No this isn't about Mad Men. I did talk about Mad Men in the podcast though! This is from a new podcast I'm doing with my brother Dan!  It's called 'We Have the Technology' and it's about the classic 70s show the Six Million Dollar Man. Every month or so Dan and I will talk about a couple of episodes. You know, like with Steve, except Dan isn't Steve as much as he's Dan Brodbeck, recordist. We talked toys. We talked bad effects. We talked Farrah Fawcett. We wondered who would want an Oscar Goldman doll. Generally we just had fun.   Oh, yeah, a link to the site (still under construction, I haven't even bought the domain yet) might be nice.... mp3 download

No this isn't about Mad Men, but you know what?  We don't care, what did you pay for this anyway? We have a new project and we thought we'd force you to listen to it.  It's about the Black Sheep Squadron and it's right here. VMAF 214 Patch todayYes yes, you knew it was coming. We've dropped enough hints. Hell, on the retro TV podcast I am a part of I covered this show on my third episode. Anyway yes, it's the Black Sheep Squadron/Baa Baa Black Sheep, the story of famed US Marine fighter squadron, the Black Sheep, and their first commander, Major Greg, 'Pappy' Boyington.  Originally they were to be called 'Boyington's Bastards', which obviously is where we got the name for our little show. Oh and by the way, if this is in your Rockford or Mad Men feed yeah, it will happen once.  Look, what did you pay for the podcast?  Nothing, that's right.  We'd like a case of Scotch and two crates of .50 cal ammo. You can see the squadron's unit patch today honours the originals. There is some truth in this episode.  You know, WW2 happened for example... We still deal with some serious WW2 stuff this week, as of course Steve and I would. mp3 download

We're now taking on 'The Rockford Files' which is a favourite of both of ours, from our childhoods.  That's with good reason by the way, this is one of the most important action/PI shows in the history of TV. We're dropping this episode into your Mad Men feed to give you a taste.  This will be the last time!  Promise. Today begin this, well, multi year, journey with Jimbo, Angel, Rocky, Beth, a ton of high profile guest stars, oh and me and Steve.  We're starting with the pilot of the series, which is often split into two on DVD sets and syndication. The podcast will grow and change and morph as things go on.  There will be some constants.  James Garner's humanity, cool driving, the 1970s and Angel. We're also going to give you a little bit of historical context about the time.  For example, when the pilot aired it was days after the end of the OPEC oil embargo. mp3 download

Every year in the Canadian amateur podcasting realm (not sure it that's the right word and unlike Steve, I don't have a PhD in English...) has a thing called 'Canadian National Day of Podcasting' wherein podcasters put out a show on Dec 1, new or old or anything else. So Steve and I decided to do a CNDOP episode. We talk history. What did Mad Men do well? What did it do poorly? What did they miss? Oh and we have a cool announcement about our next project. mp3 download

It's here. I'm writing this before tonight's recording.  I've read Steve's comments on the finale in our Google doc.  I know how this will go.  I'm still oddly nervous and sad.  (Steve and I have another project coming, stay tuned to this space). Don teaches the world to sing. Stephanie and Dick go to Big Sur.  Damn some of the therapy in there was bad bad bad therapy.  Realistic though. The Blue Flame gets mentioned, though not by name. (Oh I should have mentioned, Cliff Dunn from Mad Men, Out to Lunch with Roger Sterling dropped by).  I should also mention that Cliff's phone was messed up and he couldn't join us.  He'll come for Episode 100, series wrap up). Sally has grown up. Peggy and Stan! Three phone calls to the women in his life, not one of the is Megan, though she probably would not have accepted the charges. I want to take this opportunity to very publicly thank Steve.  I have always wanted to do something like this, and I know I wanted to do something with Steve.  This has been very special to me.  Thanks buddy! mp3 download

Welcome to our discussion of the penultimate episode of the series! Though we will do two more on the podcast to hit 100.  Once we hit 100 that sweet syndication money starts to roll in! MAX GAIL! We both love the old Coke machine. We're not fond of Pete's brother, or that guy from Lear Jet. Duck is back!  Duck's better drunk, oddly enough. Is Pete sincere?  I think he is, but Steve doesn't give them much time. This one is a little longer, near the end and all. Join us next week when Cliff Dunn joins us once again for the finale of what at least Cliff and I consider the best TV show ever made.  Dunno what Steve thinks, probably that Columbo is better... mp3 download

That is, undoubtedly, the worst title I have come up with. Is there anything better than Peggy walking into McCann with a butt and her box of stuff? Rattling window! Jet plane! Don leaves! ROBERT MORSE!  We would both watch a show where Don Draper and the ghost of Bert Cooper travel around the midwest solving crimes.  We could call it 'Highway to Objectivism' (Credit to Neil Brauer for that one). Oh Don, don't chase Diana. Peggy on roller skates is one of my favourite moments in the show. mp3 download

Not a great title, clever title wise, but not bad. We're getting near the end, the music is getting melancholy too. Irksome is the word of the day. There are a few emotionally manipulating scenes in the episode, I don't mind being manipulated when it is done well. Stan is great in this one. Don goes searching for Diana, but finds two guys in her old place. Lou gets a happy ending.  I hate Lou. Have I mentioned that I hate Lou? THE KING ORDERED IT! mp3 download

