No More Sal?
Fri, January 29, 2010 Bad news for Mad Men fans hoping (or at least assuming) that formerly disgraced art director Sal Romano would be joining the new Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce ad agency next season. TV Guide is reporting that Bryan Batt will not be returning to the series.
Batt, whose character was uncermoniously fired by Don Draper last season after being outed by a client, tells TV Guide he was supposed to hear by December 31 if Sal would be returning to the show. So far he hasn't heard anything.
Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner confirms that Batt will not be back, saying "We don't murder people on our show, but there have to be consequences," calling Sal's departure from Sterling Cooper as "the ultimate case of sexual harrassment."
It certainly seems that way. Despite Don Draper's mounting list of lies and infidelities, we're somehow always willing to forgive him his shortcomings (seriously, is anyone rooting for Betty in the divorce?). But his firing of Sal was one of the ugliest moments in the series. We knew Don was on to Sal's secret, but we weren't expecting him to turn on Sal the way he did.
This is definitely disappointing news. Bryan Batt was terrific in the role, and with the brilliant Sterling Cooper mutiny that ended Season 3, all signs certainly seemed to point to Sal returning as the new agency's art director. Alas, it doesn't seem to be happening. Damn you, 1960s discrimination!
At least Mad Men fans can still look forward to Jon Hamm's second SNL hosting gig this weekend.
Reader Comments (3)
I dug Sal and am going to miss his very complex character but he was fired. I'm glad that they aren't letting characters stick around just to stick around.
He wasn't going to come back as long as their biggest client was with them. Hopefully he shifted into directing and he appears in an episode or two doing commercials.
It makes total sense that he's not coming back, especially considering Weiner's attention to detail of time the show takes place. But it is a shame to lose the character. I'll miss his Broadway show references.