Jon Hamm is totally better than George Clooney

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As much as I think Jon “The Hamm” Hamm is an impossibly beautiful, old-school-style movie star/celebrity/god in the vein of George Clooney circa 2001, I have to admit, the comparisons between Clooney and The Hamm have begun to fall flat. The Hamm has never come across as smarmy, as George often has. Like, George is a gentleman up to a point, but he likes cheap women and he doesn’t seem to put a value on quality relationships with women. Plus, George has that cool, detached, ironic vibe, which The Hamm can do on film, but in interviews, he seems completely different. He’s authentic and sweet and genuine in a way Clooney has never managed.

My mom (who just started watching Mad Men when I gave her my DVDs) and I were talking about just how wonderful an actor The Hamm is – he acts with every pore of his body, his posture, his eyes, the twitch of his mouth. Clooney doesn’t. The Hamm has real relationships with women (one woman in particular, his girlfriend of like 7 years), and he seems to really strive to be not just a great actor, but a good man. Unlike Clooney. Anyway, I was just thinking about how much I liked The Hamm because he’s given a very nice, sweet interview to Parade. Here you go:

Jon Hamm rocketed to fame for his portrayal of the mysterious Don Draper on the critically acclaimed AMC drama Mad Men. The actor has also revealed a talent for comedy, getting major laughs as host of Saturday Night Live and guest star on Tina Fey’s 30 Rock. Now, Hamm is exploring his dark side in the mystery-thriller Stolen.

In the film, Hamm plays a detective trying to solve the mystery of his missing son. The 39-year-old actor admits that, despite playing such serious characters, he wants audiences to know he has a lighter side.

Going through every parent’s worst fear.
“It’s a nightmare. There is that horrible feeling of ‘What happened?’ What this man is going through is, ‘What happened to my son?’ And I hope the audience gets a sense of the urgency and the confusion and the obsession over finding the answer. This man had given his life up essentially to finding out what happened, to the detriment of the relationship with his wife and family and job.”

He never takes his work home with him.
“I don’t’ really have a problem with turning it off. When I’m at work, I’m at work. And when I’m not, I’m not. I had just finished the first season of Mad Men and there were plenty of dark moments in Don’s life, so that’s part of the job.”

Does playing a father on the big and small screen offer a glimpse into parenthood?
“The most insight into parenthood that I’ve ever gotten is watching all of my friends have kids. Playing a role is not remotely like living life. Everything is handled for you and everything is designed and you know how it’s going to happen. Real life is not quite like that as I’m finding with all of my friends who have children. I don’t know when I’ll be ready to have kids, but those are all things that I’m certainly taking into account.”

Will he go for laughs on the big screen?
“I have to wait for people to ask me. I hope so. I’m a big fan of comedy and have been for a long time. I know a lot of people in that world. Ideally, that would be a fun thing to do but it’s not really up to me.”

Finding comedy more of a challenge.
“I think comedy is a tremendous challenge. The alchemy that happens when somebody walks into a room and proceeds to make everybody laugh is mystifying to me. I don’t think I have that gene, but I know a lot of people who do, and I’m consistently amazed by the confidence and skill that it takes to constantly do that. Something that terrifies me is trying to be funny.”

Poking fun at Don Draper on SNL.
“It’s a very serious story and those kinds of stories are, by nature, easy to make fun of. It’s fun to mess around with it. I do think it’s obviously an amazing role and I’m very proud of our show and I’m very proud of the response it’s gotten from the people who enjoy it. I’m not taking anything away from it by making fun of it. But everyone deserves a little good-natured ribbing.”

The biggest misconception about him.
“I think people think that I’m a lot like Don, a dark, brooding kind of person. But the people who know me know that’s definitely not the case!”

What to expect next season on Mad Men.
“I wish I knew! If you hear anything let me know. Matt plays those things very close to the vest. He’s still writing the season so I honestly don’t know. But we certainly have a lot of opportunities to expand the story given where we ended last season, so I’m looking forward to it as much as you are I hope.”

What is it about Don Draper that makes audiences root for him?
“It’s a good question because, on the page, sometimes you think, ‘Why are we rooting for this guy? He’s kind of a douchebag.’ But really he’s just misunderstood. I think what people respond to in Don is that there is a moral center in there and he does have a certain code of ethics that he follows. He’s a rugged individualist in many ways, but he does try to do the right thing. He doesn’t always succeed, but he tries. I think most Americans can identify with some portion of that. I think that’s what resonates.”

[From Parade]

I love Don Draper because he’s one of the most complicated characters on television, or in pop culture today. Seriously, the writing is just beautiful on that show, and all of the characters are so complex and fascinating. But back to The Hamm – he is a gifted comedian, and I would love to see him in a really talky romantic comedy. Something with a really good actress, someone worthy of The Hamm. Would it be too much to hope that he works with Tina Fey again?

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Jon Hamm at the Creative Arts Emmys, the SAGs and the Colden Globes, with his girlfriend. Credit: WENN.

