Roger is my favorite character. He seems to coast along doing the minimum amount of work, but at the critical juncture he steps in and shows sheer brilliance in navigating the complex politics of the office.
I agree......he was mine too. He comes across as every executive there ever was.....but the longer the show goes on, the more you learn about his intellect and his ability to navigate in that world.
Yup. That's sort of the mystical property of his wisdom shining through. It's something us young folk are fond of because of our impatient desire to get ahead in life. We want that same mystic ability. We want hat sharp wisdom from living through decades and we can't have it just yet so we have to opt for just being in awe of that type of brilliance when we see it and be hopeful enough to be at a similar point by the time we are that age. In a weird way, it gives you something to look forward to despite how terrible of a thing aging can be.
Only God Himself** could have said it better. (Though I liked his line about "the sausage factory" a little more, but "God" being "God" here also did a good job of blowing off Don when Don tried to one-up him by asking him insolently that he thought he said that New York City was "a watch" ((and basically NOT a "sausage factory")) and Bert Cooper,((a.k.a "God")) just does a little laugh and basically tells Don "stick to writing"---the SUBTEXT being "Don't get cute with ME boy!"🤣) ** DISCLAIMER to all the politically correct "Gestapo"....My "God" usually manifests Himself** as male. Please accept my apologies, or just kiss my ass if you do NOT accept my apology.)
You know I didn't get that LOL I thought that they were I never watch the show I got here accidentally but I thought it was a pretty great scene but I literally thought that he knew that they were in some kind of business it wasn't until I I'm laughing so hard right now it wasn't until I saw this comment that I realized I just can't stop laughing why I didn't realize that that's what they meant oh
@@idontwantcorporateretaliat6301 so did I I I I thought they were in an industry I never watched the show before I got here by accident but I did the same did grab me so I watched it I thought they were in business until I saw that comment
"There are other rules". That was one of the shortest, "You're going to learn something and I'm going to teach it to you" eloquent, rank pulling verbal manouvers I've ever heard.
I always liked Bert. He came off as the kindley old man, just sitting in his office letting the agency run itself. But in reality, he was the puppet master, who could cut your head off so fast you wouldn't even bleed. A perfect capstone for Robert Morse's career.
I love that scene. Cooper doesn't do much, but the buck stops there with him. He doesn't have to bother with day to day operations, because he's so confident his underlings will only bring it up to him when it really matters. No micromanagement, total confidence in letting the employees do their job.
A stroke of genius? I would have been scratching my head if I were Pete. Draper fired Pete and was serious about it. So it makes no sense that Draper would be pleading for Roger to give Pete a second chance. Pete should have seen right through what was happening here.
jjharvathh it’s not suppressing your seperate mind nor does it mean to say he’ll always be there in that position forever and not allow you better opportunity, it’s all about following and letting the light shine on your master BEFORE the right time. Then when it’s your time take it with fury. Do it too early... you’re fired, but hey at least you’re smarter than the idiot, right?
@@geminiwriter8875 Sounds like the rationalization of a happy slave....that is OK, it is your life to live as you wish... Let the light shine on your master? OMG... Sounds like the language of a slave. I do not have a master, it is not a good way of life.
_“You’ll need a stronger stomach”_ And _”there are other rules”_ This right here seals it for me for high level management. The higher up you go the more it’s a game of politics.
@@rossmacrae749I've been behind closed doors before a layoff. The only difference here is the quality of the poetry. There's a lot of ugly stuff out there.
@@rossmacrae749please don't believe this is not how it works in big business, government and military. In small and midsized companies it is different, but this is how the big boys play. I have been there.
Don should have watched himself here, the way he kept snapping back at Bert and not taking the hint about keeping Pete. Roger intervened when necessary and steered him back. Then he got the picture and accepted the office politics taking place here. As Bert mentioned - "There are other rules."
I love the little glance Don makes at the fact Roger wears lifts. Shows a little character development for 2 characters in a single shot. Lovely story telling.
They'll have both been a heel shorter then, but I took it as Roger hamming it up lowering himself, that they are about to humble themselves entering Bert's domain.
This was a great example of the subtle brilliance of Roger Sterling. That little detail he added at the end changed the dynamic of the agency forever, and for the better. Pete became Don’s closest ally.
It's testament to turning a "tail between your legs moment" into a win-win. Campbell keeps his job but also believes he owes Don for keeping him in the job.
Idk if it was as creative as it was required. Campbell essentially was kept on outside of Don's wishes meaning that unless Roger said that he, Pete would know that Don can't touch him. Thats why Don was so upset, he was being stepped over.
Interesting how this Draper-Campbell relationship played on when Pete found the box of Don's secret photos from his youth contradicting his present life "story"; how Pete used this A-HA info to get Don in deep 💩 with Bert. And failed. Perfect symmetry.
@@schwegburt3002 How? Don was the one who fired him (told him to go buy/get a cardboard box) in the first place. Why would he believed that he fought for him when meeting Cooper?
Roger's diplomacy and subtlety on fine display at the end. Keeping Cooper happy and the firm's reputation whilst appeasing Don. Handled beautifully. Created a third way where there seemed only two.
Some of the best bosses I've ever had would openly make themselves "the bad guy" in situations like this. It's something that's always stuck with me, and I've used it once or twice myself to great effect. I think part of leadership is willingness to look beyond your own ego and sensibilities. Doing whatever needs to be done to keep people happy and moving forward, regardless of what it costs. And a lot of the time I've found that this sort of stuff, that I thought would be hard to swallow, turned out to be very easy at the end of the day.
After a while of hearing that your worst critic has always stood up for you behind your back, when you have absolutely no evidence for it when it wouldn't be convenient to defend your critic, you become suspicious of people using this tactic on you.
@@sushifreedom why would there need to be a bad guy at all? just talk things out like adult, and if though choices have to be made.. make the other party understand the reasoning behind it.
The coda to that entire scene is so beautiful. Campbell, clearly freaked out at having been nearly fired, professes "I won't let you down!" Roger's reaction is genuine here, because not only did Campbell screw up, not only was it likely for him to screw up again at some point in the future, but it's a basic truth: everyone, at one point or another, screws up. "Don't ever say that!" wasn't just meant for Campbell, it's advice for everyone.
RIP Robert Morse, I’ve watched this show many times and this is one of the few Bert Cooper scenes that still lives rent free in my head. The delivery, the stakes being raised, I envy those seeing this show for the first time.
The irony of Bert Cooper is his fascination with Ayn Rand. It's even implied that he knows her personally. And so we have a man who fancies himself an equal of Howard Roark or Hank Rearden or John Galt, and yet he spends several minutes explaining to Don, his creative genius and moneymaker, how they can't fire the scion of Old New York money, an upstart who's barely competent but he "knows the right people." That's astonishing hypocrisy, and yet Bert Cooper remains likable, wise, and philosophical. He's right, but for exactly the wrong reason.
Yeah! Tou and me both. Rather than beg him to stay, the spin doctors made it look like they were showing him mercy instead! Brilliant! Came out smelling like a rose!
Roger strikes me as a pretty "slimy" character for the most part. Fortunately for him, his charisma and sense of humor prevent me from hating his guts completely. But yes, his "street smarts" WAS pretty impressive trying to save BOTH his and Don's faces from basically being "bitch slapped" by Bert Cooper. (The reason I'm so captivated by such a show....The writing and the acting combined to form a genius work of art!!)
@Ethan Smith Anybody can lie, but it takes either luck or skill to lie WELL....To either be BELIEVED, to intimidate someone, (or a GROUP of people), or to be able to manipulate people to the point they are basically "tools"....(Or "useful idiots"???) In this scene ^^^ Pete is a "naive dope", but throughout the show and subsequent seasons, Pete Campbell does turn out to be quite a force to be reckoned with!!! (Making me like HIM, much better than Don Draper; or perhaps not liking him more, but seeing him as more HEROIC than Don.....And almost infinitely more so than ROGER!!)
Campbell don’t ever say that, LOL no matter what he said he would be shot back. But bigger point is 1. The photo it shows Rodger is locked in as owner tied to Cooper. 2. Rodger flipped and flipped fast with little fight vs Cooper, when he sees a fight vs copper Rodger backs down snd never says anything, then Don fights back, Don sees no support from Rodger, and Don backs down
It’s pretty clever, make the guy you can’t touch think he owes you everything. That even though he was on absolute solid footing they made him feel like he was on a sinking ship.
Highly doubtful that a guy who told you to find a box and pack your shit would suddenly fight for you tooth and nail. I wouldn't buy that for a second.
@@mickeypopa Never watched this show but I know the basic premise. To your point, this is a little sloppy in the writing. The kid was dumb to go around his bosses back, arrogant and naive (although the kid also apparently told the client the backbone pitch was Draper's). Draper was impulsive and reactionary. While the kid certainly deserved a scolding and warning not to do it again, firing him perhaps deserved more careful consideration. The last 30 seconds of the scene was totally unrealistic.
@@sburns2421 Never watched the show either and after watching this scene I don't even want to. Looks like boring office drama that I have no desire to waste time on since it will provide me with exactly zero entertainment.
