I meant to post this a few days ago, but then I got distracted by my annoyance toward Serena Williams and celebrating Aaron Carter's departure from Dancing with the Stars (so many bitches, so little time).
Anyway, as for who joined the new Sterling, Cooper, Pryce, and Draper, the choices seem obvious. Don needed Sterling and Cooper for the money, and they all needed Pryce to actually pull it off. Don took Peggy because he has more of an emotional attachment to her than any of the other writers, and she is a better worker and better writer than anyone else he had. Also, he might still feel that he has more control over her than the other writers. They nabbed Pete because they needed his accounts to get more money to fund their new office, and Roger got Joan back to actually run the office (once they get an office). And then Cooper strong-armed Harry Crane into being head of media because they needed someone to lead the future of advertising and he is apparently easily bossed around.
So that's the new team. What about who they didn't let into the new clubhouse?
Kinsey's work has dropped, and it's been a while since he came up with anything good that Peggy didn't make better. It would be nice if they brought back Salvatore, but it doesn't seem likely. But what about Ken Cosgrove? He was over Pete, had worked there longer, and presumably had just as much money in his loyal accounts if not more (Pete even tried to steal at least one of Ken's). Pete did have the advantage of already lining up accounts to follow him as he bailed, but based on how Roger and Don reacted at the bar after they spoke to Pete, I don't think they knew he was leaving until they spoke to him.
So, why not Cosgrove? I've always really liked the guy. He's funny, doesn't take himself too seriously, and has so much more of a light-hearted attitude than Pete could ever pull off. Did they know Pete was bailing, and already lining up his clients? Or did Don and Roger just assume that Pete would be driven more than Cosgrove? Maybe they just assumed Cosgrove, being a not so serious, everything's a joke person, wouldn't risk his career by following them. But then, wouldn't he be more certain to follow? If he doesn't take his job that seriously, wouldn't he be that much more willing to drop everything and try something new and exciting?
The only answer I keep coming back to is that Roger and Don did know about Pete's planned absconding and took the opportunity to have the clients he was already stealing come to their new office (or hotel room).
Anyway, great episode. And I really did love the reactions of everyone left behind at the soon to be former Sterling Cooper.
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You forgot the two most obvious reasons for Cosgrove not going to the new ad agency (which really needs a catchy acrynom since the full name really is a mouthful to say-snicker snicker). First, Pete (i.e. Vincent Karthestier or whatever his last name is, the whiny little bitch of a son that almost ruined the last few years of the show Angel F.Y.I) is one of the major characters/actors on Mad Men, which Cosgrove is not, so of course he got chosen over Ken to go to the new agency. Except for Salavatore, all the fan favorites are at the the new place, so of course the other major character (who is probably not a fan favorite, but whatever) would go with him. What you said are good reasons in the real world, but my reason is probably the real reason it happened in the pretend world of Mad Men. The chaaracter is also more loyal to Don (see him warning Don about Duck in last year's finale) and more easily controlled, so if you want Mad Men world reasons, there they are. Oh, and a bonus reason. I always found Cosgrove an arrogant tool of a man who too easily faded into the background, and we actually always saw him screwing up (the commerical with the comedian last year, the lawnmower this year) so we never saw these great skills everyone else talked about. This was, of course, done on purpose so that we would root for Pete, but I am glad to be done with Cosgrove and hope to never him again. Though I would take him in a heartbeat over the faux hipster Kinsey
ReplyDeleteThis is ANDREA, of course. Anyway, I also find Pete annoying, but he and Peggy were the ones Duck wanted, so now he can't have either. Also, for story purposes, the two of them have to be kept together because that kid is going to turn up someday, especially since Pete and "Lovely" (gag!) can't seem to figure out how to reproduce (there is a Gos). And do you guys think this is the last we'll see of Sal? I don't. He's likeable, and he's struggling as a '60s guy would, especially a married one. And now his wife has a clue. . . I really do hope his story is abandoned. I'm looking forward to. . . . um, I don't know who's name will go first. Oh, and I LOVE having Joan back and hate her asshat husband. I'd rather see her with Roger, who seems to be emerging from his Lolita phase.
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