Want to 'Mad Men' Yourself? New Options for a New Season.

After AMC announced last summer that my favorite Mad Men-centric artist Dyna Moe had created a series of 1960s avatars which not only allowed you to personalize them (hair, face, body type, clothing, etc.) but allowed you to insert your 1960s self into a Mad Men scene, Mad Men-ning Yourself it became all the rage of the internet.

In honor of the "fresh start" -- which everyone's proclaiming season four of Mad Men to be -- Dyna Moe has added not only new scenes, but new accessories, hair, clothing, etc. from which you can choose.

You could insert yourself into a scene with Don in Rome (as I did above, borrowing Betty's attire from the "Souvenir" episode last season, the last time Don and Betty were happy as a couple), or picture yourself next to Betty and her new, ginormous fainting chair, or even opt to grab hold of an accordian as Joan did when her idiot husband Greg insisted she play a song for his colleagues during a dinner party like a performing chimpanzee.

However, if I were being honest, a real me, circa the 1960s, wouldn't be jet-setting to Rome and donning a swanky beaded dress. I'd likely look more like this, chillin' with Betty in Ossing (though I was annoyed that my avatar couldn't hold both a cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other):

Dyna Moe Captures ‘Mad Men’s’ Aqua Net Moment

I didn’t mention it in my review of “The Color of Blue” Mad Men episode, but this scene, where members of the Sterling Cooper creative department acted out the ad pitch for the Aqua Net account, was highly amusing, didn't you think? The only way to improve it would've been to have Kinsey in the scarf.

By the way, what do you think will happen to Sterling Cooper? Bought back? Bought by a malevolent outsider?

Image credit: Dyna Moe/Nobody’s Sweetheart.

'Mad Men's' Betty in Rome

When she's not hurling metal lock boxes filled with campaign donations for the New York governor's re-election at his top political aide for whom she has the hots, Mad Men's Betty Draper likes to spend time vacationing in Rome, donning mod attire, speaking Italian and flirting with the local men at an outdoor bar.

Dyna Moe of Nobody's Sweetheart created this fab illustration. See all of Dyna Moe's fabulous interpretations of Mad Men scenes here. I'm hoping that she offers a 2010 calendar as I was too tardy in ordering a 2009 calendar and missed the boat.

After Getting Its Second Emmy, AMC's Trying to Lure New Fans to 'Mad Men'

On the heels of its back-to-back best dramatic show on television Emmy win, AMC has decided to try to lure new fans to Mad Men as it's about halfway through the third season.

One way to pull in some new eyeballs is to have a season three marathon which the network has slated for this Sunday, September 27 starting at 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. (See the AMC schedule here.)

Another is to produce a video explaining the "story thus far," kind of like a CliffsNotes for the entire Mad Men series.

It makes for an interesting parlor game to examine which clips the show's creators decided to use in this nearly five-minute summary. The video starts off with scenes from Don's affair with the odious Bobbie Barrett, Peggy's affair with Pete, the birth/adoption of Peggy and Pete's baby, Peggy's confession to Pete and Betty kicking Don out of the house and letting him return. Roger's infidelity and subsequent marriage to Don's secretary was also touched on briefly, as was the British invasion of Sterling Cooper. The remainder of the third season episodes, including the death of Grandpa Gene and the birth of Baby Gene (though not Sally's reaction to all of this), made the cut.



After watching it, do you think the video offers any clues to what might unfold in future episodes, especially given that it included the scene of the man who works in the New York governor's office openly flirting with a very pregnant belly?

Image credit: Dyna Moe/Nobody's Sweetheart.

Artist Dyna Moe Starts Illustrating New 'Mad Men' Season

If you were following this blog last year during Mad Men's second season, you no doubt read my heaps of praise for the genius of Dyna Moe, an illustrator who created quirky interpretations of the AMC drama and posted them on Flickr.

Remember all those Mad Men avatars on Facebook and Twitter that AMC heavily promoted, where you could "Mad Men Yourself" a few weeks ago? Those were Dyna Moe's work.

Well she's now started providing images inspired by season three -- which started Sunday night -- and has created, "What the Bellhop Saw" of Don and the stewardess spotted in the hotel hallway by the bellhop, whom we all know was on his way to Sal's room.

I'm looking forward to a new batch of Dyna Moe images. Can't wait to see her interpretation of a pregnant Betty Draper.

Image credit: Dyna Moe/Nobody's Sweetheart.

For the Mad Men Fans on Your Holiday List

I've written several times on this blog about my admiration for the Mad Men-inspired illustrations by Dyna Moe. She expertly translates pivotal moments of the show into illustrations.

Now she's not only added to her repertoire -- selling notecards and T-shirts with her Mad Men images -- but now she's crafted a 2009 calendar.

I'll certainly be dropping hints to my near and dear hoping to find this calendar under the Christmas tree.

Fabulous 'Mad Men' Illustrations

They're absolutely perfect . . . this set of Mad Men-inspired illustrations from the web site Nobody's Sweetheart. They aptly capture the tone, mood and 1960s flavor of my favorite TV show.

There's a scarlet-hued image of Joan Holloway. Of the dark cloud known as Don Draper and the odious Bobbie Barrett drinking and driving (before the accident). Of Peggy Olson, Father Gill and the blue Easter egg. They're all there. And they look fabulous. But the one above, featuring Sally "The Bartender" Draper, tickled my fancy.

(Thanks Basket of Kisses gals for the head's up on this.)

Image credit: Nobody's Sweetheart.