Episode Report Card Couch Baron: B | 349 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT Hitting The Fan
By Couch Baron | Season 4 | Episode 11 | Aired on 2010.10.03
The next morning, a full staff meeting has been convened, and after the Creative guys engage in some erroneous speculation about the gathering's purpose, Bertram announces the news about American Tobacco, prompting predictable whispering and wincing among the crowd. Bertram then cedes the floor to Don, who first off tells everyone that Pete and Ken are the only ones authorized to break the news to their other clients, although, and this is where Roger's lack of backbone really hurts, it's likely that many of them know about it already thanks to the delay between when the firing actually happened and when they think it did. Don goes on that up until now, they've had a good year and have gained far more accounts than they've lost thanks to the quality of their work, so they're going not just to survive but to make lemonade out of lemons or some shit. I mean, it sounded good when he said it but let's not pretend this is good news, right?
Don then introduces some older guy, "Joe," who's apparently the firm's accountant even though we've never seen him before, although I suppose it's possible he doesn't work in-house. Joe assures everyone that the only small change is that any expenses out of the ordinary will have to be approved by either him, Pryce, or Joan, and honestly if that wasn't the case already Lucky Strike was doing them a favor on that front. Joe then asks if anyone has any questions, and Danny raises his hand, but he's so short that from the front Joe can't see him, so he hilariously moves on. I mean, jokes about Danny Strong's height are to be used sparingly, but the show is consistently smart with material such as that. By the way, Peggy has sashayed in late, but she quickly loses her post-coital glow when she hears the news, and then when the meeting breaks up Don calls the entire Creative team into his office...
...in which he tells them that they're in some trouble, and while he and the other partners will be doing everything they can to drum up new business, Creative needs to hold on to what they have, which means that clients' ideas are to be praised more than usual. "For the next few weeks, the only words you know are "Yes, sir.'" I wonder if Megan overheard this and got confused. After telling Stan to babysit the Samsonite shoot that's going on, he gives Peggy her marching orders with respect to a Playtex presentation she's making the next day: "Be successful." Well, it's pretty sparse on the details, but I suppose "Tap into your newfound sexual confidence and let everyone know you're getting some" might be a bit much in front of a roomful of boys. Don then dismisses the men but holds Peggy back, cautioning her that they won't even know how bad things might be until Pryce returns, but he's counting on her. Peggy smiles at his confidence in her, and its not like he has much choice but it's still nice to see. When she's gone, Don takes a longing look at his bar, but ultimately decides to sit down and get to work. You know, Don, I don't know if "Out of sight, out of mind" will completely work in this case, but you could still try wheeling that thing out into the hall.