In last night's episode of Mad Men, there was no fist fight between Pete and Lane. We didn't watch Megan's mother cheat on her dad.  No characters experimented with drugs.  In fact, few, if any, significant events occurred.  But the show's characters are heating up; we're just waiting for them to reach their boiling points.

Much of the focus was on Don and Megan in this episode.  Megan's finally realized that while she may have a knack for copywriting, it's just not her passion. She will never stop wanting to be an actress.  Did her father's comments last week really have that much of an impact on her?

Megan sneaks behind Don's back to attend a callback for an audition, but soon the guilt eats away at her. She wakes him up in the middle of the night to tell him she's done at SCDP.  It's hard to gauge Don's reaction -- he knows that as her husband he must be supportive -- but there's disappointment in his eyes.  Megan is more than his wife; she's his student, his protégé.

Furthermore, Don needs Megan to seal the deal with a new client:  Cool Whip.  SCDP has come to rely on the couple's charming banter to win over new accounts.  And when Megan steps down to focus on a career in acting, who will take her place?  Can anyone really fill that void?

On Megan's final day at the office, Don kisses her good-bye before she rides the elevator down to the lobby and exits the building one last time.  As the doors close, Don hits the button again in what appears to be more of a reaction than a conscious decision.  But it begs the question:  Can he function at SCDP without her? The next set of elevator doors open and Don desperately runs toward it only to realize the elevator shaft is empty.  There's a hole in his heart as Megan makes her final departure. And although he'll see her at home, it's as if she's gone forever.

To make matters worse, Peggy, who doesn't quite possess the charisma that Megan has, fills in for the Cool Whip pitch. She doesn't have nearly enough time to practice, and the meeting can only be described as an epic fail.

It seems as if everyone is judging Megan's decision to leave. Don feels betrayed; after all, he helped build her career.  And Peggy just can't understand why anyone would willingly leave her job as a copywriter.

I can't help but feel they're all being a bit condescending. Who's to say Megan won't succeed as an actress? Sure, she showed potential as a copywriter, but she's got to do what's right for her. Of course it helps that she's now married to a wealthy man who will financially support her new career path, but I don't for one second think that was her plan all along.

While Don does his best to fake his happiness for Megan, we all see that look on his face.  He's uncertain about the future.  The Megan that turns him on, the Megan that makes him feel like he's in love, is a woman who is not only beautiful and kind, but also a great pitching partner. Now that she's not the "complete package," I can't help but notice Don seems dissatisfied. He wants to be glad for her, but feelings are already beginning to fade.

We're rooting for the supposedly new and improved Don, but his actions in Sunday night's episode have us questioning whether or not he's real.

Meanwhile, Pete Campbell is forcing change of his own. Looking for a little excitement in his life, he cheats on his wife with a woman who lives a few houses away. What's worse, he's friends with the woman's husband!  Pete's so bored of his suburban existence that it seems like he actually hopes he gets caught.

We're just waiting for these characters to reach their limits.  Will Don be able to adjust to his wife's new lifestyle? Can Pete get away with cheating for much longer? I'll be on the edge of my seat until episode nine!


            

When Don Draper's daughter Sally is on the phone after spending a weekend with her dad in New York, her friend asks, "How's the city?" Sally responds with just one word that not only describes the streets of New York City as compared to her suburban home, but also everything she'd witnessed during her stay:  "Dirty."

The little girl saw a lot during her visit with dad.  She watched Megan Draper's parents fight loudly in a foreign language.  She sat in the audience as her chain-smoking father won an (ironic) award from the American Cancer Society.  Sally even accidentally walked in on Megan's mom cheating on her dad.

Sally's mood is obviously tainted by the weekend's events.  It's as if she's seen first-hand how immoral life in the city (or life as a grown up) can be.  But she's not the only one whose otherwise exciting weekend has been dampened; Megan's father expresses disapproval about her new life. "I always saw you were single-minded about your dreams and that would help you ... Don't let your love for this man stop you from doing what you want to do," he said.

Peggy's also having a weekend filled with mixed emotions. When her boyfriend Abe calls her at work and insists on seeing her that night, she instantly thinks the worst:  He's going to break up with me.  After confiding in Joan, she realizes Abe might not have bad news, but rather may plan on proposing to her.  Peggy's all excited about the possibility, and shows up to dinner in a new dress expecting to leave with a shiny engagement ring.  But Abe doesn't want to get married; he just wants to "shack up."  After some hesitation, she agrees (and Joan later congratulates her, reinforcing the fact that it might be a good idea).

