Episode 4.7 "The Gorilla in the Room"

Mad Men Episode 4.7 "The Suitcase"

It's already the 7th episode of this season with out a rudder, seeming to go no-where but in circles. That's likely the whole point. Don, without his wife and family, IS rudderless, and is circling the drain, going down into the abyss of drunkenness and depression. Just look at Duck to see where this leads.
Another review called this episode "heavyweight fights".

I call it "The Gorilla in the Room".
This episode was framed around 3 events:

1. Muhammad Ali-Sonny Liston bout.
Liston was often called 'the big gorilla' cuz he was so ugly, dumb, big and lumbering.
Don bet $100 on him? That's NOT what 'forward thinking' Don would do!
It's yet another example of how every decision he's made since his divorce has been wrong. And how his attitude towards everyone and thing has been that of an asshole. He's even thrown clients out of the conf. room. He used to charm them every time. He's lost his Mojo, his groove.
That's the REAL Gorilla in the room on Mad Men all this season.

He's literally screaming at poor Peggy this episode. She's dying for a kind word, a pat on the back, a reason to stay at this lousy job. (aren't we all?) She puts up with it, like she feels she deserves punishment.(for; see below) Great relationship! Don later finding out Peggy 'Fucked the Duck', just seemed to piche his interest in her. Turning to Peggy for 'comfort' (as in sex) will be his next big mistake.

2. The Samsonite suitcase ad campaign deadline.
Everyone knows that Samsonite has ONE ad that it has been making and re-making in many variations since, well, the 60's. It's of a guy throwing a suitcase into a Gorilla's cage at the zoo. The Gorilla proceeds to bang it all over the place, while the voice-over says stuff that equates airport baggage handlers to gorillas. I've also seen the opposite version; where baggage handlers are shown at work with the sounds of a Gorilla screaming over them.

Don and Peggy mentally dance around in their efforts to find this 'perfect ad', but don't quite get it yet. By the end, Don settles on a stupid 'his suitcase can beat up your suitcase' idea inspired by the big fight that was just on, and it's world famous photo of Clay standing over Liston.
The suitcases don't even have arms to fight with!?

The drawing he did looked more like a grave with a suitcase headstone. (I'm sure it was intentional, since Don's 'real wife', Anna, had just died, and he sees her spirit heading off to heaven carrying a Samsonite...hey that would've been a great Ad!) Peggy said it was 'very good'...Peggy wants to keep her job, and she DOES love Don very dearly.., that's The next Gorilla in the Room.

3. Peggy's Birthday.
No one seems to care about it. Peggy is very sentimental at heart, but tries not to show it. Her BF, "Nerd-boy who thinks she was a Virgin", has planned a big surprise party at a NY rest. for her. But the real surprise is that he got all her family members (that she can't stand) to be there. Somehow Don senses and he makes Peggy stay late to work on the suitcase ad with him; ruining her 'party'.

Was he just lonely or was he doing her a big favor? They eariler had talked about morality, told others that she doesn't sleep with him. the mention of her illegitimate baby (that Don is the only person besides Pete the Dad knows about).

That's the next Gorilla in the Room....Peggy's secret sex life in her recent past.
The guilt kills her. She had a baby after her first sex; with Pete in his office. She 'Fucked the Duck', a lot, and loved it. Who knows what else with the pot-smokers?
Then she tries to find a 'nice boy' that thinks she's as 'nice' as he is and lets him keep thinking it.
Livin' a lie?
Now Don knows about Duck, he knew the rest already. He doesn't seem to care. This makes Peggy fall in love with him all over again! They hold hands, for the first time ever. This is huge...maybe...?

Turning to Don for 'comfort' (as in sex) will be her next big mistake.

Episode 2: Christmas Comes But Once a Year

A bunch of surprise Christmas 'gifts' come in this episode:
I think most could be considered what Roger Ebert would call "time bombs";
a small plot point that could explode later on in the season.
This being the start of the new season, this could be a 'bullet points' listing of what is to come.

Gift 1: Little Sally, Don's daughter, sends an adorable Santa letter to him.
It's so sweet, better than any present he could ever get.
It reminds him he still has a family; and a big mortgage to pay.

Gift 2: Freddy the lovable drunken ad-man re-appears! and with a $2mil account.
Really big surprise..he's sober now, and know not to play Santa at the office party. No surprise, even when sober, he reveals he's a male chav. pig. What trouble will he wreak?

Gift 3: Don's newly noticed neighbor, Nurse Phoebe. Exactly his 'type'. A cute slender Brunette. Suitable for stocking stuffing. You just KNOW he's going to add her to his collection soon.
A time bomb for sure. This time she's rejected his advances...so far.

