In honor of the series finale of Mad Men this Sunday, we polled a number of actors, writers, and directors on their favorite Mad Men memories. Their answers range from the obscure (that time the elevator disappeared) to the show-defining (that time we found out Don is not actually Don). Ahead, Sarah Silverman, Danny Strong, John Slattery, and many more share the moments that stayed with them.
“Talia [Balsam] and I shot a scene that never aired, and I wish that they’d unearth that thing. It was a scene in a car, and we were coming home from a dinner. The first dinner in that first episode, with Don and Betty and Roger and Mona, where they kind of go their separate ways after dinner and then debrief in the car and talk about how ridiculously attractive they were. And it’s a really funny scene between Roger and Mona that, for time or whatever reason, they never shot. And I think it would’ve been a really good introduction into the character of Mona. Man, I wish … we should go back and shoot that, I think.” —John Slattery
“Season five, when they’re at the museum and Sally gets her period, and she pulls down her pants in the bathroom and there’s blood in it. I don’t think I’ve ever, in any R-rated movie, in anything, seen period blood, especially a girl’s first period, and they show it. And it’s so good — that episode was so brilliant and that was a moment that was so indelible for me — to show that part of what every woman experiences on television was pretty far out. I thought it was so awesome.” —Sarah Silverman
“When I punched Roger Sterling in the balls. I mean, he had it coming. That’s right.” —Danny Strong “I love when they, in the dark of night, moved the office to their new office. They had to steal all the files. And for one moment they all got along, and it felt optimistic. That was like a happy time for me. There were just digging in and doing the work, and all the pettiness went out the window.” —Matt Walsh “The elevator doors opening up, and then the elevator isn’t there, and then they close again.” —Timothy Simmons
“I liked when the daughter got all bitchy and hated her mom.” —Norman Reedus