Jumping Off Points For #MadMen Fan Fiction
I am a huge fan of the show, Mad Men. I have been watching since the beginning. My friends and I have had Mad Man theme parties. One of the coolest thrills for me as a MadMen fangirl was when I met actor and writer Danny Strong who played Jane Siegel’s cousin. To celebrate “the end of a era” I came up with my fast forwards for some of the characters of Mad Men. I doubt Matt Weiner will do a spinoff, but I will miss all of these characters. Writing #MadMen fan fiction is the next logical step for me. It did wonders for E.L. James’ career.
Don Draper moves to San Francisco. Reverts to his own name Dick Whitman. Dick comes out as bisexual. He only survives the AIDS epidemic because he became celibate for a few years in the 80s. His sex addiction was ruining his life. He never went back to McCann. He first got an in-house position at Levi’s, and then moved on The Gap. He got into swimming again. Dick started competing in triathlons and later in life adopted a paleo lifestyle. He prefers tantric sex.
Sally Draper tries to help her brothers throughout the years, but eventually realizes they have to help themselves. Sally becomes a licensed therapist and she writes a bestselling book about how divorce affects children. She is a frequent guest on talk shows.
Joan will parlay Holloway Harris, a industrial film production company into a senior role. Sony makes her an offer she can’t refuse. She’s finally paid a ridiculous amount of money with stock options. She’s on the board of a women in film and tv organization. She will not marry again, but will have a long-term boyfriend who is like a Steadman to her Oprah.
Bobby and Gene will have a hard go. Bobby Draper acts out to get attention. Never finishes college. Reaches out to former stepmom Megan Calvet. Takes acting classes. Becomes a member of The Groundlings . Cocaine addiction thwarts SNL audition, but he eventually becomes a decent road comic.
Initially, Gene Draper does all the right things. Graduates college. Gets good job. Marries and has kids. Develops drinking problem. Has unresolved anger issues and abuses wife.
Pete and Trudy Campbell agree to have an open marriage, while keeping a public persona as the perfect couple. Trudy sits on several nonprofit boards. Pete has a special closet just for all his toupees.
Ted Chaough never gets over the heartbreak of losing Peggy. He commits suicide on 4th of July, the night of the 1976 bicentennial celebration. Figures no one will hear the gunshot over the din of fireworks. Body found two day later.
Harry Crane gets into politics. Become a Goldwater Republican. One of his extramarital affairs lands him on the cover of the National Enquirer.
Peggy Olson Rizzo moves up the ranks of McCann and her salary is high enough that Stan leaves McCann to stay home and take care of the kids. They have two daughters. Stan has an artist studio in Tribeca. In 1980, Peggy found the son she gave up for adoption. He lives with a family in New Jersey.
Dawn Chambers was always a member of the Harlem NAACP, and got involved with community organizing. She met Shirley Chisholm and worked on her presidential campaign. Dawn becomes a political strategist.
Shirley leaves the world advertising. Marries and gets boring office job. She and her husband started going to comedy clubs for fun. Her husband dares her to do an open mic. Shirley’s sense of humor paves the way for her to be a successful black female comedian. Her trademark catchphrase “Bless her lily-white heart” is inspired by that time Peggy thought those Valentine’s Day roses were for her.
Originally published at storify.com.
