Bryan Batt on Mad Men

Openly gay actor Bryan Batt talked with Huffington Post's Katy Hall about Mad Men and being gay in Hollywood.  Well worth a read.  Here's an excerpt:

"If you are openly gay, the masses can be asses and sometimes can't get past the fact that that's how someone lives their private life."

Thx to LC NY Bureau Chief Doug.

Brian Batt Not Coming Back to Mad Men

Openly gay actor Brian Batt will not be coming back to Mad Men because his character, Salvatore, was discovered to be gay (or, more accurately, because he wouldn't put out for the Lucky Strike guy).  According to the article, Batt apparently hasn't gotten the final word yet.  What a shame.  I'm sure this reflects the reality of being gay in 1960s America, but a writing team that creative could have come up with something.  I believe the viewers at least deserve to find out what happened to Salvatore instead of leaving us hanging with that last scene of him talking on a pay phone by a cruising park.

Mad Men Mondays

The last episode! So much going on! Here are my thoughts (don't read further if you haven't see it yet):

Is Sal really gone forever? They keep teasing us with bits like Peggy's complaint that she doesn't have art because there's no art department. Bring Sal back to the new firm! Let's start a petition!

Thank God they found a new job for Joan. She should never have been sidelined.

No way Roger Sterling's marriage survives; Joan's either. Those two are meant for each other.

Either Betty doesn't go through with the divorce or she has a torrid post-divorce affair with Don.

I kind of wish they had chosen Ken over Paul. He's cuter and not such a dick. Decent gratuitous beefcake shot of Paul, though.

I suppose Duck is done.

Who among the left-overs at Sterling Cooper will stick around for next season?

What do you think?

Monday Morning Mad Men

We've all wondered how Mad Men would handle the Kennedy assassination. Now we know. What did you think? Also, will Sal return in the final episode?

Monday's Man: Brian Batt

My favorite Mad Men character is certainly handsome Brian Batt who plays the closeted gay Salvatore. The poor guy is so tortured, trying to make is way in pre-Stonewall America.

In real life, Brian Batt is very openly gay and lives in New Orleans with his cute partner Tom and their adorable Boston Terrier. Quite a contrast from Sal. Brian Batt, of course, also starred in Jeffrey. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't seen last night's episode, stop reading NOW.

I love episodes that feature Batt, but really, did they have to fire him? Surely he's not gone from the show permanently? What do you think will happen to him? I predict that he'll resurface in a couple of episodes calling Don Draper to bail him out of jail on sodomy charges. Then he and Don have a torrid affair.