Agencies on the Tube

Last month, we told you about our favorite new TV show “Mad Men.”

The series, on the cable network AMC Thursday nights at 10 p.m., deals with a fictional Madison Avenue agency in 1960 (see opinion article on page 18).

But it's not the first TV show to use the advertising industry as a backdrop. Others include:

• “Bewitched” (1964-1972, ABC): Samantha's husband, Darrin Stephens, worked for the agency McMann & Tate. He and his slimy boss Larry Tate often had to come up with new campaigns to impress difficult clients.

• “Bosom Buddies” (1980-1982, ABC): This show served as a launch pad for Tom Hanks' film career. His character Kip Wilson and buddy Henry Desmond were junior ad-men at the Livingston Gentry and Mishkin Advertising Agency. Kip is a graphic artist, while Henry is a copy writer. In the second season opener, Kip, Henry and the receptionist Amy leave Livingston, Gentry & Mishkin to start their own advertising firm, Sixty Seconds Street.

• “thirtysomething” (1987-1991, ABC): Main characters Michael Steadman and Elliot Weston initially worked for their own Philadelphia agency. But financial pressures forced them to stop being their own bosses, and they joined major firm DAA, whose memorable managing partner was Miles Drentell. Miles' lack of ethics propels Michael into periods of self-reflection and depression, particularly when he is forced to fire Elliot.

• “Once and Again” (1999-2002, ABC): David Clennon reprised the Miles Drentell character for this series, created by Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, the same team behind “thirtysomething.” But this time Miles was a difficult client (instead of a difficult boss) of the architecture firm owned by one of the lead characters.

• “Melrose Place” (1992-1999, Fox): Lead characters Amanda and Alison work at Los Angeles agency D&D. By the sixth season, Amanda (Heather Locklear) created her own agency.

Readers, please let us know if we missed any.