So observant and well put. Massive props to these writers. Their ability to make something as presumably mundane as an advertising agency in the early 60s into one of the most interesting things in TV history is astounding, and should be recognized for the art that it is.
@@ryancyberheart3541 I think it meant that there was some well breed young man at every big office in New York. They were only there because of who they were not because of what they were able to do. This does not exist as much as it used to because America is not as good as it once was.
I loved these first few seasons where the nuances of office life and office politics were heavy. They taught me a lot about how things tend to work at higher levels of the office dynamic.
@@chaitanyajoshi6836 think of it like this. Don is the Head Chef of the restaurant. He doesn't see how the ingredients like meat, are actually made for the restaurant to serve, he's the creative who creates valued service, but he isn't the one who brings the materials together. The ceo is the one who brings all the ingredients, has to see where the meat is from and how to get the meat,. Let's just say business politics can be gore, cruel and vile, just like sausages.
There is no lesson.All he did was lead through fear. In a cutthroat business you can't show weakness, you have to be able to jam a fucking icepick in the guys heart while youre staring him in the eye. He's at the mercy of another man's greed, and that's not in control.
"You are here because of Don Draper's largesse". Sterling may just be the tactical one here, but there's a fair bit of strategy to him too. He turned what could've been an embarrassment for a man under his command, into an opportunity to buy the loyalty of one of his men. Well done indeed.
@@JB-xl2jc Both of his men. By saving Draper from having to eat crow, he bought Pet's loyalty to Draper and Draper's loyalty to him. The chain of command became solid.
Some of the best writing ever went into this show. The dry comebacks are world class. Like ‘sounds more like a bomb’ or ‘I thought it was a big watch’ or ‘let’s get one of the other ones.’ Perfect responses delivered perfectly by Don. I miss the anticipation of what’s next while I was watching this show. Madmen was top three best of all times on my list and above GoT since they botched season 8 so badly.
Such great writing in this show. So much subtlety. First, they show Don and Roger going to Cooper's office and they take off their shoes, showing that Roger has lifts to make himself look taller. That tells you something about his ego. Then it shows Cooper, a Japanophile, with his feet up on his desk, which is considered quite rude in Japan. Then it shows the picture and Roger and Cooper commenting on it, which tells you that Cooper has known Roger since he was a young child. That and the fact that Roger is so deferential to Cooper tells us much about their relationship. The story Roger tells Pete allows us to see how adept Roger is and how his background in the military informs him as a manager. They are also all from different generations, with Cooper the oldest, then Roger, then Don, then Pete. We also now know that Pete comes from a prominent family in NY, and how aware Cooper is of this fact. We also know more about Pete's character, and how underhanded and self-entitled he is, yet also how much of a facade it is when he falls apart and then quickly falls into line. There is so much that is given to the audience in less than 10 minutes, and we know much more about these characters and their relationships to each other than we did before.
Well said! It was definitely Pete's Achilles Heel: he didn't have that little extra edge of self-awareness to know when to stop. He's almost always takes things one thought, action, or word further than it should have gone, only to realize after the fact he should have quit while he was ahead.
I was in a situation like this once. I was a manager and had an employee under me who fucked things up all the time, made others on the team feel horrible and just made a mockery of things. I approached him one day after one of the women said he made a pass at her and wouldn't leave her alone. I told him to get his shit and get out and don't come back. I was on the phone with security so he could he escorted out of the building when my boss's boss came over to me and pulled me into his office. Told me the kid's parents were super high up in government and that they could make life horrible for the company. Told me I had to undo my firing and to handle it in any way that I wanted, just make sure he's not fired. I fault to the point where I was ready to quit and then he told me, "look, the world sometimes sucks and I feel for your position -- but don't let this shit affect you so much. You can do anything with that kid, just don't fire him right now." So I went back and told the kid that I was going to give him a second chance and that I was redefining his role to "work from home." I basically told him to work from home and then didn't give him any work. I knew the company would lose money but apparently having the kid on payroll more than made up for the financial loss because that government agency looked the other way when times called for it. Dude just collected a paycheck and stayed home all the time. I think he understood the arrangement. I forgot about him completely and eventually left that company. He's probably still there collecting a check. Hell, he's probably working at another job and still getting paid for that one. The world is weird.
Not just weird, cruel. The kid absolutely did not deserved his position of WFH without any work and just collect that paycheck. Well, maybe if he wasnt an harassing idiot, if he came from a working class background and needed to help his poor parents surviving, but given your description the kid was none of those things at all. It infuriates me to no end that most of the times there's no comeuppance for assholes in this world.
Mad men camera's are usually pointing upwards. Like when Slattery(Roger) fires Burt Peterson, played by Mike Gaston. Gaston is 6'3", while slattery is 5'9", but you do not see the height difference in the scene.
This is my favorite scene in the entire series. The second Cooper says, "There are other rules," Roger knows the game is over and he shifts his focus to saving Don. As Cooper says much later, "Who knows how loyalty is born?"
@@davidb4715 Yeah he signaled to Don not to continue barking up that tree and conveyed to Cooper that Don wouldn't make a bigger issue out of it behind Cooper's back.
Yes. One of the best scenes in TV history. Love the moment when Don realizes Roger and Cooper have switched the pressure to him losing his job, not Pete.
@@daholyspirit2783 First thing Roger does after the rule line is watch Don with a bit of worry and first thing he says after it is: "I don't think Any of Us want that" regarding the country clubs. Saying between the lines to Don that you need to drop it and to Cooper that Don is to be trusted not to mess it up because of ego. At worst Don could say it's either me or Pete (where Don kinda tinkers in at the end of the convo with Cooper but isn't that stupid to say it) and Roger knows as valuable Don is that this just is not negotiable and Pete has to stay. I wouldn't say really save Don but more so quide him since Don is already furious and just steer the convo in suddle way into territory of Don realizing thru his anger that it's bigger than him and not worth to pursue since it's not winnable. And at the end talk with Pete massage Don's ego and rage into better place so he won't do something stupid to mess it up after the fact.
@@Skrimpish For whatever my opinion's worth, I liked that one. It's absurd, but it's absurd in an "...I never would have thought of that..." way, that I can't help but respect. And it made me chuckle.
"More than ambition, more than ability, it is rules that limit contribution; rules are the lowest common denominator of human behavior. They are a substitute for rational thought." Admiral Hyman Rickover, (Father of the U.S. Nuclear Navy)
+Billy Boudin Then you missed the whole point of his character. Pete is the character people can identify most with, but most people won't see that because they don't know themselves.
Roger just kicked my ass with how good he managed all that. Saved face for Don in the Big Guy's office, made little s*it Junior know where he stood, and made Don look like the good guy to Junior while simultaneously showing Don he had his back the whole time. That generates loyalty among your reports. Not money or "what can you do for me", but "I trust you that much I'm willing to make it look like I'm the bad guy". That's a lost art.
Well, he blatently lied as well. If you think this is 'good' you can also just fake fire someone and then undo it like this. Might be 'good' as well then. It is a series, it's not real life.
I just see a disgusting pit of snakes all eager to strangle the everyman for a chance at aging golf and fear of having to actually work. Fuck Don, fuck the old man amd fuck all they represent.
In a series that had some fabulous scenes...this was one of the best. Cooper sits in his office in his stocking feet collecting a very fat salary...because he 'knows' people in the city. He has important (vital!) 'connections' critical to the success of the firm. That's pretty much the extent of his contribution to the company....but that's all he needs. Roger brilliantly hands credit for Campbells 're-hiring' over to Don. Campbell has little choice but to be grateful to him. And in the end it works out well for both men. Gotta love the psychology of it all. Such a well written show.
To be fair, Cooper founded and played a large part in making the company prosperous. Now, 40 years later, after all the hard work he put in, he's now an old man who earned his salary... because there wouldn't be a firm AT ALL without him. He earned every fucking cent he's now being paid.
He's more than that. As evident in his meeting with Harry a couple of episodes later, he knows every penny that comes in or leaves the company. And the fact that he's willing to use his knowledge of Draper's past as Dick Whitman to his advantage shows he's plugged into everything in the agency. And what's he whistling as Don and Roger leave? "This Old Man".
cooper whistling at the end, that was the sublime touch. it's the supreme power and confidence of a boss that knows he is in charge at all times even if he has to word play his true intentions to his subordinates. at the highest powers everything is a social game and getting what you want is really the focus of everything.
Sterling sure does understand timing. He's ready to say the right thing at the right time backing up the right person...so that he can still be around. Pure politician.
I'll be honest, after that Sterling is a man I'd walk through fire for. Taking a crappy situation and salvaging it for all involved. Don't know the series well enough to know if it was genuine or not, or if Don is deserving of it if it was, but that was a great move, made by a real leader.
Don and Roger are the closest thing to BFF's that Mad Men has to offer. Yes they do disagree and argue a lot, but when it comes down to brass tacks, they have each other's back.
Such an exceptionally brilliant series, I fully believe in all the characters as real people. An absolute pleasure to watch, a modern day TV classic. In a word, perfect!
Bert Cooper is a really fascinating character. He is not overpowering like Don or confident like Roger, but he dominates the room with his experience, his wisdom and his little quirks like making other people take their shoes off or not smoke in his office.