Gift 4: Having to make a real X-Mas party for the benefit of "Mr. Big Client", the Lucky Strike closet gay guy. Extra special gift: watching Sterling humiliate himself by having to be Santa, and passing out carton of Luckys, as if it's a prison party. Maybe it was....
A time bomb of wanting to lose this client, and add new ones to replace him. "I want to bite the hand that feeds me"....

Gift 5: "Presents" of trash left all over the Draper house by Sally's new creepy stalker, Glen. Sally finds a real gift of a lanyard thingie he made (in retard camp?) on her bed and smiles knowingly. She told him she hated her house, he trashes it for her....her real gift...a willing tool! (What 'shocking' things is Sally going to do this season, as promised? As said by the creator of the series.)


Gift 6: Don's new sec'y, Allison (another slender Brunette), comes to his rescue by bringing him his apt. keys. She stays for drunken 'thank you' sex, with both their clothes on. (how does that work?)
Will this be the gift that keeps on giving, or will he regret this in a big way?
He already is trying hard to give her the message: "forget this happened".
Extra bonus gift: $100 cash for Allison. Is that what hookers made in 1964?
She doesn't seem too happy with it. Now she wants a damn ring on it?
A Definite 'time bomb'. "A woman scorned".....she could be who exposes Don's real ID to the press out of spite.

Gift 7: Peggy finally 'puts out' for her BF, mousy guy. Didn't he think she was a 'virgin'? Didn't 'Super Joan' tell her to 'hold out'? Didn't she 'Fuck-a-Duck' like crazy last season; what happened to him? A time bomb in her indifference to him, and his delusional love for her. "A Man scorned"?

Next week: Fun in Acapulco!

LOST Emmy Nominations 7-8-10

There were 12 Nominations for Lost today.
Highlights are
Best Drama Series: Lost
Best Actor..Mat Fox
Best Supporting Actor: both Terry O'Quinn (LOcke) and Micheal Emerson (Ben)
Best Director: Jack Bender
Best Writing: Damon & Cuse (TPTB)
Best Music: Michael Giacchino
Interesting...they slipped in another actor in this one:
Outstanding Guest Actress: Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet

Per the official listings from Emmys.com
1.Outstanding Art Direction For A Single-Camera Series
Lost • Ab Aeterno • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Zack Grobler, Production Designer
Matthew Jacobs, Art Director
Carol Bayne Kelley, Set Decorator

2. Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
Lost • The End • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Jack Bender, Director

3. Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series
Lost • The End • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Stephen Semel, Editor
Mark J. Goldman, Editor
Christopher Nelson, Editor
Henk Van Eeghan, Editor

4. Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score)
Lost • The End • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Michael Giacchino, Composer

5. Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Matthew Fox as Jack Shephard

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series (2 nom's)
6. Lost • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Terry O'Quinn as John Locke

7. Lost • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Michael Emerson as Ben Linus

8. Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
Lost • The End • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet Burke

9. Outstanding Drama Series
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios

10. Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series
Lost • The End • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Thomas E. deGorter, Sound Supervisor
Joe Schultz, MPSE, Sound Editor
Paula Fairfield, MPSE, Sound Editor
Carla Murray, MPSE, Sound Editor
Maciek Malish, MPSE, Sound Editor
Lloyd Jay Keiser, Sound Editor
Geordy Sincavage, Sound Editor
Allen Mark, Sound Editor
Robert Kellough, Sound Editor
Chris Reeves, Sound Editor
Gabrielle Reeves, Sound Editor
Alex Levy, Music Editor
Adam De Coster, Foley Artist
James Bailey, Foley Artist

11. Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour)
Lost • The End • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Bobby Anderson, Production Sound Mixer
Ken King, Production Sound Mixer
Frank Morrone, Re-Recording Mixer
Scott Weber, Re-Recording Mixer

12. Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Lost • The End • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Damon Lindelof, Writer
Carlton Cuse, Writer

American Idol- Can Crystal Win?

i haven't followed every season of AI, but have the last few, and watched the last rounds of most, so i'm far from an expert.

This young season, there is one contestant that is far above the talent level of every other:
Crystal Bowersox.

I've never gotten real involved with AI, but this girl is super special, and deserves all the support and votes she can get.

Not only is she far a better singer than any other this season, but very likely, a better talent than in almost any season. I do love Kat McVee, and look at what happened to her...2nd place! Now without a big hit, she has re-made herself into a "Kelli Pickler" so she can appeal to the C/W fans.

