Mad Men “Smoking Pitch”

Season 1: Episode 1: Smoke gets in your eyes.

 Written by: Matthew Weiner

 Director: Alan Taylor

Air date: July 19, 2007

Network: AMC

Rated: TV-14

The show Mad Men is based around advertising executives manipulating audiences to sell their client’s products.  Another large component of the show is the culturally relevant view/exposure of smoking that is present throughout. Together these components do a nice job of tying together the themes of advertising and tobacco use in a way that is current and relatable. In this specific clip, the main characters are giving a sales pitch to the makers of “Lucky Strike” who are worried about the recent ban on health claims put in place for tobacco companies.  

To note, although the show is rated tv-14, there is a lot of language as well as adult content throughout. Great discretion should be used in showing clips from this show.

It’s also possible that this is no longer a current show, and students will consider it less of a period piece, and more a period from…

• Snippets from the show “Mad Men”  will be used as an example for the students as the investigate how media influences the decisions that we as consumers makes.
• To see more on this assignment view the unit plan here.

When used as described the following are the standards this resource adheres too.  

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.2 Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation.
• Analyse factors that influence substance use and abuse. H2.Su1.8
• Describe how values, media, and technology influence health decisions and behaviors. H2.W3.8.
• Analyse factors that influence substance use and abuse. H2.Su1.8
• Compare and contrast sources of information on substance use. H3.Su1.8