I like how, when Don says "thought it was a big watch," he communicates that he concedes the point, resigns the argument, and wishes it worked differently. And does so without actually saying any of it, which would have gone against his character.
@@thedmr6417 Because its a non-answer to the actual point being made; a witty retort to the style rather than the substance of what Bert was saying. That statement, followed by silence, is a tacit admission of resignation.
When I started watching Mad Men I was too young to even hear the genius in every spoken line. How can there be so much depth of phrase in a simple 7 minute video
SkyreeXScalabar Yes, I totally agree. Last year I rewatched the entire series. From then on I vowed to watch it every 4 years to see how far I’ve come in truly understanding this brilliant show.
@@ukrandr When I was younger, one of my employer once said "Never promise anything, just do it." Pretty solid advice, because if you promise something, you'll risk letting someone down, keep your mouth shut and work hard, the deeds will speak truth for themselves.
I love the moment of steeling themselves after they take their shoes off. ... Deep breath. ... A quick glance to each other. ...And in we go. Nice touch.
Watch again: They are not looking at each other. Don is looking at Roger, because he realizes that Roger wears shoes that make him taller. And in that moment, roger get's a little smaller. A very little but nice detail and visual storytelling.
This is one of the best sequences from the show, and is really brilliant writing. The part at the very end where Roger lies and tells Pete that Don fought for him is so great. RIP Robert Morse. I enjoyed his role in the show so much, as the "elder statesman" who maneuvers so adroitly.
I love how Roger toes the line at 5.20. Once Burt has made his decision on keeping Pete, Roger goes along with it no questions asked...but then salvages Don and Pete's relationship, knowing they will need to work well together. Absolutely amazing writing.
Thats heirracrhy for ya,total loyalty its a very important and less then common trait these days among men, Cooper is the Alpha at the company, Sterling is his enforcer aka bravo, Don one of his delta lieutenants with alpha tendencies but who respect the alpha as well.
Was a brilliant improve move by Roger there single handily settling the feud for good for most part and making Don someone Pete instantly admires instead of despises.
I've never seen this show, but I sure have been a part of a discussion like that and it really did impress me that leadership is never a cut and dry concept. It's about maintaining discipline in a way that many don't fully understand. People tell you to adhere to truth and I'm all for truth, but some people don't want the truth and for those we have to use other methods while maintaining the truth and allowing new recruits to shine.
The smartest thing don does here is to say thank you. That's the only thing a boss like cooper wants to hear. Don could only see his problem, bert could see the whole picture.
absolutely. it also came after don's job was basically threatened by cooper and sterling if he didn't go along with it so it wasn't super high intelligence on hsi part.
which, btw, is EXACTLY the problem Pete has. He couldn't see the whole picture either. best thing to learn in life: there is ALWAYS someone who knows more about what's going on than you do. always.
Roger: “He pitched his own copy after hours. There are rules”. Bert “There are rules. And there are other rules”. Showcases how well Cooper understands the game within the game.
Great writing, beautiful "period piece" the set, smoking. Management style, reminds me of A) bosses I've had that have been supportive/had my back, B) bosses who were setting up for failure, thinking more employees they fired makes them look decisive, C) taught to me early in my career, when an employee made a huge blunder where others would first fire the employee, boss blamed it on the system that allowed it to happen, A) who put this person in the position to make this decision, B) what have we learned.
Bert is the no bullshit guy you go to when you need to know whats actually going on. He shutdown this rage but made sure something of meaning came of it. Such a great character.
New York City is "the Watch" Sterling/Cooper is a Restaurant or Deli (or any place that serves/makes sausages). I think Don was trying to be a smart ass. Either that or he was mistaking the two metaphors, but a I doubt such a talented ad man would lose track of a narrative.
"Thank you, sir" was the only right response to this. At the end of the day the boss is the boss. You gave your arguments and they were considered and rejected. No argument needed, no snide comments just "yes sir". I try to operate the same way. I believe fully in the chain of command. There are always going to be decisions you disagree with. You sometimes have to put that aside for the good of the organization.
That is so true. If I'm going to "speak freely" with my boss, I always preemptively mention that "You know if you tell me to jump, I'll always ask you how high, but I think..." At the end of the day, you have to back your boss' play. I think the bigger issue for most people is having a boss that you trust haha.
@@tactknightgaming2066 Yes and no, nepotism would be if he was the big bosses kid. Ive worked in jobs where the owner has a nephew, grandson, whatever "working" there. You cant get rid of him, your only option is to find a job where he wont mess things up. Put him at a computer and tell him his job is looking at race cars online all day as well as the models draped over them and hope he doesnt do anything stupid. This was more about trading favors, you scratch my back sort of deals. While he isnt connected to anyone at the company, the kid WAS connected to people who were connected to important people and places.
I can't believe I have NEVER watched this show. Looks like great actors and great writing. Going in for a minor surgery, I'll have about 2 weeks couch time to binge this show. Looking forward to watching it.
You won't have regretted it😜. Have you gotten around to actually watching it? Forgive my little future past tense. But it's the only way I would convey that you presumably watched it sometime in the future of your 6 month ago post. 😊
And then the whistled choldhood tune - This old man, he played..... ...with a nick knack paddywhack, give the dog a bone, this old man came rolling home.
It's weird that the young guy didn't know the pull of his family in NYC business circles. Usually these little shits from established families know from a young age the clout they hold, so they act very entitled since they know they will be protected. I guess Pete Campbell didn't get the memo.
A perfect example of the young guy who knew the clout he possessed being the weasel in Green Mile. At least with the young buck in Mad Men they had a chance of turning him around to be a team player.
his family isn't that powerful though, nor that rich. the main influence his mother had was bad mouthing the agency at parties she was invited to out of courtesy. not much financial pull.
The scene in Bert’s office was an incredible scene. Such economy of lines and a real insight into old-school business and its connection to influential families.
If Pete had just taken the compliment, Don may have been mad at him for a day or so for going behind his back. But when Pete decide to open his big mouth with that smug comment, Don would of course have gone off on him. Don is the boss, Pete was a junior associate, respect the position if not the man, his family s wealth doesn't entitle him to be a smug wiseass
I love this video. This scene delivers a very valuable message. And that message is that when it comes to business, money and connections trumps everything.
I find this to be a great example of what is wrong with the lack of good leadership in so many companies. There are far too many egotistical wannabe bosses out there who have little to no clue what it takes to be, not just a good leader but a great leader!
How to succeed in business. Without really trying. 'Man, i knew i knew that voice. He came a long way. Being a kid watching that movie was awesome. I'm going to watch it again.
The coolest part is when Don reverses his temperament and tells Burt "Well Thank YOU, SIR" assuring that he respects the firm's modus operandi. If he was a lesser guy he'd pull a Harry Crane and start sweating and caterwauling about other misgivings he has about Pete.
Sometimes, you gotta know which bridge to cross, which one to leave alone, and which one to set ablaze. But also, the power shift was palpable. Lounged on that couch, the young guy held all the cards, he thought. The other just buffed their way into a winning hand. Never seen this show, but now I want to.
I once worked with a marine pilot. I asked him how he knew where all the dangerous rock and shoals were. He said he didn't. He knew where they weren't. Always stuck with me that a leader sees things differently.
AaronDaines, great point and this theory was used in WW2 with the airplanes that were hit by enemy fire. The experts reasoned that surviving planes didn’t show damage in certain places because the damage would have been fatal. Instead of improving armor where Naval researchers saw lots of bullet holes, in other words, the Allies actually needed to fortify areas where the surviving planes hadn’t been hit.
This is a fine way to look at leadership if your job is simply to get from Point A to Point B without ruffling any feathers. A middle manager, say. Stay in the lane you know is safe and keep the bow pointed in the right direction. But knowing where the rocks and shoals are - or better yet, how to spot the ones you don't know exist yet before you run aground on them - is critical if your job is expand what's possible. The best senior leaders don't make a point to know where the rocks are, they make a point to know how to find 'em without hitting 'em.
Aaron, Along the same line of thinking : Years back, it became clear that "who am i?/ who are you?" may be the most important question there is. In searching for the answer, i later found that who im/theyre NOT became the edges of the path on the way to the answer.
I liked this show a lot like "Man in the High Castle", it makes you think not just mindlessly consume non-connecting visuals. I liked the beginning time periods the most, when it delved into the 60's it lost something, maybe I liked the crisp etiquette of the earlier time periods more.
My favorite scene in the series, shows Bert's total control over the firm. "You need a stronger stomach..." great line. Teaches Don and threatens him all at once.
The threat and Roger's participation in it is incredible. Probably a half-bluff but still amazing. Don certainly recognized the shift. One of the best scenes in TV I've seen.
I only just realized the sweet irony of Roger calling Don Pete's "commanding officer". Can almost see a hint of discomfort in Don's eyes when he says that. Brilliant.
The dynamic between saying "dont ever say that" and "I won't let you down, Don" is wild. The weasel flips given the right ammo with Adam's box. I've never hated and loved a character so much in my life. I suppose they may have wrote Don and Pete almost the same way.
The funny thing is, they wrote that scene like Roger would've shut Pete down no matter what Pete said, and Pete doesn't know he's in for it. It's brilliant...
