"Mad Men" Creator Admits to Actors Drinking on the Job

But is anyone surprised?
by Ryan Hudak on Nov 3, 2014 in Culture

In a revelation that surprises absolutely no one, Mad Men series creator Matthew Weiner admitted that what the actors are drinking on screen isn’t always colored water. “They can’t drink and act,” said Weiner at the show’s induction into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. “I mean, they can. I’m not saying that no one’s ever done a scene drunk on Mad Men.”

While Weiner didn’t go into specifics about which scenes may or may not have been performed while under the influence, it would be interesting to go back and try to spot who’s pretending to slur their words and who is actually slurring them. Which also begs the question, does it take away from the actor’s credibility to know that he or she may not really be acting, but is just drunk on camera? Or does it make them a better actor because they’re in a serious roll and they have to fight the urge to partake in all the usual drunken antics?

Unfortunately, I probably wouldn’t be able to resist, which is why it’s a good thing my boss doesn’t allow us to get blasted on whiskey as we work. And if I did, I think he’d have a little different reaction than Matthew Weiner. “Oh, that’s not always coffee in Ryan’s mug, wink wink!” would most likely be replaced with “Pack up your things and we’ll have security escort you out.”

What about your boss? How would they react to you showing up drunk? And which jobs (other than acting) do you think this level of drinking would be allowed at? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

Photo via Mad Men Wikia


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