It's a world gone mad, I tell you. Mattel are releasing Ken and Barbie dolls based on Mad Men's Don Draper, Betty Draper, Roger Sterling and Joan Holloway.
The dolls come with period accessories like hats, overcoats, pearls and padded undergarments, but no cigarettes, ashtrays, martini glasses or cocktail shakers…
The pairing of Barbie and “Mad Men” is more interesting than the typical licensing agreement because of their shared history. Barbie was introduced in March 1959, and the first episode of “Mad Men” is set in March 1960.
“ ‘Mad Men’ represents so beautifully the universe that created Barbie,” said Robert Thompson, professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University, because the series is about the selling of the American consumer society.
The personification of Betty Draper as Barbie is particularly resonant, Mr. Thompson said, because she represents “the wife who lives in her dream house whose soul is eaten away.”
“I have this fantasy of an 8-year-old getting a set” of the dolls, he added, “and saying: ‘Mom, can Chelsea come over? We want to play “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit.” I’m going to be the organization man, and she’s going to be the soulless drone.’ ”
What games do you reckon are actually going to be played?
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I know that the producers of Chuck have been having to make cutbacks this season, but could they really not afford a spellchecker? Unless of course 'loctated' is the past participle of 'to Loctite®'.
He may be known to most people as Marty McFly's dad in Back to the Future or a villain in the first Charlie's Angels movie, but Crispin Glover is also a mentalist.
He is.
He so is.
Take a look at this video he made. It'll prove it.
Oh! Look at that. Yes - that. It's an ad for Gavin & Stacey series three on DVD. You can buy it now. In fact, I have a copy already.
What do you mean they've only shown two episodes of it on TV so far?
Yes, in the bizarre world of the BBC DVD release schedule, "a third of the way through a series" is a good time to release a show on DVD, presumably in time for Christmas.
So, here's my quandary. Should I watch the DVD (two discs, including one disc of extras) and spoil myself, or watch at the same speed as everyone else?
We've already watched the next two episodes and I'll tell you something for nothing, there's a great fight scene with Stacey. Episode 3 is also great for in-jokes. I'll say no more than that until Friday.
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This is a UK media blog with daily news, views, exclusive reviews and good conversation. There's a bit of a bias towards the latest and greatest US TV, but we also cover British TV ranging from new Doctor Who to old Z Cars, Property Ladder to Big Brother, and BBC4 to S4C – yes, this blog is firmly part of the conspiracy to promote all things Welsh where possible, particularly Caerdydd.
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About me
I'm Rob Buckley, a freelance journalist who writes for UK media magazines that most people have never heard of. I've edited Dreamwatch, Sprocket and Cambridge Film Festival Daily; been technical editor for trade magazine Televisual; reviewed films for the short-lived newspaper Cambridge Insider; written features for the even shorter-lived newspaper Soho Independent; and contributed sarcastic articles about television to the blink-and-you-missed-it "web site for urban hedonists" The Tribe. I'm freelance now and have contributed to the likes of Broadcast, Total Content + Media, Action TV, Off The Telly and TV Scoop. Have pity on me.
Read more on Question of the week: 6Music - thumbs up or thumbs down?