Wow, what an AMAZING extract. I just read the WONDERFUL book of Muriel Solomon, "Working with difficult people" TWICE. I had seen the video before. But it's just until NOW that I totally get some more wonderful concepts on it.
I loved how this series so accurately portrayed the life and death efforts by smart shallow people to promote such meaningless products. Brilliantly written and produced.
Yeah man, I’m in sales for a humongous company and after “seeing how the sausage is made in the back” I can totally relate! It’s soul sucking insincere snake oil salesman and 100% turd polishing.
Did you actually watch the series? Not sure if you are trolling or not, but these are far from "shallow" people. For better, and for worse, America always has run on the competitive production and promotion of products that meet a wide range of needs and wants. These mad men are just "levers, gears, and springs" in a system they did not originate.
Cooper's empty desk suggests to me that he actually does very very little. Yet probably what he does is nudge the business in the right direction at the right time.
@@jeffreyhord Hahaha! Good way to put it. I had to go back and make sure, when I first caught it. They're the same height, the take off the same shoes & Roger's 2" shorter! I just snickered & thought to myself, yep that's Roger
Weiner's writing is tailored expertly to his characters; that bit about New York City being a "marvelous machine" filled with "levers and gears - like a fine watch" is taken directly from The Fountainhead, a book Cooper undoubtedly knows well. It just gets better and better.
I'm not a mark for Ayn Rand, and I know it's trendy-Wendy to say everything she wrote is the opposite of the truth, but if that is really the case, Nickelback is the greatest band of all time (since they copy/water down other music), Evangelical religion is the best philosophy, and the Soviet Union was perfect. A cool quote isn't stupid just b/c of who wrote it.
The young man knows all the rules; the old man knows all the exceptions.
Great quote! Source?
My boss. Probably just some shit he came up with to convince me to do all the shit he delegates, lol.
D Jason what do u do for a living? Your boss seems brilliant..
Supply chain. My boss is the CFO of the firm.
And that, is the truth.
Stirling shrinking by an inch when he took his shoes off and Draper noticing with a wondering "huh?" is a glorious mini scene.
Lmao
I must have seen this scene a dozen times and never caught that
Just caught that a too! @jondrew55
Great spot!
Nicee!
Roger is my favorite character. He seems to coast along doing the minimum amount of work, but at the critical juncture he steps in and shows sheer brilliance in navigating the complex politics of the office.
I agree......he was mine too. He comes across as every executive there ever was.....but the longer the show goes on, the more you learn about his intellect and his ability to navigate in that world.
Plus, his ruthless, biting wit is unparalleled. Burt Peterson's SECOND firing...
@@J.F.-yy8ji Dammit Burt, you stole my goodbye.
"There are other rules..."
This line always sends chills down my spine.
because it's very true
I use that line consistently...
When he said that, you knew Don's day was about to get worse.
Yup. That's sort of the mystical property of his wisdom shining through. It's something us young folk are fond of because of our impatient desire to get ahead in life. We want that same mystic ability. We want hat sharp wisdom from living through decades and we can't have it just yet so we have to opt for just being in awe of that type of brilliance when we see it and be hopeful enough to be at a similar point by the time we are that age. In a weird way, it gives you something to look forward to despite how terrible of a thing aging can be.
Only God Himself** could have said it better. (Though I liked his line about "the sausage factory" a little more, but "God" being "God" here also did a good job of blowing off Don when Don tried to one-up him by asking him insolently that he thought he said that New York City was "a watch" ((and basically NOT a "sausage factory")) and Bert Cooper,((a.k.a "God")) just does a little laugh and basically tells Don "stick to writing"---the SUBTEXT being "Don't get cute with ME boy!"🤣)
** DISCLAIMER to all the politically correct "Gestapo"....My "God" usually manifests Himself** as male. Please accept my apologies, or just kiss my ass if you do NOT accept my apology.)
“You picked the wrong time to buy an apartment”
One of the most savage moments in the series 😂
Cheeses Crust What’s the name of this series?
@@GoogleIsAPieceOfShit2023 Mad Men I think.
Catherine Gold darude - sandstorm
yes. What comes around, goes around. As in, Salvatore eventually getting his walking papers. Life lesson: better to be human, than savage
Thats the same thing 2020 said to me
"How much do you know about Pete's family?"
"Nothing except that they put out a mediocre product"
Absolutely savage
I actually thought they were in industry for a second. The product here is Pete
Oh Richie! I thought I told you to back the fuck off Pete!
You know I didn't get that LOL I thought that they were I never watch the show I got here accidentally but I thought it was a pretty great scene but I literally thought that he knew that they were in some kind of business it wasn't until I I'm laughing so hard right now it wasn't until I saw this comment that I realized I just can't stop laughing why I didn't realize that that's what they meant oh
@@idontwantcorporateretaliat6301 so did I I I I thought they were in an industry I never watched the show before I got here by accident but I did the same did grab me so I watched it I thought they were in business until I saw that comment
@@aaronbradley3232 yea..we know.... you said it already
"There are other rules". That was one of the shortest, "You're going to learn something and I'm going to teach it to you" eloquent, rank pulling verbal manouvers I've ever heard.
Reminds me of the parable of the young bull and the old bull.
If you can call it a parable; you know what I mean.
My old boss told me "everyone is afraid of something. We just find out what the something is." Totally changed my game.
I always liked Bert. He came off as the kindley old man, just sitting in his office letting the agency run itself. But in reality, he was the puppet master, who could cut your head off so fast you wouldn't even bleed. A perfect capstone for Robert Morse's career.
There's no "e" in kindly. An ad man would know :)
Bert was awesome. He puts Don in check several times without even having to exert himself.
No wonder Bert was obsessed with Japan. He could cut heads like a samurai.
That's all an executive needs to do. Let the people who know how to do their jobs do them, and take out the ones that clearly don't.
I love that scene. Cooper doesn't do much, but the buck stops there with him. He doesn't have to bother with day to day operations, because he's so confident his underlings will only bring it up to him when it really matters. No micromanagement, total confidence in letting the employees do their job.
Roger's improvisation at the end is a total stroke of genius.
Meatwaggon it demonstrates leadership vs management...
A stroke of genius? I would have been scratching my head if I were Pete. Draper fired Pete and was serious about it. So it makes no sense that Draper would be pleading for Roger to give Pete a second chance. Pete should have seen right through what was happening here.
I was just about to say the same thing! I had a big WTF moment when I first saw this episode
...don't ever say that...
Nah, When you get fired and get a second chance you will believe anything...
"This man is your commanding officer. You live and die in his shadow."
Don knows about that all too well.
Woah, never noticed that.
Bullshit, rubbish, if you don't have a mind of your own, you will die in the shadow of an idiot.
jjharvathh it’s not suppressing your seperate mind nor does it mean to say he’ll always be there in that position forever and not allow you better opportunity, it’s all about following and letting the light shine on your master BEFORE the right time. Then when it’s your time take it with fury. Do it too early... you’re fired, but hey at least you’re smarter than the idiot, right?
@@geminiwriter8875 Sounds like the rationalization of a happy slave....that is OK, it is your life to live as you wish... Let the light shine on your master? OMG... Sounds like the language of a slave. I do not have a master, it is not a good way of life.
This comment is a reference to Don's backstory not a statement about actually standing in someone's shadow
_“You’ll need a stronger stomach”_
And _”there are other rules”_
This right here seals it for me for high level management. The higher up you go the more it’s a game of politics.
please don't think you understand real world business from a show.
@@rossmacrae749I've been behind closed doors before a layoff. The only difference here is the quality of the poetry. There's a lot of ugly stuff out there.
It always has been even in the government and milatary.
@@rossmacrae749please don't believe this is not how it works in big business, government and military. In small and midsized companies it is different, but this is how the big boys play. I have been there.
Don should have watched himself here, the way he kept snapping back at Bert and not taking the hint about keeping Pete. Roger intervened when necessary and steered him back. Then he got the picture and accepted the office politics taking place here. As Bert mentioned - "There are other rules."
I love the little glance Don makes at the fact Roger wears lifts. Shows a little character development for 2 characters in a single shot. Lovely story telling.
I missed that!
@@Customerbuilder Me too.
They'll have both been a heel shorter then, but I took it as Roger hamming it up lowering himself, that they are about to humble themselves entering Bert's domain.
This was a great example of the subtle brilliance of Roger Sterling. That little detail he added at the end changed the dynamic of the agency forever, and for the better. Pete became Don’s closest ally.
It's testament to turning a "tail between your legs moment" into a win-win. Campbell keeps his job but also believes he owes Don for keeping him in the job.
Idk if it was as creative as it was required. Campbell essentially was kept on outside of Don's wishes meaning that unless Roger said that he, Pete would know that Don can't touch him. Thats why Don was so upset, he was being stepped over.
Interesting how this Draper-Campbell relationship played on when Pete found the box of Don's secret photos from his youth contradicting his present life "story"; how Pete used this A-HA info to get Don in deep 💩 with Bert. And failed. Perfect symmetry.
@@schwegburt3002 How? Don was the one who fired him (told him to go buy/get a cardboard box) in the first place. Why would he believed that he fought for him when meeting Cooper?
@@Nghilifa Exactly, it doesn't make much sense.