Good News:
1. Crystal has a distinctive and smooth melodic voice, you know it's her as soon as she starts singing, and want to hear more.

2. She has a natural bluesy style, and is a fine guitar player.

3. She has natural ability to turn a 'cover song' into her own...totally unique to her.

I can't wait to hear her do a Rolling Stones song tonight (unless it's when Lost is on)
Crystal said in her little interview that she had already picked out ALL her songs and has been practicing them..she's ready to bring it and win it. She know that hard work and practice makes one sound 'effortless'. She doesn't have 'wrong song choices' that ruin so many cont's chances.

4. The judges all LOVE her. they keep telling her "it's yours to lose".

5. As soon as i first heard her, i thought.."She's a young Melissa Ethridge, but a better singer!"
and "stop the contest...she's the clear winner!"

I must be psychic, cuz i happened to see a short bio of her. Her biggest thrill was getting to go backstage and meet Melissa after a concert. Melissa is her idol.

6. She has a great 'sob story' of singing at subway stations for spare change. She's practically homeless.

7. She IS a natural beauty...it's easy to see that about her. Just not a 'Carrie Underwood' cover-girl beauty. That may help her appeal to average teens. 'We can be her!'
If she were 'cleaned up' she'd look a lot like the actress in the "Bourne" movies, Julia Styles.

Now the "bad news": (as far as winning this thing goes)
1. Crystal is not concerned with her looks. She's dresses like a new age hippie, with blond dread-locked hair. Her comment on Melissa was "She's all about the music, not what's out here"(panning down her own body.) When was the last time you saw a not gorgeous girl hit it big vs. mediocre ones who have? (Colby Calliet comes to mind)
I think Crystal will NOT let herself be 'made over' to look like...Julia Styles.

2. She sings bluesy songs, not real popular with the young record buying public. Def'ly not hip-hop, Pop, or current Soul.

3. Not sure of her age, but seems to be mid-20's. Most recent winners have been ones who 'tween' and young teen girls can go ga-ga over, since they are be far the biggest voting block.
I can't see them going nuts for Crystal.

4. The other big voting block is Southern States. Crystal is from a small town in Ohio. Will Ohioans back her the way Taylor Hicks was?

5. The judges express their 'love' for her too much. That can hurt, esp'ly when Simon is on board. The voters LOVE to vote against Simon. They have already anointed her the winner, that could be a 'kiss of death'.

6. there ARE some 'cutesy' girls in the running that could be the next Disney Channel type Pop-Star,
i.e. Katie Stevens..she's ready to replace Demi Lovato right now..
...or Didi..a new Colby?

and there is a couple 'hunky guys', that could appeal more to young girl voters.
Casey James, the one with long blond hair and an electric guitar comes to mind so far.
.....
Tim Urban..really his name? He's going to be signed no matter what by a C/W label.

So all in all; i be amazed and very happy if she does win. Perhaps coming in 2nd or 3rd could actually be better for her in the long run. She'd be more free to record what she wants.

I think someday soon..Melissa Ethridge will be HER biggest fan...
Crystal could record some of her songs and bring a new audience to her...and royalty checks.

My LOST Djinn Theory for Dummies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinns
Djinns are also called Jinns and Genies. They are in ancient folk-lore all around the world.
They are what we would call 'demi-gods', or 'spirits', perhaps even Angels and Demons.

Way back seasons ago, this theory about the nature of Jacob and what turns out to be Man In Black, and their fight of Good vs. Evil. I did not first think of this, but a light went off that said.."this is it..this is what they are".

So without re-posting all that is in the Wiki article about them, (link above) i will 'dumb it down',
by describing a very familiar 'Jinn' to you and how she is exactly what we're talking about.

That's right: "I Dream of Jeannie"!

1. What does Jeannie do when she goes in and out of her home..the bottle?
Turns into a column of SMOKE!!!

2. Jeannie can turn into other people or change clothes in a wink of her eye.
she is a shape-shifter, just like what we've been seeing.

3. Jeannie has an 'evil/sexy' (or in the show, a 'naughty') side; that is dark-haired and wears black clothes and gets people to be 'bad'...The Girl in Black.

4. Jeannie cannot harm her captor..."Master", she calls him. but she gets him into lots of trouble by manipulating events and other people. Good thing she loves her Master. MiB does not.

5. Jeannie has possessed other people (usually to make them do or say what she wants them to)
"jinn often harass and even possess humans"

In short, I'm now sure that is what Jacob and MiB are. Good Jacob is there to keep the evil MiB in his 'bottle", the Island. He was put there ages ago as a prison. Jacob is his jailer. He enlisted the Losties as his 'end-game' to counter MiB's using Locke's body to convince Ben to kill him.
He saw it all coming, he let Ben kill him to spring himself free of his body, in order to go to the next state, not unlike Christ allowing himself to be killed to become more powerful.