When Peggy invites her mother over for dinner to share the happy news, her mom is less than pleased.  In fact, she leaves dinner, clearly disapproving of Peggy's decision. I think it's fair to say that the theme of the episode is "the wrath of the dissatisfied parents." Sigh.

But Sunday night's episode of "Mad Men" wasn't all raunchy and nasty.  I can't be the only person who was both excited and impressed by Megan's performance during dinner with Raymond, the Heinz rep (yep, he's still around).  During a trip to the bathroom with Raymond's wife, Megan learns he's about ready to fire SCDP because he's unhappy with their ideas for promoting Heinz. When the girls return to the table, Megan whispers the new information into Don's ear, and the two immediately turn on the charm.  They win Raymond over, and open up a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

What does the future hold for SCDP? Yes, they finally won Heinz over, but that's not enough to keep them afloat.  After Don learns that no one wants to work with him anymore since he published his hypocritical anti-smoking letter, he's visibly concerned.  Playing dirty might make for great revenge, but it can sure come back to bite you in the butt.


brandon posted on April 23, 2012 19:28
            

In advertising, the consumer doesn't necessarily want to hear the truth.  For example, we all know that if you want to slim down, no magic product is going to make it happen.  You've got to eat right, exercise, and work hard.  Yet if you turn on the TV, open up a magazine, or sign onto the Internet, you're quickly introduced to dozens of supposed quick fixes including fad diets and weight-loss pills.  People want what's good, and unfortunately that's not always what's real.

At some point in last night's episode, Peggy, Megan, Don, Roger and Jane all face a similar inner conflict:  How can I be honest when nobody, including myself, wants to hear it? The episode's narration and structure are confusing to say the least, but that just adds to the evidence of this struggle.

Throughout season five, Peggy's been fighting with herself over the same issue.  Will she ever be trusted and respected as much as her mentor Don is?  At a second meeting with Heinz, she proudly unveils a new ad she thinks the company's rep will love. She argues that it delivers exactly what he asked for, and yet because Don's not there to back Peggy up, another one of her pitches gets rejected.  In Don's absence, Peggy decides to act how he would:  She's brutally honest.  But she's not Don, and the rep doesn't want to hear the painful truth from a woman.  Peggy's taken off the account.

Megan, Don's wife, is facing a similar battle.  While she and Don are certainly still in the "honeymoon phase" of their life together, she can't seem to stand up for herself.  Her judgment is clouded because he is, after all, not just her husband but also her boss.  Each time Don drags her away from work to have some fun, deep down she knows what's right -- she should remain at the office until her assignments are complete.  But she can't seem to bring herself to be up-front with him.  That is, until all the built-up tension culminates during a vacation-gone-wrong.  Their fighting comes down to one thing:  Megan can't be everything that Don wants her to be -- a good mom, a fun toy, a loyal employee and more -- and it's eating away at her.

When Megan does finally snap at her new husband, he can't handle the truth.  He plays the victim, when in reality his controlling attitude is what's bothering Megan to begin with.  After several agaonizing hours, the two seem to make up.  Don holds her closely and whispers sadly, "I thought I lost you."  But if this happens every time Megan and Don have to confront reality, I can't see their relationship lasting.

   

If you've tuned into season five, you already know that Roger's bored with his wife Jane.  But what the audience didn't understand until last night is how Jane feels.  The two attend a dinner party that's being hosted by some of Jane's friends including her psychiatrist.  Roger grudgingly agrees to experiment with drugs at the party after Jane pleads with him, claiming that it may help repair their relationship.  But what actually happens is something nobody expected:  They both acknowledge that their marriage is over.

The next morning, after the drug has left her system, Jane's hurt.  Despite the fact that she and Roger mutually agreed that their relationship is a disaster, once the reality sinks in for Jane, it's awful.  Meanwhile, Roger acts as if a weight has been lifted off his shoulders; he clearly never cared about her.

The truth is a strange thing.  Generally, we have trouble being honest with ourselves and with the people we love.  We'd like to believe that being honest is always best, but in the end, most people aren't willing to accept reality.  Now that Peggy, Megan, Don, Roger and Jane have confronted how things really are, can their characters continue to grow and develop? Or will the nasty side of truth keep them stuck?


            

If I'm being completely honest, I've never liked Pete Campbell. He's immature, smug, and plays dirty. Of course I understand that Mad Men needs at least a few antagonists, and I'm always thrilled when Don puts him in his place. But in Sunday's episode of Mad Men, it isn't Don who flips out at Pete's horrible attitude; it's Lane.

