He didn't exactly ask Joan to get him coffee - he asked her to get someone to get him coffee. So there was at least a token acknowledgment that she wouldn't be bringing it herself.

Of course, it's his rug that gets pulled out from under him first, with Ho Ho yanking the Jai Alai account for Don failing to mention it-- and Joan was right there, witnessing it as it happened in the conference, making her "I won't even mention it until after it's aired," sort of slyly prescient.

Now I'm wondering if Don mentioned Jai Alai to the WSJ or if he's tossing out Ho Ho with the two-piece making family company.

Sterling Cooper Draper Price (SCDR) is struggling, and are going to have to aggressively move into the changing decade. Don's making that choice. They're finishing '64 and moving into '65. This is the period when the Beatles happen, the California sound (Beach Boys) happens, Motown explodes. It's the beginning of the post-Kennedy sixties. The mod part. I think they have to go to London during this season or next.

David, I was thinking on this after I read it-- The Beatles first appeared on Ed Sullivan in February of '64-- of course, their triumphant tour appearance at Shea Stadium isn't going to happen for nearly another year, right? So we've had the initial attack, which Weiner, as usual, is opting to have skipped and will probably address at some interesting point, framing something else within the story. It's an interesting conundrum to try to figure out which way they're going to go-- are SCDP going to address the edgy mod Carnaby Street/London scene in terms of their ads or are they going to go wholesome, California youth culture? Or is going to be a two-pronged approach?

Now I'm wondering if Don mentioned Jai Alai to the WSJ or if he's tossing out Ho Ho with the two-piece making family company.

He thought Ho Ho was an idiot from the beginning. And if he's willing to toss out the Jantzen prudes for being hypocritical idiots, then he's probably willing to toss Ho Ho to the curb as well. I think we're seeing the beginning of Don selling himself as the face of the company and using that approach to draw clients who are interested in his unique style of Creative, rather than scrabbling for the crumbs. If you listen to what he was saying to the reporter at the end, he was emphasizing his vision and daring-- essentially saying things were stale at the old Sterling Cooper, they weren't moving with the times, so we moved on without them. We're the mavericks, the visionaries, the ones who are going to have the balls to move forward into this new era. Clients can either come with us, or not.

It was very deliberate and calculated and all the stuff that Don has historically been so good at.

You know what I thought was interesting about the Jantzen thing? That it was the son who was more concerned about the ad. The father seemed to get it, and showed some enthusiasm in the very beginning.

Which is probably why it's the son who's going to leave New York with VD.

Which is probably why it's the son who's going to leave New York with VD.

I loved that line of Roger's! Oh Roger, never change.

It was very deliberate and calculated and all the stuff that Don has historically been so good at.

I'm curious what Roger (and Cooper & Pryce) will have to say about that interview. It may be a "careful what you wish for" moment, at least for Roger and Bert.

That's what I'm thinking - they wanted him to put himself out there more and now they might be regretting it.

I loved that line of Roger's! Oh Roger, never change.

"Someone white to carve the turkey," was the one that had me snorting tea up my nose.