Mad Men: Fact and Fiction
What It Gets Right About the Ad Industry—And Wrong
Mad Men made advertising look sexy—whiskey-fueled pitches, sharp suits, big ideas. And while some of that was real, a lot of it was just good TV.
So, what did Mad Men actually get right about the ad world? And where did it take creative liberties? Let’s break it down.
What It Got Right
Big Ideas Matter
At its core, advertising is about the idea. Don Draper’s best pitches weren’t just about selling products—they were about selling emotions, memories, and identity. That part? Dead-on. The best campaigns still do this today.
The Industry Worships ‘Creative Geniuses’
The show nailed the way agencies treat their star creatives. If you’re brilliant, you can get away with a lot. But the moment you stop delivering? You’re disposable. That hasn’t changed.
Clients Are Difficult (and Often Clueless)
Clients wanting something “bold” but rejecting anything remotely original? Yeah, that’s real. The constant battle between creativity and business reality is a daily struggle in the ad world.
What It Got Wrong
The “Mad Men” Era Was Mostly Research-Driven
The show makes it look like ads were born from whiskey-fueled brainstorming. In reality, even in the 1960s, research and data played a big role. Agencies tested ideas before launching them, and strategy mattered just as much as creativity.
Ad Agencies Aren’t All About Print and TV Anymore
The biggest change since Don Draper’s time? Digital. Today’s advertising world is ruled by algorithms, social media, and data-driven campaigns. Creativity still matters, but now it has to perform on multiple platforms—not just look good in a magazine.
The Lifestyle is (Mostly) a Myth
Sure, agency life can be fun. But the three-martini lunches and unchecked office debauchery? Not exactly the norm anymore. Today’s ad world is filled with tight deadlines, endless Slack messages, and clients who expect results yesterday.
Final Thought: The Myth Lives On
Mad Men got a lot right about the advertising world’s obsession with creativity and persuasion. But the industry today? It’s faster, more analytical, and less glamorous. The big ideas still matter—you just have to fight through data, budgets, and algorithms to make them work.