Throughout the episode, Pete doesn't seem like his normal self. Sure, he's just as arrogant and rude as ever. But there's something else: A tinge of sadness, and maybe even desperation. He doesn't seem satisfied with anything, although he seemingly has it all. And that dissatisfaction leads him to do things he wouldn't normally do like flirt with an underage girl and visit a brothel.

Another character who seems frustrated with his life is Lane. He wants to contribute more to SCDP, but doesn't quite know how. When he meets a Jaguar rep while celebrating the World Cup with his wife and her friends, he's basically handed new business. But the exciting prospect of bringing in a big account gets to Lane's head a bit, and he doesn't want to take any advice from veterans Don, Pete and Roger. Instead, he tries to win over the Jaguar representative single-handedly, and doesn't quite cut it. Don, Pete and Roger step in and take the rep to a brothel, a move that later loses the account.

The next day at a partner meeting, Lane barges in and demands some answers: How did they manage to lose Jaguar? Pete throws out some particularly hard-hitting insults, and Lane's had enough. The two get into a fist fight while Don, Roger and Bert watch, very clearly unsure about how it will pan out. To say I'm ecstatic when Lane punches Pete out is an understatement; as Joan says so eloquently: "Everyone's been waiting to do that to Pete." 

Ken also seems a bit confused in this episode, but not for the same reasons as Pete and Lane. I wouldn't say he's unhappy with his job or personal life, but he's got another dream he wants to pursue: Writing. He's prepping to publish a book of 20 short science fiction stories. But after Ken's wife reveals his hobby at a dinner hosted by Pete and Trudy, Roger somehow catches wind (we have to assume Pete couldn't keep his mouth shut). He advises him to make SCDP his life, not penning sci fi novels. Still, at the end of the day Ken returns to his pastime in the comfort of his own bed.

Surprisingly (or not-so-surprisingly, based on his behavior this season), Don's remained grounded. He doesn't look at one woman at the brothel and he doesn't get involved in Pete and Lane's fight. Best of all, his relationship with Megan is thriving. I really, really hope he doesn't mess this up; their marriage epitomizes happiness.

Will Pete gain control of his life and learn to be happy with what he's got? How will Lane move forward from his tiff with Pete? Is Ken going to be discovered for his writing? And how long will Don be able to hold onto Megan? We'll have to keep watching to find out!

 


            

Up until the fourth episode of Mad Men season five, the biggest question on my mind has been "where's the Don I used to know?"  While his marriage to Megan is still new, his apparent disinterest in other women is nothing short of baffling.  Since the series' inception, Don's been a flat-out womanizer.  No girl -- not his ex-wife Betty, not his client/love interest Rachel Katz, and not even his confidant Dr. Faye Miller -- could keep him from cheating.

But in season five, Don's been playing it cool.  His new wife Megan is not only beautiful, but she's also smart, good with kids, and determined to make him happy.  He's not even tempted by other women, and why would he be?  That is until he runs into a former love interest, Andrea, while riding in the elevator with Megan.  Megan's not happy about the encounter, but Don insists that whatever he had with Andrea is in the long-forgotten past.

Still, something bothers Don.  And the anxiety he feels makes its way into his dreams, which the audience gets to see (and for a while may think is real).  In his nightmare, Don fights with temptation.  Andrea sneaks into his apartment and seduces him.  And unfortunately he's not strong enough to fight it.  This is the Don we used to know, a man who would never say no to a chance with an attractive woman.

But there is one difference:  Don doesn't seem to want it.  It's as if Andrea is evil; she's trying to ruin his marriage, his happiness.  The audience is relieved when Don wakes up and realizes he's been alone all night.  And there's the stunning Megan, taking care of his fever.

The paranoia Don sees is also felt by other characters.  For example, Peggy's insecure about her standing at SCDP, and Sally (Don's daughter) is freaked out by a string of murders in Chicago that's making headlines.  Joan's nervous about her future with her husband, and Don's new secretary, Dawn, is anxious about the city's civil rights violence.

Here's the thing about paranoia:  It's often grounded in reality.  And I have a feeling that the struggles facing Mad Men's characters won't be going away soon.


            

After the first episode of Mad Men's season five, we were left with a few questions.  Where's Betty?  Is Don a changed man?  How will Roger prove he's still relevant and valuable?  And, most importantly, what's with all these changes?

