This isn’t exactly new, but it’s a nice follow-up to the January Jones GQ cover story/photo shoot and the ensuing “Are her boobs Photoshopped?” debate. It is, quite simply, a video of television’s Betty Draper wearing lingerie and being photographed, set to a sexy little electropop number. It’s a great way to make you want to make out with your computer screen.
(Side note: The other video that I was considering posting in this time slot was a Japanese TV clip of girls in bikinis trying to melt phallic pieces of ice as quickly as possible. In short, they simulate most of the sex acts I know, plus a couple I hadn’t considered before. Who won the contest? I’m not sure; I didn’t get all the way through it. So I guess that means I won, really.)
I loathe writing recaps of shows, but sometimes an episode deserves your attention whether you watch the show or not. That’s why I occasionally bring you Just the Badass Parts. Today: “Mad Men” episode 308, where “badass” means “sexy as hell.” The highlights, in no particular order:
Naturally, after all the sexiness and good times, the episode ended on a sharply bitter note, because any happiness the characters can attain is fleeting, and everyone is ultimately miserable. Hooray! Just like us!

Hell yes. I’ve been waiting for this animated .gif file to materialize online since the moment I watched the most memorable scene from Sunday night’s “Mad Men.”
If you happened to miss the episode, (a) shame on you, and (b) you may want to stop reading now, as I’m about to discuss details. Or rather: detail, singular. That detail being HOLY CRAP THAT BRITISH DUDE GOT HIS FOOT SHREDDED BY A LAWNMOWER. Just when it looked like the show was about to take a compelling new turn with another personnel shake-up at Sterling Cooper, Matthew Weiner hit the brakes and did a skidding 180 by spewing blood and bone matter on employees’ faces. It was shocking, gruesome, and positively hilarious.
Note to every show on TV: sudden, violent amputation is always a nice plot twist. I really hope Pete Campbell lands a wood chipper account.
[image via GIF PARTY]
The good people at Landline TV made this spoof that captures the essence of why I like “Mad Men” — namely, a pleasing visual aesthetic, casual racism and sexism, and rampant drinking and smoking in the workplace. Oh sure, there are intellect-y things like “complex characterization” and “smart writing,” but you had me at gray flannel suits and subservient secretaries.
I’d also like to use this opportunity to briefly discuss Sunday night’s episode, so if you’re one of those buzzkills who doesn’t watch your shows on time then bitches when you find out plot details, be warned: THAR BE SPOILERS AHEAD, MATEY.
“Mad Men” news ain’t stoppin’ any time soon, chitlins:
AMC announced today it has renewed “Mad Men” for a fourth season. The news comes on the heels of the premiere of the series’ third season, which debuted Sunday, August 16 to unprecedented critical acclaim and attention, and garnered a record 4.5 million viewers. The series has also recently received 16 Emmy nominations – the most for any drama series – including Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama (Jon Hamm), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama (John Slattery), and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama (Elisabeth Moss).
Not to mention Outstanding Inspiration to Drink at Work, Outstanding Use of Blackface (John Slattery), Outstanding Public Fingerbang (Jon Hamm), and last but not least, Outstanding Gigantic Tits on a Redhead (Christina Hendricks). Congrats to ‘Mad Men.” I believe this calls for a drink.
Yup, that’s Roger Sterling (John Slattery) in blackface on last night’s episode of “Mad Men.” Why? Well, a bunch of rich white people went to the Hamptons for a Derby Day party, and when else are you gonna break out the blackface if not at a rich white people party in the Hamptons? (It’s a tradition that continues today, I believe.) Anyway, inexcusable racial insensitivity aside, Slattery has a lovely baritone. Suck on that, Al Jolson.
But that wasn’t all for the musical performances last night. Not only did Paul Kinsey and his drug-dealing friend from Princeton get high and relive their a cappella days, but Joan (Christina Hendricks) and her dickbag fiancé husband hosted a dinner party, and the dickbag pressured Joan into performing. “Play a little,” he said, and immediately every red-blooded male wanted to know what she played. The clarinet? The flute? Something phallic! Something she has to blow! Yeah, high-five!
Nope: