Episode Report Card Couch Baron: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Where Have You Gone, Dick Whitman?
By Couch Baron | Season 1 | Episode 6 | Aired on 08.22.2007
Peggy is filing something when Joan comes up to her and tells her that Frederick would like her to put her "industrious little mind" toward coming up with copy for the lipstick campaign, although she won't get a raise and she'll have to do it on her own time. She turns to leave, and Peggy asks if she should thank the higher-ups, but Joan breezes that there's no need, as she was asked to tell her. "They were very specific about it." I'm guessing they were also very lewd about it. Joan strides off, and despite her chilly attitude, Peggy looks thrilled. I don't know, though -- does it make sense for Peggy actually to be writing copy? Couldn't they just have a lengthy, focused interview with her? It feels like the show is reaching to pit Joan against Peggy, but I'm not sure it's completely organic, here.
Don goes to see Midge and wastes no time in shoving her up against the wall and starting to disrobe her. However, there's an insistent knock at the door, and Midge pulls her sweater back on (although she's just got panties on downstairs) and gets it. It's some dude named "Roy," who's a stereotypical poetry douchebag, complete with unkempt hair and beard and black turtleneck. I'm thinking he left the house in a hurry, given the absence of a beret. Midge somewhat awkwardly introduces the guys, and then Roy says that "Ian" is playing down at the Gaslight, and a bunch of them are going to support him and "pass the basket." Knowing the quality of the upcoming poetry, I hope there's enough room in said basket for everyone to vomit. Anyway, Roy somewhat snidely invites Don to come along, but he's not a taker until Midge whispers that she'll wear a skirt "and nothing else." Don's face: "SPROING!"
Joan enters the hotel room to find Roger waiting for her, and he complains that she's late, but she explains she couldn't shake this guy who wanted to share a cab with her. Roger picks her up for a moment and suggests that the guy couldn't help himself, "the way you glide around that office like some magnificent ship." Make your own joke about ports of call. Joan then hears a bird chirping softly, and looks over to see a sheet thrown over a cage. Roger goes over and uncovers it to reveal a parakeet or something, and Joan's bemused, but Roger says she can't blame him for trying. "I just hate the thought of having to share you." You'd think Roger, being in advertising, would have learned the occasional value of subtlety. Also, I think Carol's going to give that thing one look and hire the neighbor's cat to take it out. Roger talks about having to spend a weekend with Mona's in-laws while starting up foreplay, but Joan isn't having any of it until the birdcage is covered back up. Heh.