TV's "Mad Men" - The First Season Quiz

Answer: Advertising executive

Draper is the Creative Director at Sterling Cooper--a top ad agency located on Manhattan's Madison Avenue. Hence the show's title--the ad men of that era referred to themselves as "mad" men. One immediately notices how different things were in the workplace in 1960. Everyone in the office smokes constantly, Don has a fully stocked bar in his office and he partakes freely (they all drink a shot of whiskey whenever they feel like it), and the women employees are treated with absolute disrespect.
Jon Hamm plays Donald Draper, wonderfully.

Answer: Psychiatrist

Betty has seen several doctors, and they can find nothing wrong with her. Don suggests she see a psychiatrist. Treatment consists of Betty lying on a couch with the shrink sitting behind her. Betty talks, saying whatever pops into her head, the doctor says not a word, just writes in his notebook. Later on, we see Don calling the doctor for a full report on his wife's condition, and the doctor tells him everything Betty has said.

The doctor refers to Betty as a "very anxious young woman" and suggests continuing treatment.

Answer: All of these

Peggy is fresh out of secretarial school. Although Draper treats her decently, sexual harassment in the workplace is commonplace among the young ad men, and Peggy is not spared their insulting comments. She seems to have the idea that being extra friendly to her boss is in her job description, so Draper wastes no time in letting her know, "I'm your boss, not your boyfriend." Peggy has a couple of sexual encounters with Pete Campbell, a smug and ambitious young man who is newly married to a rich girl. Peggy becomes pregnant, in spite of the fact that she was sent to the doctor when she was hired at Sterling Cooper, and was given birth control pills.

It also turns out that Peggy has a talent for advertising copy writing, and she's eventually given a promotion.

Answer: Richard Nixon

Although Nixon has other PR experts, Roger Sterling believes that the Nixon people will eventually come to him for help. The ad men are constantly brainstorming ideas for Nixon's campaign.

The 1960 election, and Kennedy and Nixon, play an important part in "Mad Men." Actual TV spots of Jackie Kennedy campaigning for her husband are shown, Jackie speaking Spanish, wooing Spanish-speaking voters. Later on, actual footage of Mrs. Kennedy's famous tour of the White Shown is shown, in black and white, and everyone is glued to the rather new-fangled invention, the television. It's fascinating to see these images, and hear Jackie Kennedy's distinctive speaking voice. The authenticity of "Mad Men" is amazing, down to the last detail.

Answer: Roger Sterling

This was in season one. Joan befriends Peggy and gives her valuable advice often. Roger Sterling is married, and he seems to be in love with Joan, but a divorce from his wife isn't in the cards. Joan also has another admirer, who also declares herself to be in love with Joan--it's Carol, Joan's roommate. Nothing seems to faze Joan, who tells Carol she's just tired and needs some dinner.

Answer: He politely turns him down

From the first time we see Salvatore, we are given hints he might possibly be gay. If this is so, he is deeply in the closet. When Elliot proposes they go see the view from his hotel bedroom window, Salvatore seems to be torn. In the end he declines, saying "I know what I want to do."

Answer: She's giving birth

When Peggy outshines most of the young ad men at Sterling Cooper at creating slogans and writing copy, Don Draper gives her a promotion. Peggy has become a bit arrogant in her success, and Joan cautions her to remember where she came from. Smart Joan. Just when Peggy is shown into her new office, she says her stomach hurts, and goes to see the doctor.

Peggy is in labor and will give birth shortly. She says "That's not possible, I don't understand." They put her in a wheelchair, bound for the maternity ward, and the doctor tells the nurse to "call Dr Wilson in psychiatry." After the baby is born, Peggy refuses to feed or even look at him. Did she really not know she was pregnant? What happens to the baby? We're not given the answers in season one.

Answer: She's Jewish

Open anti-Semitism was alive and well at Sterling Cooper in 1960. Many disparaging remarks are made about Jewish people in the office and in Don's home. We never hear Don or Betty Draper make such remarks. Don is very attracted to Rachel and pursues her.

She isn't interested in an affair with a married man, but finally she succumbs. After a brief interlude Rachel leaves for France for several months without letting Don know. Don seems convinced Rachel is his soul-mate and is very unhappy when he hears she is gone.

Answer: She slaps Helen in the face

There were several women in the store at the time and they all saw Betty slap Helen. Betty is usually very sweet and meek, but this isn't the first time she's surprised us with some aggressive behavior. Her husband is a womanizer and Betty knows this, although she never confronts Don about it. Betty's best friend Francine drops by the Draper home often.

She's pregnant, and smokes constantly and drinks alcohol too. This was just around the time when it was found that cigarette smoking might be hazardous to people's health.

It doesn't faze anyone on "Mad Men", they all smoke all the time.

Answer: True

We first learn about Don's real identity when he's visited by his long-lost half brother. The young man finds Don after a long search. But Don wants no part of his past, and sends the brother away. His brother is heartbroken and ends up hanging himself.

Pete Campbell discovers Don's secret through snooping. Pete wants a promotion, which Don won't give him, he detests the smug Campbell. Pete tries to blackmail Don by going to the boss with the information, but Don beats him to the punch by telling Bert Cooper himself. Cooper doesn't care who Don was, just what he is now--a genius ad man.

("Mad Men" won the Emmy for Best Dramatic Series for its first season.)