datrom-1

I would like to commend the writers and producers of AMC's Mad Men for creating a treasure of a television show. It's been far too long since I've enjoyed a dramatic series so immensely. As each weekly episode unfolds I find myself shamelessly enchanted with and intrigued by the period of the early 1960's. Even though I was born in the summer of 1960, I feel profoundly cheated in not having had the privilege of fully appreciating the golden time that it so obviously was. I say this because Mad Men travels back to a time when people seemed predominantly more polite, well-mannered and innately refined.

As I gaze upon each episode I can't help but be struck by the overwhelming cloak of innocence that so strongly defined the tone of our society during this period. Sure people in the 1960's were often power-hungry and very ambitious, but they seemed much more capable of prioritizing their lives than today's self-absorbed egos can. It is so refreshing to see, that yes, there was a period of time when common courtesy and overt civility was actually expected instead of being the rarity it now often is.

This show also starkly highlights how daily work relationships were not dictated by the vast political correctness agenda that has sadly permeated today's business world. How grand it must have been not to have had the underpinnings of political correctness and affirmative action stifling out bastions of qualified workers on occasion in all arenas of employment. What a pronounced sense of equanimity both men and women must have felt when there were no nebulous definitions of their respective societal roles.

What a privilege it must have been to have experienced first-hand a slice of time when it was all about the family, the town, the community and the country. I thank the Mad Men creators for reminding us that indeed the golden years of the 1950's surely did extend well on into the 1960's. And this show serves to remind us so authentically and elegantly of how there really was a soft-filtered, respectable era that we have today so sadly brushed aside and devolved from.

Raines is quite simply a wildly clever and creative TV detective drama. I am quite enchanted by Jeff Goldblum and the way he wonderfully converses with the case victims' visions in his mind. I find the whole premise of Raines' character crossing over into somewhat of a spiritual world in order to define the history of the deceased victim very, very intriguing and thought-provoking. Jeff Goldblum rather shines as the introspective detective and he definitely seems endearingly comfortable in this role. The supporting cast of this show also works together quite well, especially impressive is Raines' sympathetic boss played by Matt Craven. Let's hope that the network eagerly gives this remarkable new detective show the fighting chance it certainly deserves.

I feel fortunate to have happened upon a wonderful Hallmark Channel movie called "Though None Go With Me." The story provided a beautiful viewing of a small town in the early 1950's. Having never experienced that decade myself surely makes me lament that I missed a very precious time in our history. My mother has so often commented on how she misses the way society was during the era of the 1950's. After viewing this movie, I was saddened to discover how incredibly accurate her musings really were.

As I watched the characters in this movie interact, it was obvious that there was an inherent innocence that defined this era. I also couldn't help but notice that people during this time were remarkably polite and civil to each other. There were definitely high standards that people invariably inspired to maintain. It's as though there were rarely any nebulous areas of decorum, ethics or courtesy. Things seemed to be defined more rigidly in terms of either black or white. There was no room for a rampant liberal mindset that would breed a lack of common sense, good judgment, respect and scruples.

It is extremely disheartening to realize just how profoundly we have devolved as a society in the span of the past five decades. This movie surely moved me through its bittersweet tale of love and loss. But what really struck me was the startling contrast of today's society to that of the 1950's era. In light of America's current unrest and inner turmoil, surely we ache for a period like the 1950's more than ever. And the real shame I believe is knowing that we will most likely never, ever be able to recapture that idyllic innocence again.