It was very clear when F-Locke said "I want to go Home."

the Losties true purpose is to prevent that..to destroy MiB once and for all. As Miss "lamp-post" said "lord help us all if you fail", implying he will destroy the earth if he gets loose.
f-Locke will of course try to convince them the opposite.

LOST....One Timeline, a Start and Finish

LOST.....Season 6; Episodes 1 &2: Quick thoughts
(Before i read any reviews of other people's theories.)

On Sunday I read on the Fuselage what turned out to be a very spotty summary of the 1st Hr. as watched at the premier in Hawaii Sat. night.
ALL the posters there (most said they had watched a podcast of the hr.) were on this stupid "ALT" bandwagon (alternative timeline) aka "Reset"...that started when the bomb went off, saying there are now 2 sets of Losties. (?)

I was the one person that put forward there what seemed very clear and straightforward...that we were seeing 2 parts of the same timeline...ONE TIMELINE! (as we did in S4 with the O6.)

Of course, i was ignored..the fuse has long ago quit been a forum for discussion of diff. ideas.

After seeing both hours; My 'theory' still hold up very well for the most part, and seems to have been verified.

Here is that article i wrote Sunday on the Fuselage, in the Spoilers section, with new comments in bold.
==================================================

1-30-10
i think it's been touched on when one said here the 'timelines' will merge at some point.
I'll take it a step further.
My thoughts only...no spoilers here.
If 'ALT timeline' means different 'Alternative timelines', then i think there are Not 2 different timelines at all.

Like in S4 starts, when we see the O6 landing in Hawaii, then it unfolds how that came to be; S4 ends where it started. so we've seen this story telling technique before.

I think we are simply seeing 2 parts of the same time-line..
1. the ending of the series with 815 safely coming on to LA, and events right after that; and

2. what happened right after the Juliet 'incident' and moves forward to that ending.

the season will explain how these 2 events come to be part of the same course of events. What is implied by this is that the 'flash' at the end of S5 did NOT cause Jack & co. to be back on 815. It was another 'time flash' for sure, the bomb didn't go off. It still may come into play.

By the end, it seemed VERY clear this is what is happening. Many things on the plane were different now, Rose seemed aware of the past, and so did Locke. Jack seems to be slowly remembering, like a guy recovering from amnesia. Sawyer even said "the bomb didn't go off!". Duh, How did those that watched it Sat. miss that?

they are all still on the island, but as pointed out clearly on earlier posts; back in present day 2007, and back with f-Locke, Ben, Sun, etc.

At the end of the 2nd hour, it was verified for sure...The 'beach group' see the rocket signal the Temple Others set off, putting them in the same time zone. Earlier clues were the Jacob chat w/ Hurley, but that wasn't conclusive. I'll bet anything the 'Fuse-rons' will say that doesn't mean it's the same rocket. They are stupid.

New events that unfold during S6 will finally get them all back onto 815, but with the memories of what happened. Rose certainly hinted at that, but they don't want us to be too sure. Jack looks older, as he should be, he lived thru the last 5, and now 6 seasons.as Daniel said 'everything that happened, happened."

Seeing the Foot now sunken to me implies that new events will cause that to happen, it doesn't ness'ly say that the island is there, it moved at least once after all. i'd venture that the island has simply moved again prior to 815 now flying over that location.

The summary i read did NOT mention the showing of Dharma-ville and other landmarks that confirm the entire island is there and sunken. I still go with the idea that NEW events will make that all happen.

It may even be the other foot? (i'd take a careful look at which Foot it is..the other one we never saw was likely in the ocean already. it's there, the island is not.)
It WAS the same Foot..the Left.

p.s. it was discussed a lot back when jughead was 1st shown that a bomb of that size could not destroy the entire island, it would cause 1 mile wide crater, as was talked about in S1, and shown on Danille's map.

I'd only add to remember that most of the bomb is still under the Temple. They only tried to set off the 'detonating device'.

================

Answers that seem very clear:
1. Locke IS the "Man in Black"(MiB) who IS the Smokie Monster. Biggest Reveal in the series!
What do we call him now? Fuse'rs call him fLocke (fake Locke) Ben called him "monster".
He called himself to Richard; "It's Me". I like calling him "ME".

2. Sayid DID die. One of the 'spirits' took over his body. Which one? Jacob would seem a good bet? We sure see alot of Ash last night...was it applied in time at the Temple? Can "ME" be both in Locke AND in Sayid?

