Men Gone Mad:  Don Draper “Most Admired?”

By Steve Wolfberg on 10/10 (0) Comments •
tagged: AskMen.com, Don Draper, Mad Men, opinion

A recent poll by AskMen.com asked who was the most influential man of 2009. Was it Barack Obama? Bono? The guy who invented the TV remote?

Nope. It was Don Draper, the lead character of AMC's immensely popular TV show “Mad Men.”

As an ad-guy, I’m honored. We haven’t had that kind of recognition and cache since Darren Stevens strategized, concepted and filmed TV commercials all on his own -- in a half-hour.

But as a guy-guy, I’m embarrassed. Don Draper is a liar and a philanderer. He took his name from a dead soldier, is demeaning to people who work for him, drinks too much and cheats on his wife.

And, oh yes: HE’S…NOT…REAL!

It doesn’t say much for men when we admire a figment of someone’s imagination. (A figment who happens to look awesome in a suit and chapeau, but a figment just the same.) It says even less when that figment has more character flaws than a Diamonique brooch.

C’mon guys. Let’s have a recall and vote for somebody who possesses some admirable qualities.

As well as an actual DNA double-helix.