Roger's diplomacy and subtlety on fine display at the end. Keeping Cooper happy and the firm's reputation whilst appeasing Don. Handled beautifully. Created a third way where there seemed only two.
Some of the best bosses I've ever had would openly make themselves "the bad guy" in situations like this. It's something that's always stuck with me, and I've used it once or twice myself to great effect. I think part of leadership is willingness to look beyond your own ego and sensibilities. Doing whatever needs to be done to keep people happy and moving forward, regardless of what it costs. And a lot of the time I've found that this sort of stuff, that I thought would be hard to swallow, turned out to be very easy at the end of the day.
@@sushifreedom Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. In business you must leave your higher aspirations aside.
After a while of hearing that your worst critic has always stood up for you behind your back, when you have absolutely no evidence for it when it wouldn't be convenient to defend your critic, you become suspicious of people using this tactic on you.
@@sushifreedom why would there need to be a bad guy at all? just talk things out like adult, and if though choices have to be made.. make the other party understand the reasoning behind it.
@@aname9422 Heh, C-suites sometimes have the social prowess of daycare arguments... trust me :D
The coda to that entire scene is so beautiful. Campbell, clearly freaked out at having been nearly fired, professes "I won't let you down!" Roger's reaction is genuine here, because not only did Campbell screw up, not only was it likely for him to screw up again at some point in the future, but it's a basic truth: everyone, at one point or another, screws up. "Don't ever say that!" wasn't just meant for Campbell, it's advice for everyone.
RIP Robert Morse, I’ve watched this show many times and this is one of the few Bert Cooper scenes that still lives rent free in my head. The delivery, the stakes being raised, I envy those seeing this show for the first time.
The irony of Bert Cooper is his fascination with Ayn Rand. It's even implied that he knows her personally. And so we have a man who fancies himself an equal of Howard Roark or Hank Rearden or John Galt, and yet he spends several minutes explaining to Don, his creative genius and moneymaker, how they can't fire the scion of Old New York money, an upstart who's barely competent but he "knows the right people."
That's astonishing hypocrisy, and yet Bert Cooper remains likable, wise, and philosophical. He's right, but for exactly the wrong reason.
Robert Morse was fantastic 😍 in this Series . incredible
@@VinceLyle2161
Dead on ....Ayn Rand
Scene was Dead on
The bonus scene where he tells him to buy a copy of ATLAS SHRUGGED...was incredible..
@@VinceLyle2161 that, sure, was a great observation, and well said! I loved that program.
@@VinceLyle2161 Intersting point. Nice
I love how Roger managed to salvage the situation to their advantage even though they got completely shut down by Cooper. That was slick.
Yeah! Tou and me both. Rather than beg him to stay, the spin doctors made it look like they were showing him mercy instead! Brilliant! Came out smelling like a rose!
Once every two seasons are Roger would show why he had some value. It wasn't always apparent because he inherited all of this Fortune and status.
Roger strikes me as a pretty "slimy" character for the most part. Fortunately for him, his charisma and sense of humor prevent me from hating his guts completely.
But yes, his "street smarts" WAS pretty impressive trying to save BOTH his and Don's faces from basically being "bitch slapped" by Bert Cooper. (The reason I'm so captivated by such a show....The writing and the acting combined to form a genius work of art!!)
@Ethan Smith Anybody can lie, but it takes either luck or skill to lie WELL....To either be BELIEVED, to intimidate someone, (or a GROUP of people), or to be able to manipulate people to the point they are basically "tools"....(Or "useful idiots"???)
In this scene ^^^ Pete is a "naive dope", but throughout the show and subsequent seasons, Pete Campbell does turn out to be quite a force to be reckoned with!!! (Making me like HIM, much better than Don Draper; or perhaps not liking him more, but seeing him as more HEROIC than Don.....And almost infinitely more so than ROGER!!)
Campbell don’t ever say that, LOL no matter what he said he would be shot back. But bigger point is 1. The photo it shows Rodger is locked in as owner tied to Cooper. 2. Rodger flipped and flipped fast with little fight vs Cooper, when he sees a fight vs copper Rodger backs down snd never says anything, then Don fights back, Don sees no support from Rodger, and Don backs down
It’s pretty clever, make the guy you can’t touch think he owes you everything. That even though he was on absolute solid footing they made him feel like he was on a sinking ship.
Highly doubtful that a guy who told you to find a box and pack your shit would suddenly fight for you tooth and nail. I wouldn't buy that for a second.
@@mickeypopa same!
@Terminal
Whats your profile pic from? reminds me of prototype games
@@mickeypopa Never watched this show but I know the basic premise. To your point, this is a little sloppy in the writing. The kid was dumb to go around his bosses back, arrogant and naive (although the kid also apparently told the client the backbone pitch was Draper's). Draper was impulsive and reactionary. While the kid certainly deserved a scolding and warning not to do it again, firing him perhaps deserved more careful consideration. The last 30 seconds of the scene was totally unrealistic.
@@sburns2421
Never watched the show either and after watching this scene I don't even want to. Looks like boring office drama that I have no desire to waste time on since it will provide me with exactly zero entertainment.
So observant and well put. Massive props to these writers. Their ability to make something as presumably mundane as an advertising agency in the early 60s into one of the most interesting things in TV history is astounding, and should be recognized for the art that it is.
RIP Robert Morse. 🙏
This scene explains the difference between money and social class as required in business deals.
Both Don and Pete get a lesson.
Glad they managed not to fire Pete so Lane Pryce could beat him up later on.
@Tom Sanders Whatever you call it...he did it AGAIN in that Chernobyl series.
@@BPond7 had enough, MR TOAD?!?!
Okay Mr. Toad lol
And also how Pete turned into one of the best characters later on
THE KING DEMANDED IT
@@orionred2489 I thought lane moved to Russia
"Theres a Pete Campbell at every Agency"
"Well Let's get one of the other ones."
we are all pete campbells wising to be don draper
Samuel Tan he he
@@ryancyberheart3541
I think it meant that there was some well breed young man at every big office in New York. They were only there because of who they were not because of what they were able to do.
This does not exist as much as it used to because America is not as good as it once was.
@@bighands69so you're saying if America is as good as it once was, we would have MORE people like Pete Campbell?
1000th like
Awesome depiction of corporate life. Don's youthful naivete. Bert's reality. Roger's agility. Brilliant!
I loved these first few seasons where the nuances of office life and office politics were heavy. They taught me a lot about how things tend to work at higher levels of the office dynamic.
What's the point in teaching someone a lesson they will never forget and then getting rid of them?
I try not to let the TV teach me things.
"You're going to need a stronger stomach, if you're going to be in the back seeing how the sausage is made." Here endeth the lesson.
I thought it was a watch?
@@jms980 most people wont get that joke. but if you do get it, it's hilarious
Anand Sull would you mind explaining it please?
@@chaitanyajoshi6836 think of it like this. Don is the Head Chef of the restaurant. He doesn't see how the ingredients like meat, are actually made for the restaurant to serve, he's the creative who creates valued service, but he isn't the one who brings the materials together. The ceo is the one who brings all the ingredients, has to see where the meat is from and how to get the meat,. Let's just say business politics can be gore, cruel and vile, just like sausages.
There is no lesson.All he did was lead through fear.
In a cutthroat business you can't show weakness, you have to be able to jam a fucking icepick in the guys heart while youre staring him in the eye.
He's at the mercy of another man's greed, and that's not in control.
The tiers of management are excellently portrayed here:
Cooper: Strategic
Sterling: Tactical
Draper: Functional
Actually, it’s operational.
"You are here because of Don Draper's largesse".
Sterling may just be the tactical one here, but there's a fair bit of strategy to him too. He turned what could've been an embarrassment for a man under his command, into an opportunity to buy the loyalty of one of his men. Well done indeed.
Colonel, captain, lieutenant.
@@JB-xl2jc Both of his men. By saving Draper from having to eat crow, he bought Pet's loyalty to Draper and Draper's loyalty to him. The chain of command became solid.
@@kirkdarling4120 LOL I don't know if it was a typo but "Pet" is perfect for where Pete is at this point in the timeline.
“There’s a Pete in every agency”. “Well let’s get one of the other ones.”😂
Some of the best writing ever went into this show. The dry comebacks are world class. Like ‘sounds more like a bomb’ or ‘I thought it was a big watch’ or ‘let’s get one of the other ones.’ Perfect responses delivered perfectly by Don. I miss the anticipation of what’s next while I was watching this show. Madmen was top three best of all times on my list and above GoT since they botched season 8 so badly.
Don's wit is insane. He's a drunken mess, but when his mind is clear he's eloquent as f*ck.
Such great writing in this show. So much subtlety. First, they show Don and Roger going to Cooper's office and they take off their shoes, showing that Roger has lifts to make himself look taller. That tells you something about his ego. Then it shows Cooper, a Japanophile, with his feet up on his desk, which is considered quite rude in Japan. Then it shows the picture and Roger and Cooper commenting on it, which tells you that Cooper has known Roger since he was a young child. That and the fact that Roger is so deferential to Cooper tells us much about their relationship. The story Roger tells Pete allows us to see how adept Roger is and how his background in the military informs him as a manager. They are also all from different generations, with Cooper the oldest, then Roger, then Don, then Pete. We also now know that Pete comes from a prominent family in NY, and how aware Cooper is of this fact. We also know more about Pete's character, and how underhanded and self-entitled he is, yet also how much of a facade it is when he falls apart and then quickly falls into line. There is so much that is given to the audience in less than 10 minutes, and we know much more about these characters and their relationships to each other than we did before.