Betty

Episode two opens with Don's ex-wife Betty (finally -- the suspense was killing me!), and it's obvious that she's put on weight.  And a lot of it.  She's embarrassed, but doesn't seem to know how to handle the situation.  Unable to fit into her clothes, Betty doesn't even feel comfortable leaving the house. As if to offer contrast, the next scene opens with the gorgeous and slender Megan getting ready beside Don.

Betty visits the doctor and is expecting to be prescribed diet pills, but instead is confronted with troubling news:  She's got a tumor on her thyroid.  When she can't get in touch with her husband, Henry Francis, Betty immediately turns to Don.  "Say what you always say," she pleads.  He responds, "Everything's going to be OK."   That sinking feeling in your chest? That's you beginning to feel sorry for Don's notoriously cold-hearted ex-wife.

Throughout her life, Betty's survival has been dependent on looking good.  From her modeling career to existing solely as Don's trophy wife, being pretty is all she's ever known.

After undergoing tests, she finally receives a call from the doctor.  My heart is racing -- could she have cancer?  When Betty discovers her tumor is benign, she almost seems upset.  It's as if she was relieved to be able to blame her weight gain on a health condition.

Don

If you're like me, you're still wondering whether or not Don will return to his old ways.  The "new Don" is best exemplified by how he's dealing with one potential client, Heinz.  Usually he fights for what he believes in, but lately he seems to be content with giving in to his clients.  This time, Don for some reason agrees to try to persuade the Rolling Stones to record a Heinz beans ad jingle. Come on, this is crazy!  The old Don would never attempt such a ridiculous endeavor.

But, with the help of his new wife Megan, he seems genuinely happy, and that's rare.

Roger

Roger's still struggling to prove how important he is to SCDP ad agency.  And it's definitely a struggle.  He puts everything he's got into signing Mohawk Airlines, despite the fact that the company's got a mountain of debt.  Still, the firm snags the airline, and Pete, who's slowly but surely becoming Roger's nemesis, calls everyone together to give a toast.  However, it's clear that all Pete's really concerned with is blatantly disrespecting Roger.  It's a huge slap in the face.

Other important moments:

  • In episode one, SCDP out an equal opportunity help wanted ad (originally intended to serve as a dig at Y&R).  The firm was overwhelmed by dozens of African American applicants looking for work.  Don hires a black woman named Donna to be his secretary, a first for SCDP, demonstrating his nonjudgmental nature; if you're a hard worker, you're OK in his book.
  • Betty runs into an old friend at the doctor's office, and the two really hit it off.  Could this be the start of a real friendship for Betty?
  • Peggy interviews Michael Ginsberg as a copyrighter, and is initially unimpressed; he makes an awful first impression.  But he insists that his work speaks for itself and, thanks to a nudge from Roger, Peggy introduces Michael to Don.  He manages to turn on the charm, and Don is impressed -- he's hired!

As the episode closes, the juxtaposition of Betty versus Megan is clearer than ever.  Megan, the beautiful optimist, continues to prove that she can make Don happy; she brightens up his life.  Meanwhile, Betty's alone in the kitchen, looking bloated and unhappy, finishing off Sally's ice cream.

Everything -- from Don's personal life and Betty's appearance to the inner workings of SCDP -- is changing.  And while change can be good, there's an uneasy feeling in the air.  I can't help but echo Roger when he asks, "When is everything gonna get back to normal?"


brandon posted on March 26, 2012 22:01
            

Before we travel back in time, let's take a quick look at 2012.  The world of advertising is undergoing one of the biggest transitions it's seen:  Television is no longer the primary media outlet for getting a brand's message out there.  As social media (and the Internet in general) grow in popularity, advertisers are struggling to be relevant.

But if last night's season premiere of Mad Men can teach us anything, it's that while the changes themselves might vary, dealing with cultural progress is something that's always challenged the advertising industry.  And in the first episode of Mad Men's season five, the ever-changing nature of advertising is clear.

The Drapers

The first scene of season five takes place at Don's bright, new place of residence.  (A stark contrast to his previously drab digs.)  His daughter Sally wakes up, seemingly a bit disoriented. She can't find the bathroom, and accidentally opens the door to Don's bedroom in which his new wife Megan is sleeping, naked. We're expecting Don to be at least a little angry at Sally for not knocking, but a new, softer Mr. Draper simply asks her if she's hungry for breakfast.

Overall, the feeling is light and airy, and I can't decide whether it's due to Don's new, breezy lifestyle or the fact that it's Memorial Day weekend.  Either way, there's a marked difference.

