Video: "Every Cigarette Smoked in Mad Men"

[SmokeBeorn]

Disclaimer: If you didn't know that California workplace laws require that the cigarettes smoked in Mad Men be of the non-tobacco "herbal" variety, then you do now--and sorry to burst your bubble. Also, this video includes shots of women and children smoking (or trying to), depictions of illness and death that are implied to be smoking-related, and a quick shot of a character vomiting at the very end.

Whirled, a cutting-edge advertising and marketing agency that specializes in new media, released a new video titled "Every Cigarette Smoked in Mad Men" a couple of days ago. Like all of the material I've seen from Whirled, it's entertaining and very well done. I've never seen Mad Men, but watching this video it's easy to see why the show has become so well-known for its depictions of smoking. As Whirled notes:

This video will have one of two results. This repetitious, perfunctory and seemingly pointless act of inhaling smoke may turn you off to smoking cigarettes. Or, the fact that this repetitious, perfunctory, and seemingly pointless act is carried out by such debonair, dashing human beings will make you run to your corner store and chimney down a carton before dinner. Either way, advertising works.

My own reaction was much closer to that last one they mention. I've embedded the video below; the direct link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtMfzasLbu8&feature=player_embedded. (And if you're interested, you can visit the Whirled website to see a lot more of their work. It's at http://www.getwhirled.com/.)

Dave

[steveo]

One guy (the one who smokes the most) is not smoking "herbal" cigarettes, I betcha. I'm sure he's smoking real Camels or Luckies.

[SmokeBeorn]

One guy (the one who smokes the most) is not smoking "herbal" cigarettes, I betcha. I'm sure he's smoking real Camels or Luckies.

I think you're referring to Jon Hamm, the series star, who is indeed a smoker. As to whether his cigarettes on the show are the real thing--well, I have a hard time believing that California's oversight is so strict and that he can't get away with it. And I don't understand how anyone could take a quick drag from one of those no-nicotine/no-tobacco "herbal" cigarettes--let alone perform a super-long-haul inhale, hold it, and then do one of those damn-that's-good mouth-then-nose-then-both exhales--without at least making a face. I tried one once, and those things are just foul, IMHO. On the other hand, Hamm has said that the prop smokes are produced especially for the show, as the producer is a stickler for period accuracy.

[smokinron]

Thanks, Dave, for posting the video; it is rather cool. I saw a piece on MAD MEN on one of the entertainment "news" shows, in which they talked about the fact that the cigarettes they smoked were not real cigarettes. I also heard that John Hamm had been a smoker, then quit, then started up again after being on the show. There is a photo of him (not a very good one) smoking IRL.

I have all 3 seasons on DVD and have watched them all a couple of times. It truly is one of the best written / best acted shows on TV. And I am amazed at the way they capture the period. I was only a kid and obviously not tuned in to the male/female stuff in the workplace and all that, but I do remember the smoking everywhere, including doctors in their offices, etc.

All the DVDs have special features and there is a very good one on the first season DVD about advertising, how it evolved and so forth. On the most recent release there is one on cigarette advertising. It's fairly even-handed, even though the commentators are people like the RJ Reynolds grandson (I think) who talks about tobacco advertising while they show film clips and ads; and then they devote equal time to the anti-smoking lobby and their advertising. What was interesting to me (before I grabbed the remote and turned it off!) is that these people in the anti-smoking lobby all but admit that they used the same means, even the same half-truth, distorted approach they accuse the industry of doing to get people hooked. I'll bet the show was under pressure to have such a thing, because even though it's intent is not to promote smoking, it surely could have that effect! The glamor of the times and how smoking was taken for granted is all there.

[BTJeff]

I think you're referring to Jon Hamm, the series star, who is indeed a smoker. As to whether his cigarettes on the show are the real thing--well, I have a hard time believing that California's oversight is so strict and that he can't get away with it. And I don't understand how anyone could take a quick drag from one of those no-nicotine/no-tobacco "herbal" cigarettes--let alone perform a super-long-haul inhale, hold it, and then do one of those damn-that's-good mouth-then-nose-then-both exhales--without at least making a face. I tried one once, and those things are just foul, IMHO. On the other hand, Hamm has said that the prop smokes are produced especially for the show, as the producer is a stickler for period accuracy.

I was smoking Ecstacy Cigaretts [ck their website] for 7.5 months because of my neck surgery in 06. I could do EVERYTHING [multiple drags, fr inhales, rings, etc] I could do w/a regular cig. Taste was not bad. just no nicotine! I had discovered that even though I got off nicotine [w/patches] I still had MAJOR cravings for inhaling of smoke. And I cut off the filter whenever I wanted a str8. There was a warning on the red/white box [looked just like reds] that you were inhaling carbon-monoxide.

As far a smokin during filming in CA, it varies w/the production co and how tight or loose the monitors are and how deep the pockets are. Kinda like what i read of prohibition & who paid who. You can still smoke in the workplace as long as no one turns you in. i still smoke at work, but m or I or 2 staff smokers are the only one who turn ourselves in.

If caught, then there's a fine and they're suppose to do random checks for 6 mo after that - if they get around to it.

btw, I smoked with hundreds of guys in my life time. during smoke sex, and I cant tell one brand from another other than if it's menthol or pot. And believe me, during this time, I'm hardly paying any attention to what the brand is!

Have you ever been in a blind taste test to distinguish one brand from another? It always shocks & surprises me how poorly I do w/identification. I guess that's why I never had a smokefucker's brand preference AS LONG AS IT'S SMOKE! Why be limiting on brand w/a fellow smokefucker, when good smokin men are not always that easy to come by. Again it's just my own 2 cents ...
Jeff

[Spencer1960]

I love MAD MEN and not just for the smoking! I watched the vid that was attached to this post and was surprised by the "Brady Bunch" second hand smoke "ad' that was on there. Didn't see all of Season 3, but I think that that season had the characters reacting to the assassination of JFK...That was in '63? Brady Bunch did not come on until '68 or '69. I am surprised in that the show gets the whole early 60's vibe so well, why fumble on that? Who wouldn't want to have a job where you could smoke with abandon at your desk, and have several cocktails during the workday? (Well, maybe, a Morman!) Do not think there a a lot of those on this site!