Please no spoilers! I'm only on episode 12 of season 4.
Why didn't they bring back Sal, once Lucky Strike ended their business with SCDP? Sal was such a great character, I know that he doesn't ever return. Does he even get a mention? I like to think that he eventually came out, adopted Duck's dog from a shelter and became an incredibly successful film director.
I don't see why they would. he hadn't worked there in years and sometimes things don't work out perfectly in real life. I think his story ended on a great open ended note that I didn't need to see reopened. I liked Sal a lot but I think his story ended in a thoughtful place and I'm glad the writers didn't need to spoon feed exact answers.
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Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.
Bryan Batt wanted more money, and Weiner wouldn't give it to him.
shareSome people say that the actor who plays Sal had an argument with Matthew Weiner (something with him mocking Weiner's son - who plays Glenn). I don't know whether this is true or not though.
But to be honest, I really appreciated his story and Sal's character. Even though his ending was fine, I wish the writers had brought him in the final season.
I think that Brian Batt, who played Sal, parted on bad terms with Matthew Weiner.
Unless Alpert's covered in bacon grease, I don't think Hugo can track anything.
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Sal was annoying. Glad they never brought him back.
Remember this was the 60's. Don was not homophobic at the time.
But they could have brought him back very easily working for one of the competing agencies. The writers and can say all they want but they did not want him to appear again for a reason.
...............ZING!
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Disagree that Don was homophobic in the context of that time. For a guy in that time period, he rolled with it pretty easily. I mean, he was uncomfortable being hit on by that couple, but I don't think he would have fired Sal for being gay. He seemed willing to work with him, just disappointed he got himself caught like that. You forget Don grew up in a whorehouse. I'm sure he's seen worse.
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I don't think Don was homophobic either.
If he had been, when he saw Sal and the bellboy together through the hotel room, he'd have made up some pretext to fire him. Instead, all Don did was warn Sal on the flight home to "limit your exposure," and continued working with him.
I don't think Don cared what Sal or anyone else did, as long as it didn't get in the way of business.
The real problem was Lee Garner Jr was an awful man, a bully, and used to getting his way. Sal turned him down, in the most gracious way he could, while still protecting himself. But Lee Garner was embarrassed and angry at being turned down.
At the time Lucky Strike was 50 or more percent of their billings; he knew it, and used it. If Lee said jump, everyone asked how high. Even Roger once held his b@lls because that's what Lee wanted. Then there was the cringeworthy Roger-as-Santa scene.
Losing Lucky Strike could, and later almost did, kill the agency. Don probably thought Sal hadn't taken his advice to limit his exposure, but in any event Sal had said no to the one person no one at the agency was supposed to say no to. It was either Sal went, or they'd most certainly lose the account.
I didn't like the way Don handled it, because Sal had done nothing wrong, and it really was unfair. But, it was Lee Garner Jr. Had it being a lesser account, such as Mohawk or Butler Shoes, I very much doubt that would have happened.
I don't think Burt was racist, either. Burt was a consummate capitalist, and he didn't think having a black person at reception would be good for business. Was it pandering to clients who were racist? Yes.
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There had to have been something behind the scenes as people mentioned because they managed to bring back/talk about lesser characters. It would have been easy to "run in to him" from another agency or the other locations the characters visited later on in the show.
I think it sucks that Sal was limited to what feels like a token gay storyline when I feel like he was much more than that. He had so much charm and a vulnerability that made the character interesting.
There was definitely discussion at some point - Weiner and the writers had a list of list of potential storylines which included the line, "Sal - what happened to him?" http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/1085194/mad-men-storylines-that-never-got-resolved
shareFor what?
shareof all the characters who left at some point I felt his was the best by far. they really could have used him as they showed the progression of the 60's. all that Ginsberg crap could have gone to sal stuff. I assume there was something behind the scnes as it would have been a reall natural plus to move sal along in the show.
shareHow would that have worked in the storyline? Sal got fired and then years later wanted to work for SCDP again? That doesn't make a lot of sense.
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Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.