A female milk man? That's rich.

November 7, 2009 9:31 PM

If there's one thing that MeFites are absolutely universal in loving, it's the TV show Mad Men. Right? Right? Well, here's something that even the haters will enjoy : Milk Men - A Mad Men Parody
posted by Afroblanco (61 comments total)

Ok, that was pretty good.
posted by mathowie at 9:39 PM on November 7

That milk bottle was clearly from 1970. I call shenanigans.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:41 PM on November 7 [3 favorites]

I'm indifferent to Mad Men. I'm honestly not sure what it's even about; the title is ambiguous and I don't watch television.
posted by LSK at 9:41 PM on November 7 [1 favorite]

I've never seen Mad Men. I do know it's about advertising execs, from a bygone era (what, 40s? 50s? I'm too lazy to look it up), that there's a lot of drinking, and people like the style. I'd probably like it if I watched it.

Anyways, this was pretty entertaining. It's interesting how much I learned about the real show (presumably) just from watching this spoof.
posted by dubitable at 9:46 PM on November 7 [2 favorites]

Okay, I may not know everything about it, but it was fine for the first while. I know a lot of MeFites especially fall into its target demographic. But seriously, enough with the goddamned milk threads!

Also: I burst out laughing at the lingerie-milk-pour.
posted by battlebison at 9:54 PM on November 7

That's pretty good. I watched the first disc of the first season of Mad Men tonight (don't judge me, I was suckered into it and the vegetarian picadillo was too good to turn down) and it was... well... I had mixed feelings about it. Parts of it were very good and parts of it were rather 'oh look, these people are very sexist and racist and look at them drink and smoke like there's no tomorrow and did I mention how sexist they are, whoo boy you'll never believe how sexist people were back in the day.' Some scenes were very well written and some scenes were clunky as all hell (and I hope to god they don't pull another "it's not like there's a magic machine that makes identical copies of things" again). That said, the hook about Don Draper's past was interesting enough for me to keep watching even though I do find him a bit too much of a formulaic 'let's investigate the masculine mystique' character.

Anyway, that was a funny parody.
posted by Kattullus at 10:01 PM on November 7 [2 favorites]

I didn't want to like this but then I did. Metafilter.
Look it's a reverse tagline!

I've had a lot of whiskey.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 10:03 PM on November 7 [3 favorites]

I'm indifferent to Milk Men. I'm honestly not sure what it's even about; the title is ambiguous and I don't drink milk.
posted by mullacc at 10:13 PM on November 7 [5 favorites]

I love milk and madness but I am indifferent to men. I say this to avoid any ambiguity.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:18 PM on November 7 [8 favorites]

Muppet Mad Men. via Sesame Street.
posted by gc at 10:39 PM on November 7 [7 favorites]

I'm indifferent to Mad Men. I'm honestly not sure what it's even about; the title is ambiguous and I don't watch television.
posted by LSK at 1:41 PM on November 8 [+] [!]

Dude, your last post was about Andy Rooney. If you're trying to be smug you need to try harder; if you're being sarcastic, then add the word "HAMBURGER"
posted by planetkyoto at 10:39 PM on November 7 [9 favorites]

what is "mad men"? i am not so angry and bitter right now, would it be bad if i watched "mad men"? I am a male and do not think it would be so good if I was angry.
posted by fuq at 10:44 PM on November 7 [3 favorites]

Mad Men is great...this was dreadfully unfunny.
posted by GavinR at 10:50 PM on November 7

I'm beginning to think that parody is to satire as prop comics are to, you know, someone with actual talent. In any case, this was like watching Carrot Top do a Louis CK impression or something.
posted by gompa at 11:08 PM on November 7 [2 favorites]

No one judges anyone here, Kattallus.

That is, until you commit to our shared history the phrase vegetarian picadillo.
posted by sleslie at 11:10 PM on November 7

The humor was a bit skim.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:11 PM on November 7 [10 favorites]

I'm going to stay out of the potentially sticky conversation about whether various things with "Men" in the title suck or not but I do want to say that I mostly appreciated this for the scene of the two milk men slapping each other towards the beginning. It's so perfect. I'm going to watch it for the fourth time now.
posted by invitapriore at 11:17 PM on November 7

I laughed out loud, especially at the last scene. The actor isn't really up to it but the writing was perfect.

As for the love/hate, the snark, and the ostentatious de rigueur "I just came in here to say how much I don't care" comments, I'm strangely reminded of something...

Has anyone done "Mac Men" yet? Somebody's got to. It's an internet inevitability.
posted by George_Spiggott at 11:29 PM on November 7 [1 favorite]

Ya know, I've watched a fair bit of Mad Men now, and I'm rather torn. The visual style is excellent and the eye to reproducing not just the fashion but also the cultural idioms of a particular period is stunning. Also, the plot is pleasingly lush and driven (pardon the implied mixed metaphor).