3. Both Island groups are now in the same Time...2007 seems most likely, unless both groups 'flashed' to sometime else.

4. The Hatch is definitely the one that imploded in 2004. (again Fuse-rons refused to believe this). Yes the crater is now shown to be much bigger. It was never CGI'd very well in past epi's.

Sawyer said so, but proof was when we see him pull out Desmond's exercise bike from the wreckage while getting to Juliet.

5. We get to see how Benry was saved as a kid...in the Magic Jacuzzi. Ironic that now it's tried on Sayid. Why was it cloudy and not working? Cuz Jacob was dead.

6. "ME" says to Richard: "Nice to see you out of those chains".. I think final evidence of what's been guessed all along...That Richard was on the Black Rock. We saw skeletons on it still IN chains. Would suggest that Richard was a BR prisoner in chains, or was made one when there was a Mutiny (my guess) started by "ME".

7. Yesterday, i posted the idea that "LA X" could mean several things...one not mentioned before was that it could mean "The Christ/Savior". I think seeing Jacob in a 'life after death' state certainly verified my guess on this.

ONE BIG QUESTION:
i posted the thought on FB that the "X" in the Title could also mean '10' as in 2010. There WAS a slight hint...when the security was headed to find Kate at the airport, they said something about going to a diff. flight...815 was NEVER mentioned. i have to re-watch this part.

One Minute Re-Cap; The Bachelor Week 2 Hit list

Week 2 Hit list:
15 bachelorettes who received roses on Week 1: Tenley (1st Rose), Ella, Elizabeth from Nebraska, Ali, Vienna, Christina, Gia, Ashley, Rozlyn, Jessie, Corrie, Valishia, Ashleigh, Kathryn and Michelle.

The 15 women who were left are: ( The 3 Week 2 Hits marked)












Ali, 25, an advertising account manager from Williamstown, MA
Very cute and wholesome...A take home to Mom type.











Ashleigh, 25, an account manager from North Potomac, MD
Why is she still here? I would have gladly booted her in week 1 and kept several others.


wk2 OUT; Ashley, 29, a teacher from Pittsburgh, PA
Looks cute to me??? It was said she got 'too drunk'?
Is it possible for a pretty girl to get TOO Drunk?

wk 2 OUT; Christina, 25, a restaurant manager from San Diego, CA
Looks OK, pretty, but nothing too special...why did she last thru week 1?


Corrie, 23, a wardrobe consultant from Kissimmee, FL
I think she's really Hot, maybe not the prettiest face? I like her a lot.


Elizabeth, 29, a nanny from Imperial, NE
Cute, but has "Brunette Sameness"...


Ella, 30, a hair stylist from Lafollette, TN
More of this affliction...nice boobs though...


Gia, 26, a swimsuit model from New York, NY
SMOKIN HOT..the one girl that is maybe 'Out of His League'...
If i was him, I'd be afraid to try and get close to her...he'll get burned!!



Jessie, 25, a cosmetic sales manager from Oakville, Ontario, Canada
VERY cute...A true "MariAnne"??? I like her a lot!!


Kathryn, 25, a corporate flight attendant from Lexington, KY
Cute, but kinda average looking for this show?? She flies, so maybe she's perfect for him?
Looks like the Blond Wife on Modern Family?


Michelle, 26, an office manager from Anaheim, CA
The season's crazy psycho bitch, like that one a few years ago.
Not that great looking, either.
Seems like an intentional set-up.


wk 2 OUT- Rozlyn, 28, a model/makeup artist from Richmond, VA
The 'wicked one' that screwed a producer and got booted off.
She got ALL the attention, looked the best in the photo-shoot,
has the hugest Rack; and wore a mini-skirt with NO PANTIES!!!..
Playboy must be calling. Don't know if 3 were meant to go this week?


Tenley, 25, a college admissions representative from Newberg, OR
(Really lives in Huntington Beach, Calif.)
The cute blond that kissed him in week 1, she's much cuter than this pic shows.
I'm rooting for her.


Valishia, 32, a homemaker from Carlsbad, CA
Another Calif girl..i dated a girl that looked just like this in College..HOT HOT HOT!!!


Vienna, 23, a marketing representative from Sanford, FL
Did she get hit in the face with a shovel???

==============================================


!!!!Spoiler Section!!!!!
There are already 'spoilers' as to who is in the final 4, and the final winner; don't know
if it is accurate???

Clue; the poor dumb guy said this:
"I'm looking for the woman who absolutely has a heart of gold.
We're all gonna be ugly in the end.
Looks are only skin deep."