As I keep noting, we're getting near the end. There's a melancholy property to the music. (Speaking of music 'The First Time Ever I saw Your Face' is a pretty great song). The show knows it's almost over too, and sort of keeps reminding us, or at least commenting on it. No Diana happily... Hey, it's Captain Pike!  No not that Captain Pike, the other one. Don is selling the apartment, which makes sense, but it's, again, the end of an era. Sally is excellent in this one, almost as excellent as Kiernan Shipka. Roger has actual work to do, which he pawns off on Don.  Of course at first he tried pawning it off on Ted. Peggy wants a real performance review. Don is having discussions, but those discussions are not on the topics that people think they are on. mp3 download

Getting close to the end. It's the last we'll see of Diana, and while I don't hate the arc, it is worn. I make what I think is an extremely clever analysis of the Calvet family. Harry is horrible. Megan is now a millionaire. I think Don is sorry. Is Marie leaving Emile for Roger? Is Meredith the best thing ever? mp3 download

I mean look, it has to happen, there are only seven episodes left. This one is really a season starter, so we know that it will be a bit weak, and it was. Don has a blue shirt, he's practically Jerry Rubin at this point. This one has a lot going on, historically speaking, but those things seem to happen around the characters. What's with the moustaches? Men are pigs. It's Ferg!  Steve will hate Ferg. Is Kenny telling us the story of Mad Men?  I like to think so. He always seems like a bit of an outsider, but enough on the inside that he knows the stories etc. mp3 download

I wonder, should that be Steve's and Dave's, or, does the possessive on 'Dave' include Steve?  I mean it seems like it should, it feels right etc. You know what else feels right? THIS EPISODE. This is a good one, it is one of my favourites.  It actually started me on a From the Earth to the Moon rewatch. I'm probably just at the cusp of the age where kids loved astronauts. Oh Bert, you right wing, reactionary maniac, you were a hell of a dancer/singer. 'That's one small step for man' was a flubbed line, but it still works. Neil Armstrong was an honest to goodness hero. Peggy's pitch is pitch perfect. Harry gets screwed again, ha ha. 'It's a lot of money' and 'over Dresden, I wanted to live Ted!' are Jim's two best lines of the series. mp3 download

As is often the case, the show seems to get better as seasons go on. Burger Chef probably is run by morons. Jim Hobart! Bonnie is boring. Pete is acting like a complete ass. Lou is covering his ass, but, I hate Lou. Have I mentioned how much I hate Lou? The closing scene is probably the best shot thing in season 7A. mp3 Download

This title pretty much wrote itself. This one is, to me, odd.  I like it, but it feels odd somehow.  Sometimes like a bunch of vaguely related scenes.  I still like  it, and it has some great stuff, it just strikes me odd. Megan is a bit of a twit here. I hate Lou. Stephanie shows up with Megan.  Oddly, my sister Stephanie might have been a Megan. Lou is horrible. Have I mentioned how much I dislike Lou? Steve and I are not big on parties like that one at Megan's place. Harry is sleazy. I think the great Megan and Don experiment might be done. mp3 download

There has to be a 2001 reference here I can make in the title, but I'm at a loss. Don's back! Don's not back. Don's being a jerk. Don is actually back, and he's on a carousel. Margaret is Marigold. Electricity isn't the problem there hippies. MEET THE METS!  The 1969 Mets were a very good baseball team. The 1969 Expos, that's another story. I still hate Lou. mp3 download

Everything is upside down! Don is coming back to work. Might have been fun had he gone to a fictionalized Wells Rich Greene. Don called their bluff. Megan called Don's bluff. We hate Lou.  Of course we are supposed to. Don't yell out dumb sexist garbage when we record live. (Apparently some people have completely missed the point of the show). Time for Megan to fire her agent. Steve and I would like to meet Rod Serling. mp3 download

Each year a bunch of podcasters get together and hang out, talk about our weird hobby, and generally cause trouble. The event is known as the 'Marshall McLuhan Podcaster Roundtables'. We also take an afternoon to record in front of an audience. There is drinking. There is carousing. There is merriment. So we sat down for about 20 minutes and took audience questions. I thought we hadn't used the song we used, but I was wrong.  See you next week with a regular episode. mp3 download

OK, maybe a couple of hours. Shipka is great in this one. Rahm is great in this one. Much of this one is about the subtle and not so subtle racism people faced at the time and still do face. If you still thought you liked Bert Cooper, maybe watch this one again... Sally meets Lou. We hate Lou. Dine and Dash! The Don and Sally relationship may be one of the best on the show. mp3 download

SEASON 7! Still not sure how we'll treat season 7.  Will we do it as two separate seasons or as one big one? Either way we're done soon. Wait, Freddy? Boy can Don Draper make an entrance. So can Megan! Megan seems to live in Laurel Canyon, you gotta talk about the sound. Lou is a placeholder. mp3 download

OH MY GOD, WE'RE GOING INTO SEASON 7. But first, let's talk season 6. As is our custom, we have invited Cliff Dunn from Mad Men, Out to Lunch With Roger Sterling on the podcast.  We had a couple of other lurkers too! How did Steve's predictions go? What are his predictions for season 7? 1968, what a crazy year, lots of great historical stuff. Somewhere in there you'll hear RFK's speech the day MLK was murdered.  Powerful stuff. mp3 download