Like most “Mad Men” fans I was eagerly awaiting the debut of season four of  and as I typically do, caught it a few days late on DVR hence the delay in this post.

My thoughts on the record setting (2.9 million) episode dubbed “Public Relations.”

The crew at AMC – writers, producers, etc. – has lost nothing on their collective fastballs.

They could have called the episode “Private Relations” given what Don’s up to when he is not wooing clients, barking orders at his creative team, pouring over paperwork with his lawyer or brooding around the office.

Speaking of the office, Don’s new agency, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, lives pretty high on the hog for a fledgling one-year old firm, but then again, it’s all about image for Don and Co. And, you gotta love the fake second floor they talk about with clients and prospects.

Don is Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. “We are all here to please you” is what Peggy tells Don after he unceremoniously drops her from the Jantzen presentation because the idea of having a woman in the room while pitching a bathing suit client is pinching Don’s tab collar even tighter.  I think the “we” includes his clients and potential clients.

Don’s no natural with the media, but brilliant marketeer that he is– he got it after just one mis-step with Ad Age. You just know the pending Wall Street Journal profile will produce some great business leads for Sterling Cooper in future episodes so the firm won’t have to bother with the “cattle call” pitches with multiple agencies for seemingly second-tier accounts.

However, the process of “getting Bert’s man at the Wall Street Journal on the phone” and Don’s wooing of said “man” was way too easy.

How many of us ad/pr/marketing men or women would have the stones (or is it the integrity?) to kick a prospect (Jantzen) out of our offices – particularly when the firm has just lost a sizable piece of business –  for simply showing an unwillingness to let down their hair and do something bold versus going the staid, safe route to generating sales, attention and customer loyalty?

- Tim Hurley

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