Don's Personality

What stands out most about Don is his surprisingly low-level anxiety.  With the exception of his harsh reaction to Megan throwing him a surprise party, he's mild-mannered and at points downright pleasant. He seems more concerned with keeping Megan happy than anything else.  I can't tell if this is good or bad -- will his work suffer?

Also worth noting is the fact that Megan at one point alludes Don's real identity, Dick Whitman. Somewhere between the end of season four and the beginning of season five, Don's clearly filled her in on a few secrets.  To me, this communicates the fact that Don's not going to make the same mistakes he did with Betty.  He doesn't want another trophy wife; he wants someone with which he can be open, honest and truly happy.

Equal Rights

It's 1966, and America is in the midst of an equal rights movement.  Our first visit back to Madison Ave. shows African-Americans picketing for equal employment opportunities outside Y&R ad agency (which also happens to be Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (SCDP)'s rival). The staff at SCDP doesn't necessarily voice an opinion about the movement.  Instead, Don puts out a "joke" ad, calling his firm an "equal opportunity employer" (in an attempt to make Y&R look bad). Little does he know that the joke will be misunderstood by many.

Roger's Role

After having lost the all-important Lucky Strike account in season four, Roger (and everyone else) is unsure about his place at SCDP.  At this point, Pete's bringing in most of the business, and Roger knows it.  Roger's beginning to show up at Pete's meetings unexpectedly in an attempt to steal his clients.

But it's obvious that the clients Pete's brought in are keeping SCDP afloat, and Pete therefore demands a bigger office.  He wants to switch with Roger, but he refuses. Eventually, Harry's bribed to switch with Pete instead.

Advertising

In 2012, marketers are looking for a unique way to stand out to Internet users.  In 1966, Peggy's working hard to modernize advertising with her project for Heinz baked beans. The basic idea here is the same:  How can we keep up with the times without alienating those with traditional values?

Her idea for a "bean ballet" ad interests the Heinz reps, but they're not sold.  Peggy invites Don in and hopes he'll save the day, but the guys from Heinz are looking for something more old-fashioned. Peggy wants to embrace change, but her clients aren't ready for it.

Peggy's battle with Heinz represents the episode's overall theme of struggling to come to terms with change. Transitions and developments happen, whether we're ready for them or not. Don's got a new family, blacks in America are finally demanding equality, and Roger's not as pivotal to SCDP's success as he once was.

How will the characters cope with change throughout season five, and will SCDP continue to evolve? I'm certainly eager to find out as Mad Men's long-awaited season five continues!


brandon posted on September 3, 2011 00:12
            

Dr. Keith Ablow, a psychiatrist who serves as a member of Fox News' Medical A-Team, published an opinion piece on FoxNews.com yesterday entitled "Don't Let Your Kids Watch Chaz Bono On 'Dancing With the Stars.'"  The title of Dr. Ablow's article not only blatantly asserts his opinion about someone he's never met, but also tells parents how to act and how to feel before they are given the opportunity to assess the situation on their own.

Let's step back to go over some details that Dr. Ablow failed to mention.  According to the Daily Mail, "Chaz, 40, whose father is Cher's late ex-husband Sonny Bono, came out as a lesbian at age 18, when he was studying at New York University."  The Daily Mail reports that while Chaz's father was accepting, his mother, Cher, was distraught.

Bono and Cher's relationship suffered following Cher's negative reaction to Bono's coming out.  Bono then struggled for years with several different personal issues including a failed music and film career, a drug addiction, and weight management problems, reports the Daily Mail.  In fact, it's not been until recently that Bono has made headlines for anything positive.

But with Bono's 2009 announcement that he would be transitioning from a female to a male came peace.  In 2010, Bono and his mother Cher mended their relationship.  Bono has been spotted several times sneaking a kiss with girlfriend Jennifer Elia, in public.  He's overcome his drug problems and even fought off obesity on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club.

In Dr. Ablow's piece, he asserts that "the last thing vulnerable children and adolescents need, as they wrestle with the normal process of establishing their identities, is to watch a captive crowd in a studio audience applaud on cue for someone whose search for an identity culminated with the removal of her breasts, the injection of steroids and, perhaps one day soon, the fashioning of a make-shift phallus to replace her vagina."  The doctor argues that Bono's transformation reflects a weakness; his decision to transition into a man shows that he's psychologically unsound.

Dr. Ablow worries that children will learn to look up to Bono, and therefore will want to undergo gender-transforming surgeries of their own.  He even goes as far as to insensitively compare Bono's decision to transition into a man to that of "a woman who believes she will be happier without arms."  Dr. Ablow doesn't believe Bono is a positive role model, despite the fact that he's defeated several personal issues.

