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If you ask anyone to name their favorite TV show from the golden era of television,Breaking Badwould probably be at the top of the list for many. From Walter White’s dramatic transformation to the unforgettable Jesse Pinkman, it was a show that tempted audiences in a way few others did.
But there was one man who, despite all the love forBreaking Bad,simply couldn’t bring himself to give it the same kind of devotion.
Instead, it was a different show that left him hooked—Mad Men. And when it came toMad Men, Lynch didn’t just admire it from afar. He lived in its world, to the point where he refused to address the actors by their real names. For Lynch, Peggy and Don weren’t just characters—they were the only versions of Elisabeth Moss and Jon Hamm.
Mad Men: Why David Lynch couldn’t call the stars by their real names
David Lynch, the mind behind dark and surreal classics likeBlue VelvetandMulholland Drive, was no stranger to bending reality. But whenMad Mencame along, it wasn’t just another show to him. It became a universe he couldn’t escape from.
David Lynch’s Most Bizarre Movie Will Never Happen: Netflix Rejected Late Director’s Animated Project He Desperately Wanted to Make
The AMC drama, set in the competitive advertising world of the 1960s, became something of an obsession for Lynch. The writing, the characters, the atmosphere—all of it spoke to his love for intricate, complex storytelling. Yet it wasn’t just about the show’s high-caliber production. It was the depth of the characters, especially Peggy Olsen and Don Draper, that truly captured his imagination.
So much so, that when Lynch finally met the actors behind these iconic roles, he couldn’t bear to call them anything but their character names.
When Lynch met Elisabeth Moss (Peggy) andJon Hamm(Don) at a party in Cologne, Germany, he addressed them exactly as he would their characters. Lynch confessed (viaVulture):
They’re great characters and whoever cast that show did a sensational job. It’s great writing, great atmosphere. That’s who they are to me. I called Peggy, ‘Peggy.’
This wasn’t some one-time quirk; it was Lynch’s way of expressing just how deeply connected he was toMad Men’s world. The reality of the actors behind the roles seemed irrelevant to him.
Elisabeth Moss reflects on David Lynch’s obsession with calling her ‘Peggy’
ForElisabeth Moss, it wasn’t a problem. She didn’t mind that David Lynch referred to her as “Peggy” at all. In fact, she embraced it. She later recounted the encounter during an appearance onJimmy Kimmel Live!(via Vulture):
From the very beginning of the drinks, he called us by our character names, Don and Peggy. It kept going and we went with it.
And just to drive the point home, Lynch sent Moss an email afterward, signed with the words:
He wrote ‘Dear Peggy’ and finished it with ‘Give my love to Don’.
WhileBreaking Badmight have stolen the spotlight with unforgettable characters like Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, it wasMad Menthat truly won Lynch’s heart.
David Lynch’s Response at Being Compared to Steven Spielberg Before ‘Dune’ 1984 Release Proves He Already Knew a Harsh Truth
Was it the complex personalities, the meticulously crafted storylines, or simply the atmosphere of a time gone by? Whatever it was, it wasn’tBreaking Badthat earned Lynch’s obsessive devotion—it was the world ofMad Menthat made him forget the distinction between the actors and their roles.
Alas, the four-time Oscar-nominated filmmakerknown for his groundbreaking works suchasBlue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead,andThe Elephant Man,passed away on Wednesday at the age of 78.
Mad Mencan be rented on Apple TV.
Breaking Badis currently streaming on Netflix.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
