It seems fitting that a show about advertising would end its season with everyone involved trying to sell an image of themselves -- as family man, as young go-getter, whatever -- that didn't quite jibe with reality.

That headline, by the way, is no mere kiss-off. It's the central question posed by Bert Cooper in Thursday's Mad Men, the penultimate episode of the season -- and one of the best hours of TV I've seen recently.

A few brief thoughts on Mad Men -- another solid episode Thursday -- and I'll open the floor up to you.

Premiere week has brought us a lot of big, loud, frenetic dramas, which is fine. But what a pleasure to slip back into the more contemplative world of Mad Men for an hour.