In a '90s contination that I note in my own comment, I would have it where that likely stays, but the family ads on the towers are replaced by singles on a night out to reflect that especially by 1990 women did not marry nearly as young as they did in 1960.
God damn...I miss this show so much. Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and any other great tv series that has come out in the last ten years deserve all the praise but this show just connected with me so well. Everything was amazing in it. Long live Mad Men!
What I think of the intro. The intro itself is the cycle of Don's existence in the show. He goes into work and instantly begins falling, first it's down a woman's leg (his affairs going horribly wrong, next is dropping into a bottle of scotch, then he clings to the commitment he's made to his wife (the ring on the hand picture) And after that he starts falling from his family, his lack of love for his kids and the broken home he's made them come from. And now he's staring at it. We've been left to make the judgement about how he feels about his life and personally I don't think it's good.
Brandon or maybe him falling represents his chaotic and scattered mind due to his false and shifting identify. In the end he always manages to look cool and collected on the outside. However he's quite insecure and scared a lot of the time.
I thought the ending with him in the chair, shows that after he falls right down to the bottom, he wound up right back where he started, on top. I think that was the point of the ending, he came up with the Coke Campaign, and in the end, he was right back where he was with the original Lucky Strikes campaign.
For a '90s continuation, I would have it where a woman (presumably Sally) is the one falling, and she sees some of the things (bad and good) in her life in such (reflecting her dating disasters as she reaches 35 having never married with no children), having a true best friend from college who like Sally is one of the partners in Sterling, Draper, Olson and Rizzo (the third incarnation of Sterling I have launch in March 1975), the changes in time (the family ads replaced by people who are clearly single and often dressed for nights at the club and so forth) and in the end on the couch with a bottle of diet soda or water instead of a cigarette.
This series won 16 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Outstanding Cinematography for a One-Hour Series - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series - Shoot, The Gold Violin, Souvenir, Christmas Comes But Once A Year, Outstanding Main Title Design, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Meditations In An Emergency, Shut The Door. Have A Seat, Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series, Outstanding Drama Series of seasons 1-4 and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Jon Hamm.
This is a show that's meant to be not just watched but discussed. I love Breaking Bad and The Sopranos, but when I'm watching them on Netflix, I watch one episode, think about how great it was, and then go onto the next episode. When I'm watching Mad Men on Netflix, I stop my session after every episode and discuss the show with the people I'm watching it with. We don't go onto the next episode for an hour or so. That's what's unique about this show. That's why it's my favorite show of all time.
It's one of those shows where you really read into each character and their dialogue, I'm only on Season 2 right now but once again I'm drawn in to actually care about the characters. A great example of character development would have to be Pete Campbell, he has so many different levels to his character and motivations, every episode of Mad Men is filled with performances that have you believe you were in 1960. It's quickly becoming my favourite show of all time and from what I've heard, it's only going to get better.
A show being discussed is not something unique to Mad Men. Okay you may like it. Very much from what you say. But you cannot go on and generalise by saying "This is a show that's meant to be not just watched but discussed." meaning that most other shows are not meant to be discussed. The truth is that you like discussing it and that's fine. I spent countless hours talking about breaking bad and what might happen next with my friends. Those are all shows with complicated characters, hidden meaning, foreshadowing that you need to dig deeper to get the most out of them.
My mom has been marathoning this lately. I haven't actually sat down to check out the show yet, but I freaking *love* this intro. The full 5-min. version is awesome, too, but it doesn't have the same resolution as this poignant 36-second cut-which resolution really completes the emotional rollercoaster I feel when listening to it. Like, it actually brings me to _tears_ the more I listen to it. It just resonates with me on a primal level.
Every single element of this show is well conceived. It's the type of show everyone should be watching because it's so brilliant. For the longest while I kept hearing about it and always said I have to watch. But I didn't get into it until it was available on iTunes and I am absolutely addicted.
Breaking Bad is a great, entertaining show. But Mad Men is an exquisite work of art: absolutely untouchable when it comes to narrative structure, precise thematic relationships between stories in each episodes, and moving character development. What I love about MM is that each episode is a puzzle, and the viewer has to put the pieces together to find the meaning.
I was a boy in the early-mid 60's... The very first episode reminded me of the 'feel' of those days. I was hooked on the show after the first intro credits... I'm glad some exec' didn't try to create a pathetic spin-off from it... ( Well, maybe Roger Sterling could have pulled it off.)
