By Beth J. Harpaz, Travel Editor
NEW YORK (AP) --"Mad Men" fans can now take a selfie with Don Draper, thanks to a bench unveiled Monday featuring the fictional adman's silhouette.
Jon Hamm, the actor who plays Draper, posed for photos on the bench outside the Time & Life Building at 1271 Avenue of the Americas in midtown Manhattan. He appeared with other cast members, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery and Elisabeth Moss, along with the show's creator, Matthew Weiner.
The bench is one of a number of attractions around New York City coinciding with the AMC series' final season, which begins April 5. The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens has a "Mad Men" exhibit with props, sets and costumes. Some restaurants are offering $19.69 liquid lunches this week in honor of the show. And Moss, who plays Peggy on the show, has gotten rave reviews as the star of the Broadway revival of "The Heidi Chronicles."
The Draper bench shows a black outline of the character seated on the bench, with one arm draped along the back of the seat. Two slim strips of white illuminate the black figure: a shirt cuff peeking out from beneath a suit sleeve, and the tip of a cigarette.
The street signs at the corner of Sixth Avenue and 50th Street were changed to read "Mad Men Av" and "Don Draper Way."
The Time & Life Building is where the fictional ad agency in the show is headquartered. Although the series, which is set in the 1960s, takes place in New York, it's mostly filmed in Los Angeles on Hollywood sets. But there are numerous references in the show to real places in New York along with real events from that turbulent decade. No doubt the weather for Monday's event was a chilling reality check for the stars: It was 28 degrees and Moss was wearing open-toed shoes.
Mike Pierantozzi joins Movers+Shakers as exec creative director
Creative agency Movers+Shakers has appointed Mike Pierantozzi as executive creative director. In this new role, he will help guide the creative direction of Movers+Shakers’ socially-native campaigns. Pierantozzi will report to co-founder and chief creative officer Geoffrey Goldberg.
With nearly two decades of experience as a copywriter, creative director, and multi-platform storyteller, Pierantozzi brings a wealth of knowledge from his work with major brands including Kraft, Unilever, IBM, and Walmart. He has led the creation of award-winning campaigns for agencies like Red Tettemer, Ogilvy, The Brooklyn Brothers, TAXI, Saatchi & Saatchi, and most recently, Vayner, where he spearheaded culturally iconic work for Planters including “Death of Mr. Peanut.” He led the National Down Syndrome Society and Luvs account, whose “First Kid. Second Kid” campaign was awarded by the Effies, ADC, Clios and LIAs.
Outside of the office, Pierantozzi practices what he teaches brands. He’s gone viral multiple times on his own TikTok account, featuring comedic interactions with his son and a trombone. He’s accumulated 15K followers on TikTok.
“Mike brings a rare and awesome combination of deep social and platform experience, a keen eye for excellent storytelling, and a humble and kind approach to leadership,” said Goldberg. “Mike’s got a knack for turning brand stories into cultural movements, making him the perfect fit for Movers+Shakers. He’s got the kind of bold vision and attention to culture that fits perfectly with our mission to push creative boundaries and drive industry firsts. Plus, as a creator himself he has the innate ability to make people stop, laugh, and share--which is exactly what we’re about.”
“I’ve... Read More