Lauren Mangioni

In my mind, BBC’s 1996 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice will always be my clear favourite but I stayed up very late to watch all four episodes of their 2009 Emma miniseries starring Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller. I adore all the empire-line dresses and riding jackets and of course, the love between Emma and her Mr. Knightley. I think I was born in the wrong era.

Screencaps source.

Remember when I told you why you should be watching Mad Men?

Well get your television sets ready Aussies because it’s hitting our screens tomorrow night (Thursday 16th), 8.30pm, on SBS.

I’d love for you to watch it and let me know what you think.

Gossip Girl is back on US screens March 16. In other words, not soon enough.

Reasons why you should be watching Mad Men.

1. Christina Hendricks (above left) as feisty and hot as hell office manager, Joan Holloway.
2. Jon Hamm’s perfect depiction of the tortured and smoldering ad exec, Don Draper. (You’ll melt, just like everyone else).
3. The opening credits.
4. January Jones (above right) as Don Draper’s stifled wife Betty. Don’t be fooled by the blonde hair and Grace Kelly face; when the kids act up, she’ll get them into line.
5. The fashion. The men look perfectly dapper in their everyday suits (they can be worn everywhere) whilst the women ooze sexiness in 1960’s style despite the fact cleavage and above the knee skirts are a no no. Maybe it’s the heels.
6. John Slattery as the sleazy yet irresistible partner  in Sterling Cooper. Smoking, drinking, women…even a heart attack won’t stop this man from succumbing to his vices. And he’s definitely a silver fox.
7. Peggy Olsen (Elisabeth Moss), Don Draper’s shy and homely new secretary who finds her feet and her rebellious side throughout the series.
8. Jon Hamm, shirtless.
9. The witty and smart as hell banter especially between Joan and Roger Sterling and Roger and Don that keeps everyone on their toes.
10. For a realistic (and confronting for some) glimpse into the way things were in the 1960’s. Nowadays if you light up a smoke in your office, you’ll be treated as though you just murdered your boss. Nowadays if you smoke while pregnant, you’re the next Britney Spears. Forget women’s rights, these women had the right to be sexually assaulted at the hands of their ’superiors’ in the office. But don’t forget the right to be a housewife and pop out a few children in between. Doctor/Patient confidentially? Not if the husband was concerned his wife was being irrational! Albeit some of the scenes on Mad Men are to whet the production team’s need for creative license but for the most part, it’s damn accurate.

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