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Whether it’s a good or bad thing, there’s a lot to be said for timing. Take yesterday, for example. I was “working” hard at my desk doing some “research” when for whatever reason I felt like having some sound in the background other than the two guys sucking and fucking away on my laptop; after all, I wouldn’t want my neighbors to get the wrong idea (ha ha). So I decided to turn on the television, not really knowing what to expect to find as far as selection was concerned on a Sunday afternoon.

Lo and behold if I didn’t hit a surprise jackpot: AMC was broadcasting the entire first season of its massively critical hit (16 Emmy Nominations), Mad Men. Even better, the episode that was currently playing as part of this 13 hour marathon was the last one I could recall seeing. That’s the good news. The sort of bad news was that the episode in question was episode 5; meaning that if I was so inclined, there were 8 more hours of prime TV opportunity for me to cash in on. Needless to say, it didn’t take me long to be “so inclined” (or rather, so reclined, as the case may be).

Mad Men is one of those rarities on television that oozes the kind of originality that is entertaining, mesmerizing and edgy. The one thing that immediately struck me when I first watched it wasn’t just how many of the characters were smokers—practically everyone, for the record—but how frequently and where the smoking took place. Primarily set in a Madison Avenue advertising agency and beginning in 1960, everyone in the workplace is lighting up constantly. There’s no need for taking a smoke “break” on the sidewalk with your colleagues when you can suck back a Lucky Strike cigarette right there at your desk!

And outside of the workplace, it’s even more excessive (dare I write “decadent”?). As someone who is more of a smoker than not—but trying desperately to return to the days of smoking “in moderation”—I have to say I found it equally amusing and horrifying (not to mention tempting) to watch people smoking in bed, or on the train, or the pregnant friend enjoying a cigarette with her cocktail, or for the family doctor to be smoking while consulting with his patient. The only characters on the show who weren’t smoking were the children…and family dog. It’s just a matter of time before that changes, I’m sure.

But the fact that this show is “smoking” isn’t why I find it so appealing. (But while on the topic of “smoking”, the show’s lead, Jon Hamm is definitely that, as well as being sexy and mysterious.) The writers have created characters and storylines you just can’t help but to be interested and invested in, made even better by the fantastic ensemble cast.

And the great thing about staying up until 1 AM watching the balance of Mad Men’s first season is that now I’m all set for season 2, which just so happens to premiere this Sunday night on the AMC network. Will I be working that night? Are you mad?

Cheerio!

S.R.