"Mad Men" - that opening sequence instantly made me recall the harrowing photo, "The Falling Man", from the September 11th attack on the Twin Towers. I'm certain it was deliberate.
herr kaze Possibly his inevitable downfall from power and grace that we will see towards the end of the show. I don't know yet, but I think it's about time that Don's sins have caught up with him.
They should have updated the opening sequence to reflect their being in 1969-'70 in the final season, a full decade from when this opening was done. If I got to do a '90s continuation, I would invert the black-and-white colors and have it where it's a woman rather than a man who goes through this (to reflect how women by the early '90s dominated the ad field as I remember), in the end landing on the couch with a bottle of diet coke instead of a cigarette in her hand (to reflect it being 1990 instead of 1960). I would also do it to "Sirius" by the Alan Parsons Project. That's the instrumental part that is the intro to their 1982 hit "Eye In The Sky" and is better known as the intro used by the Chicago Bulls during their run of SIX NBA titles in the 1990s as well as several other NBA teams then.
This is hands down my favorite television series intro of all time. I go out of my way to correct Netflix when it starts the episode by cutting out the intro when you watch sequential episodes. It's all because 0:09 is seriously the dopest and most fitting beat for the series. It's got that classic yet modern blend and it's so amazing.
Thank God this show ended before the era of wokeness. Like GoT which started at a period of normalcy and ended when PC culture took over our plot-writing and media.
+Alex G Personally I found this show very nice, depicting in the background how the sixties were the decade when everything changed, socially speaking, culturally speaking...the characters are well-interpreted by their actors, there's not much action but the strength of the characters easily compensate for it. PS : sorry for my english I'm french
Out of all shows on TV right now that still have an opening intro., this one has my favorite song because of how mysterious yet sophisticated it sounds.
There are two reasons to watch Mad Men. One is to see how great writing, spot-on acting and sublime music combines to make one of the best televison series in decades, one that is intelligent, entertaining and manages to appeal to many demographics without any problem. The other, of course, is Christina Hendricks.
I haven't seen any of the shows that you say don't come close but I've heard really good things about all of them. But yes the three that you mentioned stand above all else. Especially The Sopranos :)
Matthew Weiner (writer/creator) was supervising producer for the sopranos when the show aried for its 6 seasons and came out with Mad Men... I've been watching both for as long as i can remember and Mad Men is still the best written & directed show out there.
"Poor judgement, guys". Okay...I'll say you have "poor judgement". I understand AND appreciate the juxtaposition of "ad" images, the melancholy orchestral piece mixed with modern street beats, and the silhouetted image of the main character (very NOIR-like and well done btw). All of them come together in this short sequence as we literally see the silhouetted character in a free-fall to his figurative "death". That's why I really like this intro.
I love how it conveys the feeling of being out of control and miserable despite a cool, collected exterior.
April Jones that's how I feel when I watch it!
That’s such a great way of describing it. I know what you mean!
The ending beat when Don is sitting is so badass...
and then the last part when the violin ends the opening
danny hernandez uu
danny hernandez
you read my mind man. that is the best part. so badass
Everything before :27 seconds is irrelevant.
YES
I can't think of a better show opening than this. Music and visuals are incredible. A man falling through life.
longhorns13192 Daredevil and House of Cards openings are op too.
falling through lies too
Basketball Man Daredevil The Netflix show? What are you living under a rock?
Better call saul
The Sopranos?
I could just watch this over and over again and never get tired of it.
I love how Hitchcockian this opening is. Apparently, Weiner said that it was an homage to the opening of Vertigo, and if so, very well done.
Hassaan Mirza That would be an homage to Saul Bass then. :)
+Hassaan Mirza And make by a man called Milton Glaser
has to be one of the best intros in tv history
I always think the woman's leg is going to kick don away
LMAO, me too :p
+112222y I thought that, too. Presumably it's intentional.
ZayBrii Zxaraya yeah, that would be pretty funny. 😂
😂😂😂
In a '90s contination that I note in my own comment, I would have it where that likely stays, but the family ads on the towers are replaced by singles on a night out to reflect that especially by 1990 women did not marry nearly as young as they did in 1960.
There's no second chance for a first impression. Mad Men has managed to pass that challange.
