Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
Ursula Hennessey ·
Sep 20, 2010 at 2:07pm
What are we to make of this? I couldn't even watch the whole thing, it so infuriated me. Help me out. How could I EVER watch Mad Men again?
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Jun '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
After all, actors are the perfect vehicle for spreading misleading political information, and Democrats are well aware of it. Famous actors attract lots of press attention, and can propagandize with sincerity, especially if they're too dumb to know any better (often the case.) It also works fine if they're simply liberal actors, good at their craft--good at projecting sincerity while lying. You contribute the talents you have. Actors are generally good at expressing strong feelings, while banishing all distracting thinking. Perfect.
Aug '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
I would suggest that you start by reminding yourself that it's not a good idea to cut off your nose to spite your face. Lots of celebrities say offensive/stupid things, best to just try to ignore it. I mean, if Hamm were a political commentator I could see eschewing his contributions in the future over this, but an actor's political pontifications are accident not essence. It would be a different issue were the transgression both more severe and more tightly integrated with the art (think Wagner's proto-Nazism) but it ain't.
For my part, I intend to watch Mad Men tonight and expect to find my enjoyment not at all diminished.
May '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
Uhm, Ursula, he's an actor. I know too many of them to have any hope of thinking rock-ribbed conservatives make up the majority in the performance business. That's why, when I hear of some conservative "coming out" about their conservatism, I usually throw a party and splurge on chocolate. I gained 10 lbs. over Pat Sajak.
May '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
Actors are the perfect liberals. Reality is what you say it is and you get paid to pretend.
On the other hand, if you're a writer like Andrew and Rob, it's even better. You're God. You get to put the words into the mouths of the people who pretend.
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
I know, I know, Anon and Felicia. I know that I'm oversensitive, and I know that these are just actors/clowns. I get all that. But this doesn't bother you at all? I mean, when I saw him talking and responding with such total nonsense but with great animation, I did think for a moment about Don Draper. I know in my head that they are actor/character, but it really doesn't make you bristle just a teeny, tiny bit?
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
Okay, I guess I think that he's selling a trade. He's got customers, in a way. The viewers of his "art." If he was running the local muffin shop, say, and came out and said he's not going to sell to [insert some ethnic/religious group] he'd not only be considered a total idiot as a businessman, but many people *other* than the offended group would refuse to buy their muffins from the guy, right? How is this different?
Aug '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
Even though I'm a Mad Men addict, it's always been plainly obvious that the point of the show is to try and make the American Dream look as bad as possible. Series creator Matthew Weiner once said that if he'd read Revolutionary Road earlier in his life he never would have created Mad Men. It's no surprise that those involved hold these kinds of views. From the beginning of the series, I've known that it would require me to hold my nose a little when the writers/producers/actors try to make Americans feel bad about themselves.
May '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
While I think that a lot of performers are intelligent and even geniuses in their fields, I wouldn't consider performers in general to be paragons of wisdom. So, I have no illusions or even expectations.
When "Left Wing" - I mean "West Wing" - was the hot show, I was an avid fan. I loved the drama and the funny, fantasy, leftist, alternate White House world. I also admired the quick dialogue. It was a highlight of my week. The entire time, I had no illusion that the majority of the actors on the show were avowed leftists. The show eventually lost me because it had "jumped the shark."
May '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
Sheer numbers. If I refused to watch films made by obnoxious fools, I'd never see another movie. The same can be said of TV, music, literature and every other art.
The TV and film industries, like the video game industry, at least require a lot of non-artists who are less likely to be clueless idealists.
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
Like beauty, offense is often in the eye of the beholder. My personal threshold is crossed when a large swath of the country is labeled racist. My preference, though, nothing more.
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
So much to say, here -- soon to issue forth in a post, no less -- but, wow, Mad Men is a better piece of art than Revolutionary Road in every way. The freshness of the MM cast is a huge advantage, here: we've had the benefit of several seasons now where the actors have been simply actors, not celebrities, not people we should interview or indulge on political questions. That goes a considerable distance in helping me sit back, relax, and let the story that the assembled artists are telling be told.
Jun '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
I'm just heartened by the growing outrage at the "racist" slur. It's absolutely disgusting the impunity with which it's used. It's my hope that people who recklessly make racist accusations are someday ranked with those who use the "N" word, and that this period in America is seen as just another foul chapter in the great race swindle.
Jun '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
Everybody in America understands that using the "N Word" is highly offensive and the very worst of pejoratives. But I'm really tired of avoiding it as if it were some sort of medieval incantation that could summon the undead. Seriously, it's time conservatives started taking back the lexicon from leftist censors. The key is to be careful with the context. Context is everything.
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 6:58pmMay '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
Hamm: I think the Tea Party is racist.
Dietl: That's interesting. How often do you think, Mr. Hamm?
Jun '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
~Paules
Everybody in America understands that using the term "N Word" is highly offensive and the very worst of pejoratives. But I'm really tired of avoiding it as if it were some sort of medieval superstition that could summon the undead. Seriously, it's time conservatives started taking back the lexicon from leftist censors. The key is to be careful with the context. Context is everything. · Sep 20 at 6:35pm
Dr. Laura tried to take back the lexicon, and she thought she was in context. It ended poorly for her. Those are just the rules of engagement for the time being. I agree with you, I don't like them.
but...
Use of racist slang or its initial isn't nearly as important to me as holding the racist charge to a much higher standard of proof. If the battle for the latter is won, then probably so is the fight over leftist censors. Vice versa, it's not as likely.
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 7:53pmJun '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
the motley cow
~Paules
Everybody in America understands that using the term "N-Word" is highly offensive and the very worst of pejoratives. But I'm really tired of avoiding it as if it were some sort of medieval superstition that could summon the undead. Seriously, it's time conservatives started taking back the lexicon from leftist censors. The key is to be careful with the context. Context is everything. · Sep 20 at 6:35pm
Dr. Laura tried to take back the lexicon, and she thought she was in context. It ended poorly for her. Those are just the rules of engagement for the time being. I agree with you, I don't like them.
but...
Use of racist slang or its initial isn't nearly as important to me as holding the racist charge to a much higher standard of proof. If the battle for the latter is won, then probably so is the fight over leftist censors. Vice versa, it's not as likely. · Sep 20 at 7:30pm
You have the better of the arguement, sir. Ricochet management has decided to edit my original post. Their right. This is private property.
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 7:54pmJul '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
Who cares what some self centered ego maniac gibbers about politics? He is a great actor, on a popular television show, no one really cares what he thinks. He is not paid for thinking, and people who gibbly recite the stereotypes held by those immediately around them are only thinking of being accepted by the audience. If Andrew Klavan had a similar show [my idea, I get 5% of the gross!] Mr. Hamm would tell us it was time to rid the nation of Pelosi and the kleptocrat tax and spend parasites of MoveOn.org.
Jun '10
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
Beat you!
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
~Paules
You have the better of the arguement, sir. Ricochet management has decided to edit my original post. Their right. This is private property. · Sep 20 at 7:37pm
Edited on Sep 20 at 07:54 pm
Sorry, Paules. We just can't have that word on this site. Thanks for understanding.
Re: Mr. Poulos, Are You Out There?
~Paules: Beat you! · Sep 20 at 7:56pm
Thanks for self-policing.