BUT, I can never bring myself to like and/or care for anyone in the series. Everyone seems to be colossal assholes, milquetoast victims, or victims that have learned to climb by victimizing others. This may or may not be accurate to the time period, but there's only so much sexism / racism / everything-ism I can witness before I check out of a series.
posted by LMGM at 11:36 PM on November 7 [2 favorites]

I have never heard of Mad Men anywhere outside of mefi. I'm pretty sure it might be some sort of practical joke, so I'm just going to refuse to acknowledge that it exists.
posted by skintension at 11:49 PM on November 7 [2 favorites]

I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:53 PM on November 7 [1 favorite]

The guy's speech at the very end about milk being innocence or whatever captured Don's inspired-moments uncannily well.
posted by !Jim at 12:59 AM on November 8

I like Mad Men and I like this. That is all.
posted by BoatMeme at 1:11 AM on November 8

Kattullus: "Parts of it were very good and parts of it were rather 'oh look, these people are very sexist and racist and look at them drink and smoke like there's no tomorrow and did I mention how sexist they are, whoo boy you'll never believe how sexist people were back in the day.'"

Not to mention probably lactose intolerant.
posted by iamkimiam at 1:41 AM on November 8

I just created my account a few weeks ago, but I've been reading metafilter for years. I've come to believe that there is a secret club of cool people you can join if you don't watch Mad Men. Is there a secret knock and handshake? How do I become a member?

And must I hate the new Battlestar Galactica series too? Or is that a different club?
posted by Philosopher Dirtbike at 2:23 AM on November 8 [2 favorites]

Interesting post, but I don't understand why you had to frame it in terms of Mad Men.
posted by grouse at 2:26 AM on November 8 [2 favorites]

When I read "MeFites are absolutely universal in loving", I closed my eyes and accurately foretold what was happening inside Metafilter before clicking any links whatsoever--just like Carnac the Magnificent.

But I am not clairvoyant.
posted by belvidere at 2:40 AM on November 8

If there's one thing were anything that MeFites are absolutely universal in loving...

Repaired.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 2:49 AM on November 8 [1 favorite]

Wow, it was just 10 minutes until the first I don't even own a TV comment. If Metafilter is nothing else, it's at least efficient snark.
posted by mmoncur at 5:03 AM on November 8

LMGM: ...Everyone seems to be colossal assholes, milquetoast victims...

heh!
posted by Jody Tresidder at 5:14 AM on November 8

> If you're trying to be smug you need to try harder; if you're being sarcastic, then add the word "HAMBURGER

THANK YOU! So THAT'S what that ****ING random "hamburger" thing is about. I was wondering if Metafilter was gaslighting me.
posted by Decimask at 5:26 AM on November 8

Oceans of smug. I bet most of you who claim not to know what Mad Men is or what it's about are knee-deep in the latest version of Real Housewives. Admit it. You are humming "Tardy for the Party" RIGHT NOW!

Or maybe you're too busy listening to Ornette Coleman and reading poetry to do more than sneer knowingly at the unwashed TV-watching masses.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:44 AM on November 8 [2 favorites]

mmmmm. Hamburger.
drools
posted by deliquescent at 6:51 AM on November 8

and I thought January Jones couldn't act
posted by Mick at 6:59 AM on November 8 [3 favorites]

Some of the little bits of the parody were great. I particularly liked the Lust bit. The silly entendre, the ludicrous pouring of milk down her bodice, followed by the pressed kiss. All great parody. But then, as he's closing the door behind him, his arm fumbles the shade up just a bit. That fumble is pitch-perfect as Mad Men parody, something exactly like on the show. Nice.

I love Mad Men and am not afraid to say it. OTOH, I think maybe the concept is about played out and they're running out of new things to say in the show.
posted by Nelson at 7:24 AM on November 8

Liked the baby smoking a cigarette. Obvious, but necessary.

Or maybe you're too busy listening to Ornette Coleman

!

Please do not sully Ornette like that.
posted by mediareport at 7:43 AM on November 8

I love "sticky conversation" but I'm indifferent to sucky titles. What is "efficient snark", it doesn't have men in the title. Ambiguous. OTOH, I liked the part where they sneer knowingly at hamburgers.
posted by r_nebblesworthII at 7:43 AM on November 8

Liked the baby smoking a cigarette. Obvious, but necessary.

Yeah, I'm glad they recognized how much those first Mad Men scenes of pregnant women lighting up and knocking back the booze really were kind of shocking, if only for a moment. The fake news bit about the president announcing he would be shot in Dallas later in the month was a little over the edge though.
posted by fuse theorem at 8:12 AM on November 8

Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman.
posted by ovvl at 8:15 AM on November 8

I'm indifferent to Mad Men. I'm honestly not sure what it's even about; the title is ambiguous and I don't watch television.

