Yesterday was a bit of history in the making when Mad Men on Twitter lost out to Travelzoo at the 2009 SAMMY Awards gala. So, how does losing make anything historical? Isn't winning the only game in town?
The SAMMY Awards honor overall excellence and breakthrough achievement in social advertising, media and marketing. The awards are presented by DM2, the publishers of digiday:DAILY and digiday:SOCIAL. Usually a media agency submits a campaign, but for the first time ever, a campaign was in the running that was totally grassroots. Mad Men on Twitter was up for Best Twitter Branding, and there was no big "game plan", no company pulling the strings. Instead Mad Men on Twitter was a group of people from across the country coming together at various stages and for various reasons, to create something magical.
Some did it for fun, some as an experiment, but united in their cause, the group has helped forge a new form of entertainment called twittertainment.
If you have never read any of the Mad Men on Twitter, you really should. There are at least 20 writers, maybe more, doing this for no pay and with reasons that are likely more internal than external. I went online and tried to assemble all the Mad Men on Twitter characters and probably failed, as they flow in and out of the twitterverse like an old friend. But I counted 52 characters on Mad Men on Twitter, all listed below. Next to their name, I added one of their tweets.
It's a collection that is greater than the sum of its parts. It's not the size of the role, or even the name recognition necessarily, as some of the funniest characters aren't even human. As noted by a writer at MSNBC one of the most intriguing developments has been the peripheral characters cropping up around the main ones - a Greek chorus of tragi-comic commentary.
Special props should be given Paul Isakson who had the vision, whether he knew it or not, to create the very first Mad Men twittertainment character by the name of Don Draper. From that first tweet, over 50 characters have emerged screaming and kicking into the world.
Although all characters are executed with aplomb, like anyone, I have my favorrites. Here are my top five characters:
1. @jimmy_barrett - without a doubt this guy should be hired by Matt Weiner. If he isn't a TV writer, he should be. Every line has 'em rollin' in the aisles.
2. @roger_sterling - consistent philosophicial gems. "Existentialism for Dummies", and I mean that in a good way.
3. @frank_ohara - hasn't posted a lot lately, but a consistent poetic, ironic and conflicted understatement.
4. @bobbie_barrett - who doesn't like a bitch? Bobbie delivers that jaded sexual sass every time.
5. @xerox914 - under-handed, wise-cracking, all-knowing. Mercury in retrograde big-time. Many a character has pulled the plug on this baby.
Below are all the 52 characters that I could find. Together they were nominated for a community SAMMY Award for Best Twitter Branding:
@don_draper
So what you're telling me is that drinking and smoking is morally wrong? I'm afraid you've lost me.
@_dondraper
Betty, will you put out that cigarette? I know you're uncomfortable, but you're missing the ashtray and these sheets are expensive.
@roger_sterling
Don Draper can really hold his liquor. I never noticed how comfortable the low pile industrial quality carpet on my office floor could be.
@peggyolson
Ken Cosgrove, how could I be a Jackie – or a Marilyn? I seem to recall you thought I was a Gertrude Stein.
@_petecampbell
Everyone seems to be converging on Paul Kinsey’s office suddenly and I haven't been notified. Maybe they're planning a surprise party for me.
@ken_cosgrove
Has Sal Romano gotten here yet? I’ve got a craving for some of his homemade fruitcake.
@paul_kinsey
As the elder statesman of copywriting in this joint, it’s my duty to inform you that wasn’t quite what I said.
@sal_romano
Ken, I’ve got a stiff one for anyone who needs it. The Prosecco’s almost gone anyway.
@harrycrane
Peggy Olson, that's what I like about you, you're a dreamer. Not satisfied with a big office - you have to be Associate Creative Director, too?
@joan_holloway
My cravings tend to be salty and warm.
@lanepryce
“Pencils, pens, pads, paper and postage.” I worked on that alliteration for the better part of the morning and nobody seemed impressed.
@jane_siegel
Roger, darling, can you please stop staring at Betty Draper like that? I think you're making her uncomfortable.
@bertramcooper
Don and Peggy, we need a miracle or we'll lose that GM account. It's times like these that I ask myself, "What would Ayn Rand do?"
@jimmy_barrett
Performed at a private party last night. The host’s son took offense at one of my jokes and shoved me into the punch bowl. Calling lawyer.
@bobbie_barrett
Peggy, I like wearing lipstick while selling sex (don't tell Jimmy)...who am I kidding he was my best customer!
@smitty_smith (copywriter)
I should have gone out to the Village tonight. Why didn't I listen to Kurt & get an apartment there? Chicks dig the Village. Midtown blows.
Family & Friends
@betty_draper
No husband I know would suggest that a mother of three (soon enough!) should give up smoking. It's one of her few pleasures!
