Photo: AMC
There's no question that "Mad Men" (10 p.m. EDT on AMC) has hit its stride lately with clever banter, ruthless wit and a haunting undercurrent of melancholia. Last week's tension between Don Draper and his mistress's beatnik pal represented the funniest, most stylishly imagined culture clash since Mary Tyler Moore and Rhoda sat awkwardly on the floor at a hippie party, feeling self-conscious about their nylons. But it was the bittersweet Peter, Paul and Mary-style song at the very end of the episode, paired with a close-up of Draper's emotionally drained face, that kicked this story into high gear: Who is Don Draper, and what the hell does he want? Another charismatic but hopelessly mixed-up American hero in the middle of an identity crisis, and we wouldn't have it any other way. On tonight's episode, Draper and his boss share a few drinks and things get ugly -- in a repressed, early-'60s sort of way, of course.
"Spies, Lies and the Superbomb" (8 p.m. EDT on National Geographic) explores the life of physicist and spy Klaus Fuchs, who gave the Soviet Union the secrets to the nuclear bomb. MTV's "Celebrity Rap Superstar," a live competition that matches celebrities with "rap mega-star" mentors who teach them how to rap, premieres at 10 p.m. EDT on MTV, and Corinne Bailey Rae, Paul Simon and Primal Scream appear on "Live From Abbey Road" (10 p.m. EDT on Sundance).
Regis and KellyABC, 9 a.m. EDT | Relly Nominees: Best Athlete, Best Non-Human |
The ViewABC, 11 a.m. EDT | George Lopez, Alan Jackson, guest co-host Joan Rivers (repeat) |
Ellen DeGeneresSyndicated, check local listings | Julie Andrews, Mike Holmes (repeat) |
Oprah WinfreySyndicated, check local listings | Oprah's Favorite Giveaway Ever -- The Results! (repeat) |
Charlie RosePBS, check local listings | Don Rickles |
Larry KingCNN, 9 p.m. EDT | Deadliest Jobs! |
Jon StewartComedy Central, 11 p.m. EDT | Stephen F. Hayes (repeat) |
Stephen ColbertComedy Central, 11:30 p.m. EDT | Markos Moulitsas, Michael Wallis (repeat) |
David LettermanCBS, 11:30 p.m. EDT | Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Willie Nelson and Kenny Chesney |
Jay LenoNBC, 11:35 p.m. EDT | Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Wilco |
Tavis SmileyPBS, check local listings | Maria Contreras-Sweet, Alek Wek |
Jimmy KimmelABC, 12:05 a.m. EDT | George Lopez, Matt Dallas, Yung Joc |
Conan O'BrienNBC, 12:35 a.m. EDT | Kevin Bacon, Will Forte, Eisley |
Craig FergusonCBS, 12:35 a.m. EDT | Pamela Anderson and magician Hans Klok, Avi Liberman, Nellie McKay (repeat) |
Contributors: Matthew Fishbane, Heather Havrilesky, Amy Reiter
Get Salon in your mailbox!