Steve silver
I totally missed Roger's lifts! I think your assessment is spot on
Yep, watched this show a few times and never noticed that roger had lifts in his shoes!
That was an outstanding analysis, thank you 👍
Here's you : Blah blah blah blah
“There you go.” “I’m glad we’re all better now.” That’s Mr. Coopers way of saying” I’m the boss and my word is final and complete.”
Problem with me is i would say, At least one of us is. But the counter to that is, im the only one that counts.
@@1manmanythings144 You can't say that or the old man will say that you're not ready to see "how the sausage is made."
I love how Robert Morse goes from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying", to "Mad Men"... His casting was so appropriate...
hahahaah. i laughed sooo hard at that line
yup -handling insubordinate employees goes all the way up
Pete really shouldn't have pushed it. Don was willing to let it slide, but he just had to needle him about it.
Well said! It was definitely Pete's Achilles Heel: he didn't have that little extra edge of self-awareness to know when to stop. He's almost always takes things one thought, action, or word further than it should have gone, only to realize after the fact he should have quit while he was ahead.
Initially blackmailing Don was a bad idea ,too
I was in a situation like this once. I was a manager and had an employee under me who fucked things up all the time, made others on the team feel horrible and just made a mockery of things. I approached him one day after one of the women said he made a pass at her and wouldn't leave her alone. I told him to get his shit and get out and don't come back. I was on the phone with security so he could he escorted out of the building when my boss's boss came over to me and pulled me into his office.
Told me the kid's parents were super high up in government and that they could make life horrible for the company. Told me I had to undo my firing and to handle it in any way that I wanted, just make sure he's not fired. I fault to the point where I was ready to quit and then he told me, "look, the world sometimes sucks and I feel for your position -- but don't let this shit affect you so much. You can do anything with that kid, just don't fire him right now."
So I went back and told the kid that I was going to give him a second chance and that I was redefining his role to "work from home." I basically told him to work from home and then didn't give him any work. I knew the company would lose money but apparently having the kid on payroll more than made up for the financial loss because that government agency looked the other way when times called for it.
Dude just collected a paycheck and stayed home all the time. I think he understood the arrangement. I forgot about him completely and eventually left that company. He's probably still there collecting a check. Hell, he's probably working at another job and still getting paid for that one.
The world is weird.
Not just weird, cruel.
The kid absolutely did not deserved his position of WFH without any work and just collect that paycheck.
Well, maybe if he wasnt an harassing idiot, if he came from a working class background and needed to help his poor parents surviving, but given your description the kid was none of those things at all.
It infuriates me to no end that most of the times there's no comeuppance for assholes in this world.
That's brilliant. The fact that nobody ever heard from him says it all...
Yet the "corruption" is anywhere in world (especially in "communist countries"), but US. Nice.
The worlds rigged and weird
So i guess the Dude got good end of stick as well,, Just have to suck so hard in your work so you dont have to do shit.
2:35 When Sterling takes his shoes off, Don notices that he drops an inch XD
wowww, noticing this made me uncomfortable lol
Yes. Great catch! While Don makes note of it to himself in the end he knows he has no greater champion than Roger.
they're called "Platform shoes" hahaha i dont have any but any good pair of dress shoes will instantly add 1.5 in at least
More like two or three.
Mad men camera's are usually pointing upwards. Like when Slattery(Roger) fires Burt Peterson, played by Mike Gaston. Gaston is 6'3", while slattery is 5'9", but you do not see the height difference in the scene.
This is my favorite scene in the entire series. The second Cooper says, "There are other rules," Roger knows the game is over and he shifts his focus to saving Don.
As Cooper says much later, "Who knows how loyalty is born?"
Saving Don?
@@daholyspirit2783 My guess saving face.
@@davidb4715 Yeah he signaled to Don not to continue barking up that tree and conveyed to Cooper that Don wouldn't make a bigger issue out of it behind Cooper's back.
Yes. One of the best scenes in TV history.
Love the moment when Don realizes Roger and Cooper have switched the pressure to him losing his job, not Pete.
@@daholyspirit2783 First thing Roger does after the rule line is watch Don with a bit of worry and first thing he says after it is: "I don't think Any of Us want that" regarding the country clubs. Saying between the lines to Don that you need to drop it and to Cooper that Don is to be trusted not to mess it up because of ego. At worst Don could say it's either me or Pete (where Don kinda tinkers in at the end of the convo with Cooper but isn't that stupid to say it) and Roger knows as valuable Don is that this just is not negotiable and Pete has to stay.
I wouldn't say really save Don but more so quide him since Don is already furious and just steer the convo in suddle way into territory of Don realizing thru his anger that it's bigger than him and not worth to pursue since it's not winnable. And at the end talk with Pete massage Don's ego and rage into better place so he won't do something stupid to mess it up after the fact.
One of my favourite character arcs of any show is how Pete turns around to be one of the most loyal allies Don has by the end of the series.
100% agreed. Fantastic characters….All of them….but Pete was awesome
Fascinating since they were taken from Bollywood characters from a 1967 hindi film Mahadur Men featuring Don DraperRRRRRRRrrrr (head bob).
@@dd.4910 are you on narcotics?
@@Skrimpish For whatever my opinion's worth, I liked that one. It's absurd, but it's absurd in an "...I never would have thought of that..." way, that I can't help but respect. And it made me chuckle.
@@dd.4910 what the shit are you talking about? No one cares about your shit hole country and its shithole culture
Absolutely OBSESSED with this series!👌 What an emotional rollercoaster with each and every episode!👍
What's it called?
"Mad Men" (Mad...short for Madison Ave. Advertising Executives back in the 50's 60's...) EXCELLENT SERIES!
"There are other rules."
So very true.
"I'm glad we're all better now..." the highlight that season.
You really don't want to know how the sausage is made. It ain't pretty, that's for sure.
"More than ambition, more than ability, it is rules that limit contribution; rules are the lowest common denominator of human behavior. They are a substitute for rational thought."
Admiral Hyman Rickover,
(Father of the U.S. Nuclear Navy)
Don't beat around the bush Billy, tell us how you really feel.
+Billy Boudin Then you missed the whole point of his character. Pete is the character people can identify most with, but most people won't see that because they don't know themselves.
Roger just kicked my ass with how good he managed all that. Saved face for Don in the Big Guy's office, made little s*it Junior know where he stood, and made Don look like the good guy to Junior while simultaneously showing Don he had his back the whole time. That generates loyalty among your reports. Not money or "what can you do for me", but "I trust you that much I'm willing to make it look like I'm the bad guy". That's a lost art.
Well, he blatently lied as well. If you think this is 'good' you can also just fake fire someone and then undo it like this. Might be 'good' as well then. It is a series, it's not real life.
I just see a disgusting pit of snakes all eager to strangle the everyman for a chance at aging golf and fear of having to actually work. Fuck Don, fuck the old man amd fuck all they represent.
The only problem is if people learn that all you are doing in manipulating them they will run for the doors.
This is called Leadership. I can understand why you find it so rare, not much of it to go around these days.
"This man is your commanding officer" when Don Draper was that man's commanding officer.
In a series that had some fabulous scenes...this was one of the best. Cooper sits in his office in his stocking feet collecting a very fat salary...because he 'knows' people in the city. He has important (vital!) 'connections' critical to the success of the firm. That's pretty much the extent of his contribution to the company....but that's all he needs. Roger brilliantly hands credit for Campbells 're-hiring' over to Don. Campbell has little choice but to be grateful to him. And in the end it works out well for both men. Gotta love the psychology of it all. Such a well written show.
To be fair, Cooper founded and played a large part in making the company prosperous. Now, 40 years later, after all the hard work he put in, he's now an old man who earned his salary... because there wouldn't be a firm AT ALL without him. He earned every fucking cent he's now being paid.
He's more than that. As evident in his meeting with Harry a couple of episodes later, he knows every penny that comes in or leaves the company. And the fact that he's willing to use his knowledge of Draper's past as Dick Whitman to his advantage shows he's plugged into everything in the agency. And what's he whistling as Don and Roger leave? "This Old Man".
cooper whistling at the end, that was the sublime touch. it's the supreme power and confidence of a boss that knows he is in charge at all times even if he has to word play his true intentions to his subordinates. at the highest powers everything is a social game and getting what you want is really the focus of everything.
"How much do you know about Pete's family?"
"Nothing except they put out a mediocre product."
Lol I didn't actually get what that meant until I read your comment.
@@ubwcolt Brother, you just opened my eyes!
Before your fire or act know the moves
Lol this is so true, it’s mediocre.
@@ofiver open eyes inception
Sterling sure does understand timing. He's ready to say the right thing at the right time backing up the right person...so that he can still be around. Pure politician.
He's a brilliant peoples person. Knowing how to charm clients and when to put his foot down. Brilliant acting.
he's an owner. it's a different form of politics. he doesn't need anyone to be around.