"The term 'Madison Avenue' is often used metonymically for advertising, and Madison Avenue became identified with the advertising industry after the explosive growth in this area in the 1920s." (Analogous to "Fleet Street" for British journalism.) Although "Madison Avenue" can be used to refer to advertising agencies that do not have addresses on Madison Avenue, Sterling Cooper, the fictional ad agency in Mad Men, does have a Madison Avenue address. "Mad Men" could be interpreted as "Mad[ison Avenue] Men" or "Ad Men" ("ad" is short for "advertising"), as well as implying that the men are angry and/or insane. The pointed lack of reference to women in the title is another example of the rampant sexism of the time.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:22 AM on November 8 [1 favorite]

"Mr. Velveeta, with all due respect, cheese is not milk..." — Classic.
posted by vhsiv at 8:32 AM on November 8

that was pretty bad.
posted by gonna get a dog at 9:05 AM on November 8

I can't wait until I'm a grandfather and I walk in to see my grandkids watching a drama about how homophobic we were back in 2003.
posted by mccarty.tim at 9:36 AM on November 8 [1 favorite]

I wanted to dislike this, but it was just so well done that I want to love it forever instead.

Also, from now on, whenever anyone is playing hardball with me in a negotiation or bests me in an argument, I'm going to turn around, look wistfully into the distance, and mutter "this cow's got my nuts in a goddamn vise".
posted by dnesan at 9:41 AM on November 8

There's a Beanie Siegel song called 'Mac Man.' It's pretty much your standard song about how your man moves a lot of crack, except that all the metaphors are old-school-video-game-related.
posted by box at 9:56 AM on November 8 [2 favorites]

I can't wait until I'm a grandfather and I walk in to see my grandkids watching a drama about how homophobic we were back in 2003.

... or passive aggressive in 2009, though I'm sure they'll have a more succinct term for it by then.

Good parody by the way, right to the final punchline: the guy smugly munching on cereal, saying he buys his milk from the supermarket now.
posted by philip-random at 10:03 AM on November 8

I particularly enjoyed the fancy hobos bit.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:09 AM on November 8

indeed, I enjoyed the smoking baby
posted by kathrineg at 10:13 AM on November 8 [1 favorite]

Visually I thought it did a good job of parodying the show, but yeah, the actors kinda can't pull it off. (Except for: "I own you. I literally own you. I bought you. At a farm.") Big ups to the smoking baby, though.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 11:32 AM on November 8

That milk bottle was clearly from 1970. I call shenanigans.
The bottle in the "I own you" scene is from Ronnybrook farm dairy in the upper Hudson Valley. There's one sitting on my bookcase full of change. I buy milk very rarely, but when I do it's Ronnybrook; this decision is based entirely on the awesomeness of the bottle.

milk gives me gas but I how else will I store tiny things?
posted by tylermoody at 12:03 PM on November 8

I think the Mad Men references are just about milked out, don't you?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:31 PM on November 8

Mad Women.
posted by whimsicalnymph at 12:32 PM on November 8 [2 favorites]

ovvl : Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman.

I thought I told you to shut up!
posted by Herodios at 2:27 PM on November 8

Smoking Baby.
posted by ericb at 3:24 PM on November 8

Great timing with the Season 3 Finale tonight. Loved it.

As to Kattullus' assessment: Same for me. I think that the middle of Season 1 - middle of Season 2 is the sweet spot of the show thus far. I almost stopped watching after Season 2, but the finale grabbed me. As for Season 3... I'm starting to lose a tiny bit of interest and only kept watching the last several episodes to see how they were going to handle Kennedy. I'll see the finale tomorrow since I was enough of a sucker to get the Season Pass from iTunes. Yeah, that was a pretty awesome finale for Season 2.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:17 PM on November 8

I have a warm spot in my heart for Mad magazine, and all the laughs, and art and perfectly safe subversiveness it provided me during my formative years. As an adult however, there's nothing I find less funny than this form of totally obvious humor. Wacky Packages have more staying power than this type of "parody".

But hey... tastes vary. If it made you laugh, it made you laugh. But this could have been a parody of just about anything, and used all the same obvious jokes.
posted by billyfleetwood at 6:47 PM on November 8

I buy milk very rarely, but when I do it's Ronnybrook;

He is... the most interesting man in the world.
posted by mmoncur at 1:59 AM on November 9

I buy milk very rarely, but when I do it's Ronnybrook;

He is... the most interesting milk man in the world.


FTFY
posted by dnesan at 5:17 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]

Here is Sesame Street's parody of Mad Men

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgvKCfZqxrQ
posted by tothemoon at 5:39 AM on November 9

But this could have been a parody of just about anything, and used all the same obvious jokes.

I thought it was absolutely 100% pitch-perfect spot-on for Mad Men. I don't know if you're familiar with the show or not... anyhow, it didn't have a "paraody of anything" feel to me. The jokes may have been obvious, but they were also totally perfect for what they were trying to parody - especially the "This isn't milk... this is innocence" which was totally, totally right out of the "Don Draper does Kodak presentation" script.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:42 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]

Anybody else notice the prominently-featured Velveeta box used for moving office supplies in last night's episode? Spooooky!
posted by designbot at 11:46 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]