There’s a fascinating interview with “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner over at The Daily Beast. He has some insightful things to say about the season finale of “Mad Men” and where things stand with the Drapers. (If you still haven’t watched Sunday night’s episode: a.) What are you waiting for? b.) Stop reading NOW!).

Last night’s season finale of “Mad Men” was one of my top ten favorite hours of television, ever. Why? Because it surprised the beejesus out of me—and not in a kill-a-main-character-for-shock-value kind of way. Not to get all film professor on you, but the way I see it, the central tension that makes “Mad Men” so intoxicating is that the characters are miserable with their lives and act out in outrageous ways behind the scenes. But because they so desperately need all the glittering trophies of their lives (the fancy title, the corner office, the seemingly perfect family) they’re completely paralyzed when it comes to actually changing anything. They’re trapped—mostly by themselves but also by a culture not nearly as tolerant of varying life paths as we are today. I, of course, expected the season finale to continue along this trajectory. (Uh, now would probably be a good time to say SPOILER ALERT to anyone who has the episode waiting for them on their DVR.) But nope. Last night was the episode where everyone finally broke out.

Sally Draper is an inquisitive little girl. “Where is daddy going?” “Why is mommy crying?” “How do you make a Mai Tai?” Ah, kids can be so cute! Especially when they’re trying to play little bartender, like in these awesome cocktail cheat sheets. Illustrated by Dyna Moe, the official show artist who has “Mad Men”-ized so many sweet Facebook photos, the drink recipes are pretty and informative for the kids, 21 and over. After the jump, see what girlie concoctions Sally’s stirring up tonight. [WOW]

What’s sexier—your guy dressing up as Don Draper for Halloween or him dressing like that regularly just because? We’d vote for both, but now male “Mad Men” fans have the option to be dapper Don every day thanks to Brooks Brothers’ limited-edition “Mad Men” suit. Created by Janie Bryant, the show’s costume designer, the ensemble is a pretty genius interpretation of ‘60s menswear with its skinny lapels and angled kerchief pocket. And while the cut is a bit retro, something about it remains classic. (Break it in on Halloween, then wear to the office for years to come.)

Guess who AskMen.com readers voted the most influential man of 2009? Don Draper, who, technically, is a not a “real” man but a fictional character. Sure, I love me some hot Hamm every Sunday night, but, at the end of the torrid hour, I realize that “Mad Men” is just a television show and that Don Draper is just a caricature of a man struggling with his own demons, unwilling to face his problems head-on. So why are guys so obsessed with Don, to the point that they treat him as an actual person?

Those wacky Muppet operators over at “Sesame Street” have created a wonderful send-up of “Mad Men.” In it, puppets Don Draper and Co. at Sterling Cooper learn how to be ... happy! Who would have thunk it? I love the idea of Draper the cad going to teach the little kiddies that what’s important in life is not being a mad ad man, but finding happiness through honey advertising. It would have been awesome if Kermit played Don and Miss Piggy played Betty, but maybe they’re saving that for “The Muppets Take Mad Men.” [BuzzFeed]

If you’re like us, and you love all things “Mad Men,” from the plots to the characters to the looks, you may have noticed the bed that Don and Betty Draper share on the show. Totally retro, it’s got a soft green button-tufted headboard fit for any suburban princess married to a mad, mad ad man—or, you know, you. While the bed on the show was created by set designer Amy Wells, Club Furniture has a similar sleeper for “Mad Men” lovers. Custom-made in North Carolina, the look-alike bed doesn’t come cheap—it’s $1,100 to $1,350, depending on size. (Oh, it’s on sale for just under a grand today!) I like the Sky blue, but the company will use any fabric you desire. Sadly, Don Draper is not included. [L.A. at Home]

• Season three of “Mad Men” debuted last night, which means it’s time for yet another round of “I’m A Feminist And I Feel Guilty For Crushing On Don Draper” confessionals. [Newsweek]—Actually, I’m so over Don. ‘Twas easy after he shoved his wife and sexually assaulted Bobbi Barrett. Alas, now I feel guilty for my crush on Pete Campbell.

There’s no question that I find Don Draper sexy. If I lived in “Mad Men” land for a day, I would totally screw him on his Sterling-Cooper purchased desk. In real life? Not so much. At least not anymore.