I'll be honest, after that Sterling is a man I'd walk through fire for. Taking a crappy situation and salvaging it for all involved. Don't know the series well enough to know if it was genuine or not, or if Don is deserving of it if it was, but that was a great move, made by a real leader.
you should watch it. it’s free on amazon prime video. great show
Don and Roger are the closest thing to BFF's that Mad Men has to offer. Yes they do disagree and argue a lot, but when it comes down to brass tacks, they have each other's back.
Such an exceptionally brilliant series, I fully believe in all the characters as real people. An absolute pleasure to watch, a modern day TV classic. In a word, perfect!
Bert Cooper is a really fascinating character. He is not overpowering like Don or confident like Roger, but he dominates the room with his experience, his wisdom and his little quirks like making other people take their shoes off or not smoke in his office.
Indeed. Great observation.
He knows logistics. Which is vital
The samurai armor behind his desk is blatant symbolism as anything could be. He's the Shōgun.
I mean he also dominates the place because he owns it.
The writing of Mad Men is so nuanced and slick. Every time I watch these clips I see it. It's just in its own dimension. Nothing compares.
Sopranos actually does compare, because sopranos made shows like this possible, chill out
Every word matters on this show. Nothing is wasted.
There were no diversity hires writing on this show...it shows and it's one of the best!
Anglosphere micropolitics...
I like how, when Don says "thought it was a big watch," he communicates that he concedes the point, resigns the argument, and wishes it worked differently. And does so without actually saying any of it, which would have gone against his character.
Can you please tell me about this season and which episode is this?
@@umeaiman3096 season 1, episode 4.
Why that line exactly.
@@thedmr6417 Because its a non-answer to the actual point being made; a witty retort to the style rather than the substance of what Bert was saying. That statement, followed by silence, is a tacit admission of resignation.
When I started watching Mad Men I was too young to even hear the genius in every spoken line. How can there be so much depth of phrase in a simple 7 minute video
SkyreeXScalabar Yes, I totally agree. Last year I rewatched the entire series. From then on I vowed to watch it every 4 years to see how far I’ve come in truly understanding this brilliant show.
"Jesus. Campbell. Don't ever say that."
Lol
Probably Roger's greatest line because it is Universal. Everyone will let someone down sooner or later.
Just a final kick in the balls on the way out the door for good measure! Lol
@@ukrandr When I was younger, one of my employer once said "Never promise anything, just do it." Pretty solid advice, because if you promise something, you'll risk letting someone down, keep your mouth shut and work hard, the deeds will speak truth for themselves.
@@BlondieUA-cam A pity politicians don't take this to heart. Every time ANY of them make a promise I cringe.
@@BlondieUA-cam Ive been tryingvto figure out why roger said that to him. Now i know why.
I love the moment of steeling themselves after they take their shoes off. ... Deep breath. ... A quick glance to each other. ...And in we go. Nice touch.
Watch again:
They are not looking at each other.
Don is looking at Roger, because he realizes that Roger wears shoes that make him taller. And in that moment, roger get's a little smaller. A very little but nice detail and visual storytelling.
This is the first time I have seen this clip. It demonstrates how dynamic leadership is. Well played!
It's pure genius how Roger flipped this situation around with a little white lie... such brilliant writing on this show.
This show is RIDDLED with amazing writing and and actors.
And and what else
@@steadyjumper3547 probably HPV
You're right about that Doc.
You know what show is actually very well made, well acted and just really good that no one talks about?
Supernatural.
A truly great moment. A lot can be learned from this!
This is one of the best sequences from the show, and is really brilliant writing. The part at the very end where Roger lies and tells Pete that Don fought for him is so great. RIP Robert Morse. I enjoyed his role in the show so much, as the "elder statesman" who maneuvers so adroitly.
" 'I won't let you down, Don.'
'Jesus, Cambell. Don't ever say that...'" That line made me laugh so hard because it just shows how hated he is.
Under promise, over deliver. Live by this one rule
Not just hated, it was because "I won't let..." is such OBVIOUS bullshit.
Hated, but then later on beg him to join there firm and take all his clients
Max Barr tuioy yuio maim nioynhiom dirt cuuin polio Milo niom Hunnish poignant yui union biun guit term sedawpol Nokia may biun trio
I laughed out loud after watching this video even though i've seen the epsiode hahaha
I love how Roger toes the line at 5.20. Once Burt has made his decision on keeping Pete, Roger goes along with it no questions asked...but then salvages Don and Pete's relationship, knowing they will need to work well together.
Absolutely amazing writing.
Thats heirracrhy for ya,total loyalty its a very important and less then common trait these days among men, Cooper is the Alpha at the company, Sterling is his enforcer aka bravo, Don one of his delta lieutenants with alpha tendencies but who respect the alpha as well.
Was a brilliant improve move by Roger there single handily settling the feud for good for most part and making Don someone Pete instantly admires instead of despises.
I've never seen this show, but I sure have been a part of a discussion like that and it really did impress me that leadership is never a cut and dry concept. It's about maintaining discipline in a way that many don't fully understand. People tell you to adhere to truth and I'm all for truth, but some people don't want the truth and for those we have to use other methods while maintaining the truth and allowing new recruits to shine.
They should have titled this video, “It pays to have rich parents.”
best 2 lines in this clip: "Remember Pete Campbell's last day? It's today." AND "Sounds more like a bomb."
So hard to choose. Both of those are great, but I love everything Cooper says + "Let's get one of the other ones"
@@drspicy9789 ABSOLUTELY : )
The smartest thing don does here is to say thank you. That's the only thing a boss like cooper wants to hear. Don could only see his problem, bert could see the whole picture.
absolutely. it also came after don's job was basically threatened by cooper and sterling if he didn't go along with it so it wasn't super high intelligence on hsi part.
which, btw, is EXACTLY the problem Pete has. He couldn't see the whole picture either. best thing to learn in life: there is ALWAYS someone who knows more about what's going on than you do. always.
@@thomasneal9291 so true
Roger: “He pitched his own copy after hours. There are rules”.
Bert “There are rules. And there are other rules”.
Showcases how well Cooper understands the game within the game.
Such a great show. One of the all time best!
Great writing, beautiful "period piece" the set, smoking. Management style, reminds me of A) bosses I've had that have been supportive/had my back, B) bosses who were setting up for failure, thinking more employees they fired makes them look decisive, C) taught to me early in my career, when an employee made a huge blunder where others would first fire the employee, boss blamed it on the system that allowed it to happen, A) who put this person in the position to make this decision, B) what have we learned.
Bert is the no bullshit guy you go to when you need to know whats actually going on. He shutdown this rage but made sure something of meaning came of it. Such a great character.
You're going to need a stronger stomach if you're going to be back in the kitchen seeing how the sausage is made...This is so true in many ways!
I thought it was a big watch.
New York City is "the Watch" Sterling/Cooper is a Restaurant or Deli (or any place that serves/makes sausages).
I think Don was trying to be a smart ass. Either that or he was mistaking the two metaphors, but a I doubt
such a talented ad man would lose track of a narrative.
It's a paraphrasing of an old saying that dates back to Otto von Bismarck, "Laws are like sausages. It is better not to see them being made."
sausage is made with bones
I thought it was a big watch...?
"Thank you, sir" was the only right response to this. At the end of the day the boss is the boss. You gave your arguments and they were considered and rejected. No argument needed, no snide comments just "yes sir". I try to operate the same way. I believe fully in the chain of command. There are always going to be decisions you disagree with. You sometimes have to put that aside for the good of the organization.
That is so true. If I'm going to "speak freely" with my boss, I always preemptively mention that "You know if you tell me to jump, I'll always ask you how high, but I think..." At the end of the day, you have to back your boss' play. I think the bigger issue for most people is having a boss that you trust haha.
@@sliptap That is true! Haha. Having a boss you trust is important and in a lot of places I know that can be hard to find!
What a great show that was. I regret never watching it all, just bits and pieces here and there. I need to go back and watch it.
Love how Don catches Sterling dropping an inch after taking his shoe off.
holy crap! this show, amazing.
subtle. that's what I love about this show. the details.
Now this is an observation.
mrjo2thec Probably when they're taking off their shoes. Sorry for the smart ass answer.
WittyDroog just spotted that and wrote it as a comment lol
What an amazing power play by Sterling at the end. Don't let an upstart take power from your protege. Smart, smart, smart.
That is a really good explanation. But I think Don also learned something that day.
It's called Nepotism.
@@tactknightgaming2066 I think in this case it had more to do with family connections outside of the company. Not anyone who worked at the firm.
The upstart is smarter
@@tactknightgaming2066 Yes and no, nepotism would be if he was the big bosses kid. Ive worked in jobs where the owner has a nephew, grandson, whatever "working" there. You cant get rid of him, your only option is to find a job where he wont mess things up. Put him at a computer and tell him his job is looking at race cars online all day as well as the models draped over them and hope he doesnt do anything stupid. This was more about trading favors, you scratch my back sort of deals. While he isnt connected to anyone at the company, the kid WAS connected to people who were connected to important people and places.