So who, then, is a better role model?  Let's take a look at a more "normal" contestant who will be appearing on the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars.

How about Kristin Cavallari? The blond bombshell was made famous by appearing on an MTV reality show, Laguna Beach.  The 24-year-old celebrity reportedly uses cocaine, frequently binge drinks, and is "scary thin."  My question for Dr. Ablow is this:  How is someone like Cavallari a more fitting role model for young girls than a transgender individual who, after years of struggling with her identity, finally found the courage to admit it to herself and the rest of the world?  Would we rather children think that life is about being famous for, well, nothing (other than being unattainably attractive)?

 

In a world where magazine images are photoshopped more than ever to create an impossible standard of beauty and where being wealthy and fashionable is more important than curing disease, how dare Dr. Ablow shoot down Bono at a peaceful time in his life? Maybe Bono's story hasn't been picture-perfect, and maybe his choices and relationships are unconventional, but that doesn't mean he's a bad influence.  In fact, I'd argue that welcoming someone who can offer inspiration about being one's self rather than painting on pounds of makeup to look like her favorite celebrity sends a positive message to children about acceptance.

Furthermore, if Dr. Ablow is so concerned about TV's impact on children, why hasn't he attacked shallow MTV shows like Paris Hilton's New BFF or Jersey Shore?  Why isn't Dr. Ablow worried that young adolescents might lose their virginities at a far-too-young age, hoping to become 16 and Pregnant? It seems to me that the doctor is much more concerned with attacking Bono's lifestyle than he is with protecting any children.


brandon posted on August 31, 2011 01:50
            
On Sunday night, MTV's Video Music Awards was undoubtedly seen on millions of TV screens across America. From its huge opening act, Lady Gaga, to Beyonce's announcement of her pregnancy, the award show once again had audiences ooh-ing and ahh-ing. One of the program's major draws was a Britney Spears tribute. However, Spears fans reportedly felt a bit underwhelmed by the less-than-two-minute performance, which, according to the Huffington Post, was really just "a group of oversexualized little girls dressed in a collection of classic Britney get-ups." Check out the tribute below:

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music

But the Spears fandom didn't end there. The pop icon was also awarded the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award. As reported by the Huffington Post, when Spears went to accept her award, "the VMAs push[ed] our two pop stars -- Gaga and Brit Brit -- together in a throwback to Britney's kiss with Madonna, which we assume is meant to symbolize some bizarre coming-together of old-world pop and new-world pop." Indeed, Spears and Gaga's interaction was strange, at best. Take a look at the attached acceptance video:

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music

In what the Huffington Post called "an ode to Beyonce", Britney humbly accepted her award. Say what you will about the show's awkward moments-- according to the Los Angeles Times, the show "delivered 12.4 million total viewers, making it MTV's most-watched telecast ever..." What did you think of this year's VMAs?

Posted in:   Tags: , , ,
brandon posted on August 27, 2011 00:42
            

Rihanna is once again making headlines with her latest music video.  We recently discussed the recording artist's controversial "Man Down" clip, which received criticism from influential groups such as the Parents Television Council.  This time her video is getting much more positive attention.

According to Rolling Stone, Rihanna's music video for her latest single, "Cheers (Drink to That)", is filled with "shots of her partying backstage with friends and celebrities such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Cee Lo Green and Avril Lavigne."  Indeed, the music video's unusually high amount of cameos is stirring up quite a bit of commotion in the entertainment industry.

Even MTV has reported on Rihanna's "montage of celebrations" video.  According to MTV, the clip is a "a behind-the-scenes concert montage with brief cameo appearances by Avril Lavigne, Jay-Z and Kayne West" that is sure to "keep the party going for a little longer," despite the fact that the summer is winding down.

While Rihanna has been seen many times with Jay-Z and West, some expressed confusion about Lavigne's appearance in the video.  MTV reports that "Cheers (Drink to That)" actually contains clips from Lavigne's 2002 single, "I'm With You", "so it's only appropriate that the visual includes sporadic blink-of-the-eye appearances from the pop rocker."

Check out the video below, and remember:  Cheers to the freaking weekend!


Posted in:   Tags:
«  May 2012  »
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
30123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031123
45678910
View posts in large calendar
AddThis Feed Button



Video Production Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory
TopOfBlogs
Blog Directory
Entertainment Blogs

Motivators YouTube Channel