@bettydraper
How could Don take three hours to buy toothpicks?
@robert_draper
Hey mom, how come Sally gets airplane pins when she destroys daddy's stuff, and all I get is in trouble?
@sally_draper
You know my name, Grandpa! It's Sally, silly! How come you're in the playhouse with just your underpants on?
@gene_s_draper (Draper newborn)
Get me another round of milk and kahlua. I’d order, but you know they usually card me.
@carla_madman (Drapers’ maid)
So glad grandpa Gene napped through Dr. King's speech.. Don't think this house could have held us both had he seen it.
@kitty_romano
Having nightmares about missiles. From the way Sal is moaning in his sleep, I think he is, too.
@trudy_campbell
I've never heard of the vibrating reducing plan. Do you mean the Relaxiciser? It doesn't work. For losing weight.
@francine_hanson
Bringing another Schlitz to Carlton in hammock. All men are created equal. Ain't that the truth.
@mona_sterling
David Ogilvy, is it your agency buying out Sterling Cooper? Give the partners a sweet deal, would you? Roger's going to need it.
@helen_bishop
Funny that Sing Sing is in Ossining. I guess we all live in our own prisons no matter where we are.
@fathergill
The Monsignor asked me to turn down my Peter, Paul, and Mary LP. How can he dislike an act with the names of 2 apostles and the Madonna?
@midge_daniels (Don’s boho ex)
That's way-out stuff. I'm usually at the Gaslight Cafe having drinks and passing the basket.
Secretaries & Staff
@_hildy_ (Pete’s secretary)
Oh… Harry Crane is quite married, Secretary Pool... Quite.
@john_hooker (Lane Pryce's assistant)
Oh, I can't tell you how much I've wanted a good pint. As for S.C., it's warming to me -- at least the view's quite good!
@secretarypool
Need my hair to dry before going to bed. These cans Hullaballoo Girl recommended do a great job, but you certainly can't sleep with them.
@lola_secty
Xerox, I'm not that incompetent! I did graduate from a secretarial school, you know!
@OliveHealy (Peg’s secretary)
I know what's going on and I don't like it.
@LoisSadler
Stealing a glance at Sal Romano, He's such a handsome man. It's a shame he's married.
@HollisinNY (elevator guy)
Telling my friends about Mr. Pete Campbell’s vision of the American Dream last night. Man, we laughed. Then there was just silence.
@sc_janitor
Word to the wise, boys. Spoke with Hollis earlier. His advice is if Pete Campbell asks you about your TV, just say you don't have one.
@allisonMadMen
I've been saving this donut all day and wouldn't you know the minute I take a big bite is when Don Draper asks me a question!
@elliot_lawrence (Belle Jolie exec)
If I told the wife I was living it up in New York at one of Andy Warhol's parties, she'd throw a plate at me! Luckily I know how to be quiet.
@StJohnPowell (British SC partner)
Lane Pryce, speaking of "ducks" have we finished paying off Duck Phillips yet?
Character Actors
@xerox914
Joan Holloway - still mad about that tit in the wringer incident last year? Its not my fault, you made the first advance.
@boylanseltzer (soda can)
The things you hear when you're a bottle in a room. Pete Campbell just said three words to Peggy Olson I never thought he even could say...
@BadDonDraper
London Fog campaign just might start a new trend of public flashing. Good press - depending how you look at it.
@BadPeggyOlson
We all know Bertram Cooper is a crackpot. Why are we pretending otherwise? Oh yeah. His name's on the door. I'd like to show him the door.
@BadJoanHolloway
Paul Kinsey, that pipe isn’t fooling anyone. Your feet are still small.
@genes_ghost (grandpa Gene)
You learn a lot being a ghost. Don Draper was upset about Robert Draper wearing a "dead man's hat"? What about his dead man's life?
@frankAdman (created Twittertini)
A man who's had 5 martinis may see things he's never seen before. A man who's had 10 may see things Nobody's seen before.
@david_ogilvy (real Mad Man)
Jimmy Barrett’s act has a certain appeal, I suppose. We must remember, the consumer isn't a moron, she's your wife.
@frank_ohara (famous poet)
I tend to prefer standing, then sitting, then prone. That’s a party.
@hullaballooGirl (swingin’ ‘60s chick)
Meeting Frank O’Hara, Paul Kinsey, Andy Warhol for drinks. Andy loves that I roll my hair in soup cans. Ha! An artist's inspiration.
@theAntFarm
outta that glass farm and into the big bad world of mad men, baby!
@bud_melman (mailroom clerk)
But who am I anyway? Just the guy that delivers their paychecks...
Lindy King is a workaholic, who is also Marketing Director at LinkItUp.org and CommuterCars.com.
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