Mad Men has provided insight into the world of advertising like no other show before it. While the personal lives of Don Draper and company are at the show's forefrunt, their professional lives have mattered just as much. What's kept Sterling Cooper & Partners in business for so long has been the marvelous ad pitches to companies.
Some of the best moments in the series come from the agency's creative team trying to sell their ideas to potential clients. Over the seasons Don, Peggy, and others have delivered grand speeches and expert storytelling to make everyone around them believe in their pitch. The most memorable pitches have touched on different emotions and have shown off the brilliance of the copy writer.
As the final episodes of Mad Men are on their way, it's important to remember what Sterling Cooper & Partners contributed to advertising during its early days. While not every pitch was successful with a client, most of them were able to persuade viewers into buying in on not only the product but the show itself.
Now that the presentation is over with, it's time to count down the Top 10 Mad Men pitches.
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Life Cereal
"Life: Cure for the common breakfast."
What makes Don's pitch for Life so good is that its actually pretty bad. The episode starts with Don interviewing Jane Siegel's cousin,Danny, whose applying for a job by using the same slogan over different ads. After celebrating an award-winning ad with drinks, Don is called in by Life to show him his ideas. Life rejects Don's original proposal which forces him to come up with new plans on the spot. Because of his drunken state, Don uses Danny's slogan which Life falls in love with. Don was forced to hire Danny afterwards but the pitch was a great example of his flexibility.
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Cool Whip
Megan and Don's relationship reached a different level when she started getting involved in advertising. The two made for great chemistry and their rehearsed bit for Cool Whip was sure to work on the clients. Unfortunately, Megan would pull out at the last moment forcing Peggy to fill in a role she wasn't ready for.
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Belle Jolie Lipstick
Don came up with the idea for a "Mark Your Man" campaign to sell lipstick to women. The main idea behind his presentation was to give women the feeling of ownership over their significant other. The pitch itself is great but Don's willingness to fight for his idea helps elevate this one.
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Heinz Ketchup
After years of being under Don's mentorship, Peggy was finally able to prove that they belonged on the same level. Peggy left the agency after getting a better offer from the competition and created her own campaign for Heinz Ketchup while Don had his. While the clients weren't too crazy for Don's pitch, they loved Peggy's idea for a giant billboard. This is one of the show's most significant moments as Peggy finally one-upped her former boss.
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Heinz Baked Beans
One of the highlights of Don and Megan's marriage came when the two gave an improvisational pitch at dinner with clients. Upon learning that Heinz is ready to give up on the agency, Don tells a great story about how people have a connection with beans that will last for all time. The presentation really shows how in-sync Megan and Don could be when working together.
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Lucky Strike
Don's pitch to Lucky Strike was the first time viewers beared witness to how great his mind is. He comes up with a way to make cigarettes sound appealing and also explains the nature of advertising to the clients. It serves as a great introduction to the world of persuasive communication.
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Burger Chef
The dynamincs at Sterling Cooper & Partners had changed dramatically by the time the team presented to Burger Chef. Don had just been allowed to return to work but now found himself under Peggy. After learning of a conspiracy to get him fired, Don switches plans at the last minute and tells Peggy to deliver the pitch. It was Peggy's first time presenting in front of Don and her story of a family gathering at the resteraunt would win over the clients. This wasn't only one of Peggy's best pitches but a moment where things came full circle in her relationship with Don.
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Jaguar
As the agency prepared their Jaguar presentation, Joan found herself in a predicament. The agency was in desperate need to sign Jagurar and one of the clients offered to give his approval in exchange for a night with her. After Pete proposed a deal that would ensure a good life for her and her newborn son, Joan reluctantly agreed. Don's presentation revolved around a man's desire to own something beautiful, like a Jaguar. The parallels between Don's speech and the actions of Joan are evident as the scene overlaps to create one of the darker moments in the show's history.
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Hershey
Things were looking up for Don heading into his presentation with Hershey. If everything went according to plan, he'd be on his way to California to work in a new branch of the agency. Shorly after a heartwarming pitch about how Hershey reminds him of his childhood, Don decides to tell the truth about his troubled past. The revelation of his life as an orphan growing up in a whorehouse came as a shock to the clients as well as Don's co-workers. The pitch was excellent but Don's emotional breakdown was unexpected and revealing.
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Kodak Carousel
The first season finale of Mad Men provided one of the show's best and most defining moments. As Don Draper's marriage is slowly falling apart, he comes up with an idea to win over his clients at Kodak. Don decides to present Kodak's "wheel" as a carousel of nostalgia by using early pictures of his wife and kids. The scene is very emotional as Don noticeably longs for things to go back to the way they were before. It's easily his most memorable pitch and re-watching it can take fans back to a different time in the series.