Just hearing this tune again makes me want to watch the show all over again lol
To be fully honest...I kinda feel like a bad ass when i listen to this song...lol
Doesn't everyone?
I can put this on loop and listen to it all day.
God damn...I miss this show so much. Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and any other great tv series that has come out in the last ten years deserve all the praise but this show just connected with me so well. Everything was amazing in it. Long live Mad Men!
Yeah dude I have missed it too! Nothing is filling that Mad Men gap :(
Ever heard of Bojack Horseman before?
@@alexh.4564 Lmao you're joking
This show needs to come back.
What I think of the intro. The intro itself is the cycle of Don's existence in the show. He goes into work and instantly begins falling, first it's down a woman's leg (his affairs going horribly wrong, next is dropping into a bottle of scotch, then he clings to the commitment he's made to his wife (the ring on the hand picture) And after that he starts falling from his family, his lack of love for his kids and the broken home he's made them come from. And now he's staring at it. We've been left to make the judgement about how he feels about his life and personally I don't think it's good.
Brandon or maybe him falling represents his chaotic and scattered mind due to his false and shifting identify. In the end he always manages to look cool and collected on the outside. However he's quite insecure and scared a lot of the time.
I thought the ending with him in the chair, shows that after he falls right down to the bottom, he wound up right back where he started, on top. I think that was the point of the ending, he came up with the Coke Campaign, and in the end, he was right back where he was with the original Lucky Strikes campaign.
For a '90s continuation, I would have it where a woman (presumably Sally) is the one falling, and she sees some of the things (bad and good) in her life in such (reflecting her dating disasters as she reaches 35 having never married with no children), having a true best friend from college who like Sally is one of the partners in Sterling, Draper, Olson and Rizzo (the third incarnation of Sterling I have launch in March 1975), the changes in time (the family ads replaced by people who are clearly single and often dressed for nights at the club and so forth) and in the end on the couch with a bottle of diet soda or water instead of a cigarette.
one of the best shows and openings ever, the last scene of the opening of him sitting, iconic.
This series won 16 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Outstanding Cinematography for a One-Hour Series - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series - Shoot, The Gold Violin, Souvenir, Christmas Comes But Once A Year, Outstanding Main Title Design, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Meditations In An Emergency, Shut The Door. Have A Seat, Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series, Outstanding Drama Series of seasons 1-4 and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Jon Hamm.
Probably one of my favorite themes. From the design to the music and correlation, it's just wonderful.
This is a show that's meant to be not just watched but discussed. I love Breaking Bad and The Sopranos, but when I'm watching them on Netflix, I watch one episode, think about how great it was, and then go onto the next episode. When I'm watching Mad Men on Netflix, I stop my session after every episode and discuss the show with the people I'm watching it with. We don't go onto the next episode for an hour or so. That's what's unique about this show. That's why it's my favorite show of all time.
It's one of those shows where you really read into each character and their dialogue, I'm only on Season 2 right now but once again I'm drawn in to actually care about the characters. A great example of character development would have to be Pete Campbell, he has so many different levels to his character and motivations, every episode of Mad Men is filled with performances that have you believe you were in 1960. It's quickly becoming my favourite show of all time and from what I've heard, it's only going to get better.
Agreed, every episode was open to discussion. The character development was excellent and you really felt invested. I miss this show like crazy.
A show being discussed is not something unique to Mad Men. Okay you may like it. Very much from what you say.
But you cannot go on and generalise by saying "This is a show that's meant to be not just watched but discussed." meaning that most other shows are not meant to be discussed. The truth is that you like discussing it and that's fine. I spent countless hours talking about breaking bad and what might happen next with my friends. Those are all shows with complicated characters, hidden meaning, foreshadowing that you need to dig deeper to get the most out of them.
Aris Wow, you really shitted all over his comment. Not cool, man.
🙀😿😥😢
I wish my father would watch this show
He loves historical pieces and this one resonates with a decade he is particularly fond of himself
M.Bayne Why doesn't he?
Brilliant. Arguably the greatest opening sequence ever for a tv show.
This make me think corruption is everywhere in the structures that have the power in society
This is so catchy that I keep watching it over and over again.
sublime from beginning to end...
one of the greatest, if not the greatest, credit sequences in film/tv history bar none
Ah... This music is just awesome...
