Men of a Certain Age "If I Could, I Surely Would": A man grows older every day

Men of a Certain Age, the best surprise of last season's pack of freshman dramas is back and in one hour already feels like an old comfortable sweater. Following the daily frustrations of Joe (Ray Ramano), Terry (Scott Bakula) and Owen (Andre Braugher) as they creep towards 50 is part awkward, touching and nearly always funny.

Opening with Simon & Garfunkel's "El Condor Pasa" was a nice choice. Paul Simon's re-working of the lyrics of this Peruvian original has the protagonist facing getting old, yet striving to stay on top.

Men of a Certain Age - Episodes 2.01
"El Condor Pasa" - Simon & Garfunkel [download]

Previously: "Pilot"

Mad Men "The Suitcase": Is It's Own Reward

"There's a way out of this room we don't know about."

I was late to catch both the previous week's "Waldorf Stories" along with the more recent (and stellar) "The Suitcase," so it's not likely I can add much to the mix of criticism that hasn't already been written. But there was a thought I had while watching "Waldorf Stories" and associating it with the simultaneous broadcast of the Emmys, and that's the parallels between creator/uber-writer Matthew Weiner winning an Emmy last year with his own Peggy (writer assistant turned staff writer Kater Gordon). Weiner seemed annoyed by Gordon's presence on stage and then shortly afterwards, she ended up being canned. With Don's asshole turn after winning the Clio, Peggy feeling unappreciated, and this week's (sort of) resolution, the story almost seems like an apology for what happened with Kater Gordon. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but the timing of the episode with this year's Emmy broadcast seemed like a tell.

"The Suitcase" ended to the sounds of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bleecker Street", which was a timely song, but I've yet to crack the puzzle as to the subtext it might add to the content of the episode. "Bleecker Street" employs a lot of biblical references, between the "shroud" the "shepherd" and the poet selling out for $30 (a reference to Judas' betrayal for 30 silver pieces).

Previously: "The Good News" (Episode 4.05)