Give Your Valentine a ... 'Hamm-O-Gram'

The winner isn't even real, and Usain Bolt leaves Obama in his dust

(NEWSER) - The most influential man of 2009—at least in the eyes of AskMen.com readers—isn't actually a man. He's a fictional creation, none other than Don Draper of Mad Men. "In a turbulent 2009, men are seeking the stability of tradition in the masculine qualities that they imagine their fathers and grandfathers to have had," explains the editor. Draper, as portrayed by Jon Hamm, "brings all these traits together." The rest of the top 10:

Strategy is to depict him as living in the past: Politico

(NEWSER) - The political story generating the most buzz today seems to be "The Draperizing of Mitt Romney" by Politico . In it, the writers make the case that team Obama is trying to equate Romney with Don Draper of Mad Men, basically "a hopelessly retro figure who, on policy and in his personal life, is living in the past." It notes that David Axelrod joked to CBS that Romney "must watch Mad Men and think it's the evening news," referring to an era in which "bosses could dictate on women's health." More»

Sexy earworm single a sign of their times

(NEWSER) - It's a product campaign worthy of Madison Avenue brains: Introduce a catchy "earworm" song during a popular TV series, then release it as a single. That's what Mad Men is doing with the addictive sexy French ditty everyone is humming: "Zou Bisou Bisou," sung to suave Don Draper by his saucy new wife, Megan, in the series' season premiere. Mad Men production company Lionsgate is releasing actress Jessica Paré's version of the song as a single on iTunes, and as a limited edition vinyl sold through the program's web site , reports the Washington Post. More»

Critics just happy Don Draper is back

(NEWSER) - Critics eager for the return of Mad Men weren't blown away by the first episode of the fifth season—but that doesn't mean the show has lost its magic. What they're saying:

• "I'm glad to have Mad Men back, but 'A Little Kiss' was not a great episode," writes James Poniewozik in Time . "There were moments that seemed tonally off" and "almost sitcom-like," but it's forgivable: With this show, return episodes "take their time and do a lot of table-setting."

Fifth season debuts tomorrow

(NEWSER) - Get ready for the booze-guzzling, nicotine-addicted, super suave sexists to grapple with the '60s again as Mad Men launches its fifth season. Devoted fans waiting 17 long months for the Madison Avenue ad men—and Peggy—to strut again will be rewarded tomorrow with a "brilliant" two-hour debut, and a continuing "precise and articulate" series, writes Jace Lacob in the Daily Beast . The show that began quietly has cultivated a powerful following and sent pop culture spinning backward with malls sprouting '60s suits again, and fans donning "period dress" for time-travel parties, notes the Guardian . More»