I miss this show so much.
that first episode...the first time I ever saw mad men...I just knew from this theme tune that it was going to be....FUCKIN AWESOME
No kidding. Fascinating show
Mad Men & The Sopranos ... Best shows ever.
this is the best series ever
has anyone noticed that as the series continues, the silhouette of don with the cigarette collects more dust as it goes on?
Literally my whole summer
This is one of the best opening titles I've ever seen. Love it.
Mad Men Intro: Don Draper arrives at work. Jumps out the window. Returns to the office and smokes a cigarette. Life of Mad Men.
My mom has been marathoning this lately. I haven't actually sat down to check out the show yet, but I freaking *love* this intro. The full 5-min. version is awesome, too, but it doesn't have the same resolution as this poignant 36-second cut-which resolution really completes the emotional rollercoaster I feel when listening to it. Like, it actually brings me to _tears_ the more I listen to it. It just resonates with me on a primal level.
this opening always reminded me of james bond
I can see Jon Hamm as James Bond, or batman!
oh ya, the series except not adam westified
Steward of Autumn CASINO ROYALE!
Every single element of this show is well conceived. It's the type of show everyone should be watching because it's so brilliant.
For the longest while I kept hearing about it and always said I have to watch. But I didn't get into it until it was available on iTunes and I am absolutely addicted.
love you Joan!!!!!
Awesome use of the shadow for Don, and Mad Men is fucking awesome.
Whenever I hear this theme, makes me want to light a good old fashioned cigarette up.
I miss you, Mad men
Mad "SMOKING EVERY DAY " men
Amazing artists. I looked them up, thank you.
Breaking Bad is a great, entertaining show. But Mad Men is an exquisite work of art: absolutely untouchable when it comes to narrative structure, precise thematic relationships between stories in each episodes, and moving character development. What I love about MM is that each episode is a puzzle, and the viewer has to put the pieces together to find the meaning.
Two great shows, hands down.
Most creative opening I've seen.
When you see the desk fan running on the window and feel the compulsive need to take it for screws.
Definitely one of the best and most fitting intros to any show to date.
OF COURSE THIS IS RJD2! I have no idea why I didn't make the connection earlier.
exactly what I was thinking!
excuse me? what is RJD2 please?
SilentDrex hes a music producer
roxy bear
Thanks
I love it when Peggy does this pose once she gets Don’s office. Symbolism at its finest
I AM GETTING RIDICULOUS DEJA VU WITH THIS SONG!!!!!
I feel like I could just watch this intro over and over again and not get tired. Amazing...
This could've been an intro to Archer.
I rented the first season at blockbuster saturday and I'm already hooked. THANKS NPR for talking about it - LOVE it!!!!
Can anyone identify the red poster from 0:06? It's in petes office in s1
Truly a remarkable show.
I was a boy in the early-mid 60's... The very first episode reminded me of the 'feel' of those days. I was hooked on the show after the first intro credits... I'm glad some exec' didn't try to create a pathetic spin-off from it... ( Well, maybe Roger Sterling could have pulled it off.)
"Mad Men" - that opening sequence instantly made me recall the harrowing photo, "The Falling Man", from the September 11th attack on the Twin Towers. I'm certain it was deliberate.
I'm not the biggest fan of Mad Men, but does anybody know the symbolism & themes of this intro? Great intro, btw.
herr kaze Possibly his inevitable downfall from power and grace that we will see towards the end of the show. I don't know yet, but I think it's about time that Don's sins have caught up with him.
***** Exactly! Mad Men is much like The Great Gatsby, in that sense. (The novel, not the atrocious film adaptations.)
The opening credits are every bit as classy, intriguing and beautiful to watch as the series itself.
it gets amazing at around 0:10
A S Gowri Sankar At around 0:00...
This gives me goosebumps everytime!
They should have updated the opening sequence to reflect their being in 1969-'70 in the final season, a full decade from when this opening was done.
If I got to do a '90s continuation, I would invert the black-and-white colors and have it where it's a woman rather than a man who goes through this (to reflect how women by the early '90s dominated the ad field as I remember), in the end landing on the couch with a bottle of diet coke instead of a cigarette in her hand (to reflect it being 1990 instead of 1960).
I would also do it to "Sirius" by the Alan Parsons Project. That's the instrumental part that is the intro to their 1982 hit "Eye In The Sky" and is better known as the intro used by the Chicago Bulls during their run of SIX NBA titles in the 1990s as well as several other NBA teams then.