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27 Responses to “Jon Hamm is totally better than George Clooney”

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  1. lady miss E says:

    he is so totes smoking hot. It’s true. I totally heart him.

  2. Gwen says:

    I love him! I’m very exited about the next season of Mad Men. Can’t wait till it’s back.

  3. JulieNewmar says:

    Yesssssssss ! Given the chance, I’d bang his brains out. 😉

  4. Mouse says:

    Damn, he’s smokin’. Since I’m judging his girlfriend solely on her looks, she looks like a plastic bimbo poser. And no, I don’t like her, her frozen face scares me.

  5. meme says:

    The Hamm is ssssssssssssssmoking hot. SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSmokin!

  6. d says:

    Hmmm. He’s handsome, but I’m not too sure about his thin lips. Doesn’t do it for me. But I’ve never seen Mad Men or his bit on 30. So I’ve yet to jump on the bandwagon. Too bad about his girlfriend. She was AWESOME in Kissing Jessica Stein and it looks like she’s done too much stuff to her face…very plastic looking…poor woman.

  7. Chana says:

    I can’t wait for Mad Men either!

    He is so so so hot and gorgeous and yummy.

    I would watch him drinking a bottle of water.

  8. snapdragon says:

    so pretty…

  9. Ally says:

    The other thing that doesn’t make me like his gf is that back when she had the power as writer-director, she gave him a teensy part in her movie “Ira & Abby”. He just plays cameo-level adoring beefcake. Meanwhile, the whole movie is an ode from Westfeldt to herself about how marvelous she is, lines to the effect of which are all given to the other characters to say so she can act all modest and unassuming. Gack.

    Not to mention the whole film is basically “Dharma & Greg: The Movie”.

    I find it hilarious that supposedly she’s now been angling for a Mad Men role, considering she wasn’t that generous in the partner-casting herself back in the day.

    Change of note, I wish they’d cast Jeri Ryan and Stephen Colbert in Mad Men parts. She’s got the pneumatics and perfect face (and she does arch expressiveness perfectly) and he’s got that great 60s coif already. If Roger has that final heart attack, maybe Stephen Colbert can turn up as Roger’s little brother, Timmy Sterling.

  10. meme says:

    i don’t like his GF either. what does he see in her?

  11. meme says:

    Roger CANNOT die on Mad Men. Roger has to get back with Joannie!

  12. Feebee says:

    @ Ally, you don’t like his girlfriend because she gave him a small cameo on a movie few have heard of, ha ha ha ha.

    Clooney who? He’ll always be Clooney but his wattage is dimming. Bring on the new blood.

  13. elina says:

    got.damn.

  14. Gemma says:

    I don’t understand the need to compare Clooney and Hamm. I personally enjoy them both, albeit for different reasons.

  15. Mistral says:

    I like him better with the beard. I don’t know why, but I just think guys with beards are the hottest thing. It seems so hyper-masculine and sexy.

  16. michellllle says:

    Apparently if you criticize Kaiser or her opinion, your comment won’t be posted.

    How utterly pathetic.

  17. Julie says:

    Geez, I wish she would stop doing the poison injections to her face. She’s an attractive woman; she must really be nervous about losing him. Didn’t know she was trying to get on Mad Men. Better to keep a closer eye on him. Can you blame her! He is just amazing.

  18. blinditemreader says:

    Lainey reported that Hamm’s gf’s face was scary in person.

  19. Mentok the Mind Taker says:

    Clooney gets grosser the older he gets.

    I don’t know much about Hamm (because I work at an ad agency — the last thing I want to do is deal with another in my off time), but he seems to have a class, grace, and humility that George can only pretend in character.

    And it doesn’t seem like one would be risking an STD after a wild evening with Hamm.

  20. NicoleAM says:

    I have yet to watch Mad Men, but I’ve seen plenty of pics of “The Hamm” and I agree he is incredibly sexy. I don’t dislike Clooney, but I never really understood all the fuss. Seems a little full of himself.

  21. Dawn says:

    I love “Mad Men” so much. The writing is wonderful. Jon Hamm is hot like fire. Can he hit it? Yes he can!

  22. Kim says:

    NO DUH!! John Hamm is so handsome. George Clooney is soooooo unattractive. I never got the appeal. He looks like Jay Leno (no offense to Jay). There is nothing appealing about Clooney. His looks and personality both suck.

  23. Kim says:

    Gotta give props to Johns wife also. She is pretty and always dresses and acts classy. They are a good match.

  24. Julie says:

    Kim: Sorry to be the one to tell you but Hamm and his gf are not married. They’ve been together for a long time, at least a decade, but never married. She does seem nice but a bit on the clingy side. That with all the botox does not appeal to me. My opinion only, of course.

  25. anna says:

    Hamm and Clooney are both overrated.

  26. *sigh* So beautiful. And articulate and smart.

  27. Detscan says:

    No man will ever compare to George Clooney. He’s the best.