who weren't around on 11/22/63, sift through Sterling Cooper's sense of loss and share reactions to their generation's closest reference point: 9/11. The episodes under the lens this week are "The Color Blue," wherein Betty consults an attorney; "The Gypsy and the Hobo," in which Ms. Farrell spends a lot of time in the car; and "The Grown-Ups," wherein Lee Harvey Oswald ruins Margaret's wedding. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

After taking a week off, AJ, Kenn, and Joe are back with more talk of Mad Men season 3. The episodes up for discussion this week are "Seven Twenty Three," in which time (and Don's face) is fractured; "Souvenir," wherein Pete does something very bad; and "Wee Small Hours," in which Lucky Strike doesn't get lucky. Also on this episode: the boys realize that three straight white guys analyzing Mad Men is sort of terrible and ironic. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

It's still 1963 for the gang at Sterling Cooper; acid wouldn't become the drug du jour for another few years, but that doesn't stop our very own Kenn Edwards from going on a far-out trip, man. As Kenn comes down from his psychedelic odyssey, he attempts to talk about Mad Men with a depressingly sober AJ and Joe. The episodes among discussion this week are "The Arrangements," in which Sally throws a tantrum (that will bring you to tears); "The Fog," wherein Betty takes revenge on caterpillars; and "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency," in which, well...yeah. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

A new season has begun, in more ways than one. As Don gets his Maypole on, AJ, Kenn, and Joe begin the third season of Mad Men. This week, they take a look at "Out of Town," which features a devious little bellhop; "Love Among the Ruins," wherein Ann-Margret is a sexy baby; and "My Old Kentucky Home," which is an extravaganza of blackface, pot-smoking, and accordion-playing. And don't forget those Brits. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch! 

Reunions. Betrayals. Usurpations. (Is that a word?) Just another day at Sterling Cooper and also the second season finale of Mad Men, "Meditations in an Emergency." AJ, Kenn, and Joe discuss where Don and Betty's relationship is headed in light of how badly it's been damaged this season; the Cuban Missile Crisis hanging over every decision these characters make; and the conclusion of Duck's foolish gambit. There's also talk of Are You Here, Matthew Weiner's new film and feature directorial debut. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

In their penultimate week of discussing Mad Men season 2, AJ, Kenn, and Joe take a look at the "The Inheritance," in which the Drapers experience a stroke of bad luck; "The Jet Set," the charming tale of a young German man whose quest is to overcome adversity to see a Bob Dylan concert; and "The Mountain King," wherein Don meets an old friend out Californee way. Plus, Hamm Watch makes its triumphant return!

Continuing their discussion of Mad Men season 2, AJ, Kenn, and Joe take a look at "The Gold Violin," wherein the Drapers litter; "A Night to Remember," in which Father Gill makes his singer/songwriter debut; and "Six Month Leave," wherein Freddy Rumsen pisses himself. No Hamm Watch this month...but just you wait until next week!

This week, AJ, Kenn, and Joe are joined by The Debatable Podcast host Greg Sahadachny to continue their look at Mad Men season 2. The episodes under discussion are "Three Sundays," in which Peggy experiences Scorsese levels of Catholic guilt; "The New Girl," wherein Don has a bit too much to drink; and "Maidenform," which features a very sad puppy. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

After a short break, AJ, Kenn, and Joe have returned to talk more Mad Men. To help them discuss the first three episodes of season 2, the gang is joined by noted Billy Joel enthusiast/Radio Bastard co-host Jason Tabrys. Kenn and Joe aren't thrilled by these opening episodes, so AJ and Jason attempt to set them straight; much horse-related humor, discussion of Don's unglamorous aging, and alpha hipsters follows. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

AJ, Kenn, and Joe have reached the end of Mad Men season 1, and in a way, the end of the first "season" of Smoke Gets in Your Ears. To round things out, the gang discusses the season finale "The Wheel," including Don's vulnerabilities and epiphanies, Peggy's ascension in the office (not to mention the shocking thing that happens to her after the fact), and how Betty is oh so very sad. Plus, don't miss a super-sized installment of Hamm Watch!

Men acting as if they are cowboys and riding women as if they are horses, rejuvenating undergarments, promiscuous household appliances...all this and more on the new episode of Smoke Gets in Your Ears: A Mad Men Podcast! AJ, Kenn, and Joe near the end of season 1, as they discuss "Long Weekend," wherein Roger has a semi-eclipse of the heart; "Indian Summer," in which Pete receives a package; and "Nixon vs. Kennedy," wherein the scumbag and the prettyboy (but which ones?) are after your vote. Plus, don't miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!