Sounds like a cool spin-off idea. You should pitch that.
@@sakurashy8492 It would be a continuation of the original series, NOT a spin-off.
This is hands down my favorite television series intro of all time. I go out of my way to correct Netflix when it starts the episode by cutting out the intro when you watch sequential episodes. It's all because 0:09 is seriously the dopest and most fitting beat for the series. It's got that classic yet modern blend and it's so amazing.
You know it would be something if they did a Bojack Horseman version of this theme song.
Sakura Shy I know right
Such an inspiration yeah. Also succession's intro
Everytime I watch this intro I need to rewatch the show again.
7 days...
A man of good taste indeed, sonny jim!
Awesome show, my favorite in years, and, awesome, stylish intro. I love the logo at the end with Draper on the couch with the cig.
Can't wait for April 5th 2015. Final season
The day has arrived.
Bluenose352 tooche
Totally
Yeah. Gonna miss the show.
Just love the way that beat kicks in at 0:27 ... Yes I confess i sometimes rewind my dvd just to hear it again xD
Had no idea this was RJD2, I feel like an idiot now.
So amazing, my second favorite intro to a TV show.
What's your top favorite TV opening?
Thank God this show ended before the era of wokeness. Like GoT which started at a period of normalcy and ended when PC culture took over our plot-writing and media.
Love this show. Havent missed an episode so far..
I am thinking about watching this show. Is it any good?
+Alex G Personally I found this show very nice, depicting in the background how the sixties were the decade when everything changed, socially speaking, culturally speaking...the characters are well-interpreted by their actors, there's not much action but the strength of the characters easily compensate for it.
PS : sorry for my english I'm french
+Marian Maranzana thanks for the review:) by the way your English was fine.
This show is amazing (in my opinion). I highly recommend it. :)
+Marian Maranzana yeah you're English is fine because you used periods unlike other people...
Out of all shows on TV right now that still have an opening intro., this one has my favorite song because of how mysterious yet sophisticated it sounds.
どっちがmadかわかんねえや＾＾
There are two reasons to watch Mad Men. One is to see how great writing, spot-on acting and sublime music combines to make one of the best televison series in decades, one that is intelligent, entertaining and manages to appeal to many demographics without any problem. The other, of course, is Christina Hendricks.
Mad Men is not better than Game of Thrones
well you got me there
it's an opinion dude....why bother coming here just to say that?
gamer39985 It was a response to someone else's comment
Jaden Long o okay sorry.
Mad Men is better than Game of Thrones.
The opening sequence is just beautiful...
Great intro, great show.
That was my very first impression!! I am right there with you!
Been ten years! Best show ever!
The latest season (6) was truely one landmark in the tv series history.
One of the most memorable intro ever! Awesome memories! =)
I could watch this on a loop forever
this simple song speaks in so many ways
This animation and theme go so well together. It shows you that sometimes, simplicity is the way to go.
0:27 is by far my favorite part
The title sequence must've been influenced by Chicago artist Idelle Weber whose silhouettes of white-collar men appears as a motif in her artwork.
The sexiest bass line ever created. Arggghh!! Can't wait for the season premiere!
Ye it really picked up after I wrote that comment , now im on season 3.
I haven't seen any of the shows that you say don't come close but I've heard really good things about all of them.
But yes the three that you mentioned stand above all else. Especially The Sopranos :)
Such a sophisticated opening.
how can u dislike this...its pure genius
God, that ending with the bass line and the silhouette of Don smoking is just so fucking swag
Mad Men should've just got an Emmy for the best opening credits.
Just a fantastic opening.
I just bought that album yesterday. It's really good, highly recommended. And you are correct about the song.
Matthew Weiner (writer/creator) was supervising producer for the sopranos when the show aried for its 6 seasons and came out with Mad Men... I've been watching both for as long as i can remember and Mad Men is still the best written & directed show out there.
SamStam12 you should also watch Mr. Robot, it's also a brilliantly written show.
"Poor judgement, guys". Okay...I'll say you have "poor judgement". I understand AND appreciate the juxtaposition of "ad" images, the melancholy orchestral piece mixed with modern street beats, and the silhouetted image of the main character (very NOIR-like and well done btw). All of them come together in this short sequence as we literally see the silhouetted character in a free-fall to his figurative "death". That's why I really like this intro.
Ye there is something about it that makes me comeback to watch it again.