Bye-Bye Birdie: I really enjoyed this scene in terms of the reactions of the different characters. Peggy obviously was rather disgusted. Pete and theguywhosenameIalwaysforget were super into it and rather smitten with Ann. And of course Sal was super into it for another reason. For a second I found it a bit cliched, but then I bought in. My favorite part, though, was when Sal said he had seen it on Broadway and theguywhosenameIalwaysforget sort of looks down with this, “huh.” look on his face as if to say, “Well, isn’t that odd.”

(Oh, right. His name is Harry).

I was wondering what the heck is Melba Toast. When Don first said, “Jesus, Betts…” I thought he was gonna complain that she was eating TOO MUCH because they were out of the Melba Toast. I was relieved when he finished his sentence.

Re MSG and Penn Station. I know that MSG has had a couple reincarnations in different locations, but I don’t believe as late as the early-60′s. And I also went to Penn Station and it exists and did not seem all that new, so I am assuming that this plan does not go through. I wonder if it was an actual idea. I always assume it is on this show.

re Peggy/Roger: I’m not sure if she’s necessarily on Team Mona. I mean, possibly. But I chalked up her coldness to the night at the Draper home where Roger drunkenly hit on Betty after dinner when Don was down in the basement getting more booze or something.

Can we get into Joan’s ridiculous rack (I’m sorry, there is no other word to use. It was literally a rack tonight), especially when she was wearing that green blouse. What the hell. It’s the biggest chest I’ve ever seen.

Don’s line about “tell me now, not 3 seconds after I doze off” was pure gold.

I am so friggin angry I didn’t catch the JFK-assassination thing. Nice one.

Someone we both know did not know who Cyrano was. No, I’m serious.

re the whole Betty/Her Dad/Brother thing. I am just really sick of Betty. She is so obnoxious.

re Peggy watching Joan: Of course later this will be obvious, but as I was watching I thought, “Was that a look of jealousy or was that a look of, ‘aha. I have some pointers.’”

re Don yelling “Cut it out!” I also didn’t hear anything, but I thought that might be by design. I’m having trouble putting it into words. But maybe they were trying to convey how on edge he was. Whatever the noise was, it wasn’t so loud as to be readily noticeable, but Don still shouted down the hall.

Peggy:

-I wish they’d do something different with Peggy’s bangs.

-re her convo with Roger: I absolutely thought he said, “You’d do anything.”

-At the bar, I find it interesting you don’t note that Peggy’s line to the two guys is about it being as crowded as a subway is the exact same line that Joan used to the clients when Peggy was watching her earlier. I’m not sure if you didn’t realize it was the same line or if you just didn’t see fit to comment. But as I said above, I was wondering what Peggy’s look was when she was watching Joan, and my answer came her: she was most certainly taking notes on how to attract a man.

-I don’t look good in a skinny tie. I’m too broad

-I do think Betty doesn’t want to let William move into the dad’s home because of her inheritance. She’s just so… sucky.

I figured Peggy’s “jerk” was Don because of his comments to her after watching Bye Bye Birdie.

I’m glad you were confused about the whole Don/teacher thing, too. I didn’t know what to make of that scene.

It’s Tarrytown, NY, which is kind of a pain in the ass to get to, especially for a fun-filled day of antiquing. Do you know where Don lives?

There are Carvels out here, but they are few and far between. I’ve been to one in Pasadena. I grew up a few blocks away from one, and I got ice cream cakes from there for every birthday. Needless to say, I was hoping for a scene in the Carvel, but I guess they didn’t want to put tense conversation about Gene in an ice cream store. Although…come on.

Penn Station apparently used to be a magnificent grand old train station…which was demolished in 1963 to make way for Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks continue to shit all over their fans. Penn Station still exists, but directly underground MSG. It’s more utilitarian than magnificent now, but it’s still huge.

Also, everything Don said about Madison Square Garden changing New York was true, even 40-plus years afterwards. And, the World’s Fair came back to New York in 1964, but to Flushing, Queens instead of Manhattan.

Also, I enjoyed the Jersey town shout-outs – Woodbridge and New Brunswick. That’s my hood, yo.