Here are some of the things I learned from watching the second season finale of AMC’s Emmy Award winning show “Mad Men”:

But the most important thing I learned from the last episode of “Mad Men” is that Don Draper, the chain-smoking, hard-drinking, skirt-chasing lead character, is a kind of pop Rorschach test for modern day cats and dames. Both men and women see something different in Don, played with chilled beefiness by Jon Hamm, and what we see is proof that there is still a primal disconnect between what women want in a man and what men want to be.

Over the weekend, on “Saturday Night Live”, Don Draper, er, Jon Hamm, did a hilarious sketch with dating advice based on his irresistible “Mad Men” character’s mad skills.  But he’s not the only one with advice on how to lure women to your love shack. ”The Pick Up Artist” is back on VH1 and Season 2 features yet another flock of dudes, including a 45-year-old virgin, who worship the game playin’ guru with guyliner. While women go weak in the knees for Draper’s charms, men seem to think Mystery has the answer to getting into panties. So, let’s compare their tricks of the trade and see how they score!

Last night, my boyfriend, I mean, Jon Hamm (Don Draper on “Mad Men”) hosted “Saturday Night Live”—he was actually very, very funny! He IS perfect. Sigh. Anyway, in the skit above, Don Draper delivers his “Guide To Picking Up Women”. Quite honestly, this would work on me. Full transcript, after the jump.

Last night’s episode of “Mad Men” gave viewers a much needed change of scenery—Don Draper and Pete Campbell flew out of Los Angeles to meet with various airline executives in pursuit of new business. But while Pete devoted his time to the task at hand, Draper took off for Palm Springs with a mysterious 21-year-old woman and band of pretentious, bohemian, and decidedly wealthy nomad friends. Don seemed to be incredibly intrigued by the laissez faire attitude of his latest conquest (yes, they did sleep together—so much for Don remaining faithful to his marriage) probably because she lives the kind of responsibility-free life that he kinda, sorta craves. It was fun to see the way L.A. was in the early ‘60s, the bright sunshine of the poolside atmosphere a welcome change from the greyness of the Sterling Cooper offices. Also, Don Draper looks hot in sunglasses. Next week, it definitely seems like Don is going on a bit of a mission, taking time off from work to pursue something, or someone—there’s been a lot of questions surrounding what Don’s life was like as Dick Whitman. Might there be a love child out there?

Jon Hamm gives sweet dreams. [60th Primetime Emmy Awards, Los Angeles, 9/21/08]

I missed Peggy this week. Our favorite glass ceiling breaker took much of this week’s episode of Mad Men off and the episode, instead, focused on new assistant Jane, Don Draper’s new car (to replace the one he crashed when he was drunk driving with Bobbie Barrett), and Cooper’s new Mark Rothko painting. Needless to say, it was an odd episode. Read on to find out about Jane’s complete and total insubordination and Jimmy Barrett’s big reveal to Betty Draper…

Last night’s episode of Mad Men really pissed me off. Oh, Don Draper, and your wiley, sexual ways. And damn you, Duck, for doing what you did to Chauncey! The episode was all about the two sides to women that men see and the two sides to Don that WE see. While Sterling Cooper works on putting together a new ad campaign for Playtex, centered around every woman have a Jackie (Kennedy) side and a Marilyn (Monroe) side—for the record, according to the boys, Peggy is all Gertrude Stein—Don is in way too deep with Bobbie Barrett. Don is not immune to viewing women through these two lenses as well—while he’s happy to have Bobbie as his whore on the side, when Betty buys a chic new bikini to wear at the pool, Don is quick to demean her as “desperate”. Both sides of Amelia wanted to smack the s—t out of him for that one.

Last night’s episode of Mad Men finally answered so many lingering questions about Peggy Olson and brought up ever so many more about Don Draper—namely, “Can Draper ever change?” Additionally, the parallels and the bond between Peggy and Don were illuminated, a deeper side was revealed to Bobbie Barrett, and we learned Pete’s spunk was just as potent as ever. Oh, and Peggy is our hero.

Confession: I’m having a secret affair with my 21-year old Irish doorman. It’s such a secret, not even HE knows. The other night, when my fiancé was out, my doorman – I don’t even know his name – came upstairs to my apartment to replace three light bulbs. As he stood on the ladder, screwing in those bulbs, telling me all about going to school in Dublin and spending the summer in New York, I felt enormously guilty. My fiancé wasn’t home and this attractive, foreign, younger man was doing menial labor in my apartment, steps away from my bedroom. It felt kind of like cheating, even though it was far from it in actuality, and cheating in actuality is something I would never, ever, ever do.