I can't believe I have NEVER watched this show. Looks like great actors and great writing. Going in for a minor surgery, I'll have about 2 weeks couch time to binge this show. Looking forward to watching it.
My wife and I watch the whole series once a year. 2nd favorite TV show for me. Did you watch it?
You won't have regretted it😜. Have you gotten around to actually watching it? Forgive my little future past tense. But it's the only way I would convey that you presumably watched it sometime in the future of your 6 month ago post. 😊
@@jamesthomas759what is your favorite show?
5:50 "I'm glad we're all better now." Cooper was a master of being menacing without being menacing.
And then the whistled choldhood tune -
This old man, he played.....
...with a nick knack paddywhack, give the dog a bone, this old man came rolling home.
I remember watching this episode and thinking "This is worth my Netflix subscription"
Mad Men
That young guy looked like he was at death's door at the end, so plainly unaware of the clout he possessed by default -thank goodness.
It's weird that the young guy didn't know the pull of his family in NYC business circles. Usually these little shits from established families know from a young age the clout they hold, so they act very entitled since they know they will be protected. I guess Pete Campbell didn't get the memo.
@@Luboman411 His ego, probably. He thinks he's where he is because he merits it on his own. Hubris. And it cost him here.
A perfect example of the young guy who knew the clout he possessed being the weasel in Green Mile. At least with the young buck in Mad Men they had a chance of turning him around to be a team player.
@@Luboman411 I agree, every Pete Campbell knows he is untouchable.
his family isn't that powerful though, nor that rich. the main influence his mother had was bad mouthing the agency at parties she was invited to out of courtesy. not much financial pull.
The scene in Bert’s office was an incredible scene. Such economy of lines and a real insight into old-school business and its connection to influential families.
If Pete had just taken the compliment, Don may have been mad at him for a day or so for going behind his back. But when Pete decide to open his big mouth with that smug comment, Don would of course have gone off on him. Don is the boss, Pete was a junior associate, respect the position if not the man, his family s wealth doesn't entitle him to be a smug wiseass
"I won't let you down Don"
"Jesus! Campbell! Don't EVER say that!
I love this video. This scene delivers a very valuable message. And that message is that when it comes to business, money and connections trumps everything.
city bumpkin It’s not who you know its who knows you
The myth that "the best qualified" person gets the job.
It's often the "best connected person" who gets and keeps the job.
But at the same time, talented people like Don are needed to actually get shit done.
This is true. Relationships, connections are essential
@@jonothandoeser it's not best qualified it's most profitable. Even the most qualified can be a liability in some way
I find this to be a great example of what is wrong with the lack of good leadership in so many companies. There are far too many egotistical wannabe bosses out there who have little to no clue what it takes to be, not just a good leader but a great leader!
How to succeed in business. Without really trying. 'Man, i knew i knew that voice. He came a long way. Being a kid watching that movie was awesome. I'm going to watch it again.
The coolest part is when Don reverses his temperament and tells Burt "Well Thank YOU, SIR" assuring that he respects the firm's modus operandi. If he was a lesser guy he'd pull a Harry Crane and start sweating and caterwauling about other misgivings he has about Pete.
I defo agree, he was smart enough to realise cooper is the boss and he would be annoyed if Don complained anymore.
He was able to do what Pete couldn't which was overstepping in places he had no business in
They made it pretty clear to Don that if it came to him or Campell they were going with Pete.
Sometimes, you gotta know which bridge to cross, which one to leave alone, and which one to set ablaze.
But also, the power shift was palpable. Lounged on that couch, the young guy held all the cards, he thought. The other just buffed their way into a winning hand.
Never seen this show, but now I want to.
@@gritsonamission I recommend it. I think I may give it a re-watch, it's been a while.
I once worked with a marine pilot. I asked him how he knew where all the dangerous rock and shoals were.
He said he didn't. He knew where they weren't.
Always stuck with me that a leader sees things differently.
AaronDaines, great point and this theory was used in WW2 with the airplanes that were hit by enemy fire. The experts reasoned that surviving planes didn’t show damage in certain places because the damage would have been fatal. Instead of improving armor where Naval researchers saw lots of bullet holes, in other words, the Allies actually needed to fortify areas where the surviving planes hadn’t been hit.
This is a fine way to look at leadership if your job is simply to get from Point A to Point B without ruffling any feathers. A middle manager, say. Stay in the lane you know is safe and keep the bow pointed in the right direction. But knowing where the rocks and shoals are - or better yet, how to spot the ones you don't know exist yet before you run aground on them - is critical if your job is expand what's possible. The best senior leaders don't make a point to know where the rocks are, they make a point to know how to find 'em without hitting 'em.
That's deep!
Aaron,
Along the same line of thinking :
Years back, it became clear that "who am i?/ who are you?" may be the most important question there is.
In searching for the answer, i later found that who im/theyre NOT became the edges of the path on the way to the answer.
the bullshit meter just pegged. I say that as an ex ship driver.
I liked this show a lot like "Man in the High Castle", it makes you think not just mindlessly consume non-connecting visuals. I liked the beginning time periods the most, when it delved into the 60's it lost something, maybe I liked the crisp etiquette of the earlier time periods more.
Cooper is Don Corleone.
Benevolent despot.
Kills with a smile on.
My favorite scene in the series, shows Bert's total control over the firm. "You need a stronger stomach..." great line. Teaches Don and threatens him all at once.
The threat and Roger's participation in it is incredible. Probably a half-bluff but still amazing. Don certainly recognized the shift.
One of the best scenes in TV I've seen.
Shows the absolute value of Roger too. He's higher up the social ladder than Campbell and is good on the job.
I thought it also offered a hint that Don was tracking for partner too.....carrot and stick.
“How the sausage is made in the back” -that’s brilliant and 100% accurate.
I love the character of Bert.
I only just realized the sweet irony of Roger calling Don Pete's "commanding officer". Can almost see a hint of discomfort in Don's eyes when he says that. Brilliant.
The dynamic between saying "dont ever say that" and "I won't let you down, Don" is wild. The weasel flips given the right ammo with Adam's box. I've never hated and loved a character so much in my life.
I suppose they may have wrote Don and Pete almost the same way.
The funny thing is, they wrote that scene like Roger would've shut Pete down no matter what Pete said, and Pete doesn't know he's in for it. It's brilliant...
Wow, what an AMAZING extract. I just read the WONDERFUL book of Muriel Solomon, "Working with difficult people" TWICE. I had seen the video before. But it's just until NOW that I totally get some more wonderful concepts on it.
"Your generation went to college instead of serving so I'll illuminate you."
Badass line
Have you been to college?
Fishcake! Yes and so did Roger, I assume. Still a great line.
@@gumbo2180 what was it like?
I went to both. Served before College
I loved how this series so accurately portrayed the life and death efforts by smart shallow people to promote such meaningless products. Brilliantly written and produced.
Quotable!
I take a corrupt advertising man over a corrupt doctor any day - this is 2022 time to face reality 😂🕵🏻♂️
Yeah man, I’m in sales for a humongous company and after “seeing how the sausage is made in the back” I can totally relate! It’s soul sucking insincere snake oil salesman and 100% turd polishing.
Steel is a meaningless product? The client there was Bethlehem Steel.
Did you actually watch the series? Not sure if you are trolling or not, but these are far from "shallow" people. For better, and for worse, America always has run on the competitive production and promotion of products that meet a wide range of needs and wants. These mad men are just "levers, gears, and springs" in a system they did not originate.
The funny thing is this whole scenario/scene is soooo realistic if you work in the corporate world
Cooper's empty desk suggests to me that he actually does very very little. Yet probably what he does is nudge the business in the right direction at the right time.
I love the way Roger has lifts in his shoes
Totally! Perfect, subtle touch that fits right into his character.
@@jeffreyhord
Hahaha! Good way to put it. I had to go back and make sure, when I first caught it. They're the same height, the take off the same shoes & Roger's 2" shorter! I just snickered & thought to myself, yep that's Roger
Good catch I missed this
Weiner's writing is tailored expertly to his characters; that bit about New York City being a "marvelous machine" filled with "levers and gears - like a fine watch" is taken directly from The Fountainhead, a book Cooper undoubtedly knows well.
It just gets better and better.
Definitely the most well-written TV-show of modern times. There are so many layers, especially in the earlier seasons.
He didn’t steal the dialogue, Cooper was a big Ayn Rand fan. He just quoted a passage.
Until the last season, then he became the funniest character with all his randy problems.
Cooper talks about AR in many episodes
I'm not a mark for Ayn Rand, and I know it's trendy-Wendy to say everything she wrote is the opposite of the truth, but if that is really the case, Nickelback is the greatest band of all time (since they copy/water down other music), Evangelical religion is the best philosophy, and the Soviet Union was perfect. A cool quote isn't stupid just b/c of who wrote it.
So many things about this show were top drawer. I think I may have to start over and binge watch it again.
I love the way Roger had Don's back. If only every boss was like this.
"Remember Pete Campbell's last day?"
I'm guessing Don and Roger had been jokingly having this conversation in the past before
That's one of the best piece of television I ever had the chance to witness. So perfectly written.
'....I'm glad we're all better now...' Such a fabulous line.
"You picked the wrong time to buy an apartment."
One of my most favorite lines!