Emmy Spotlight: 'Mad' Man Slattery Is One Happy First-Timer
John Slattery's up for an Emmy for his role as Roger Sterling in "Mad Men."
Sept. 12, 2008 — -- First-time Emmy nominee John Slattery plays ad agency partner Roger Sterling in the drama Mad Men. The supporting character is lead Don Draper's boss and bad-behavior cohort. Slattery shares insights with USA TODAY about his role, the nomination and the reactions.
Q: What does it mean to be nominated for an Emmy 20 years into your career?
A: I read somewhere that there are two kinds of people: those who have the best things happen to them in the first half of their lives, or the last half of their lives, and which would you rather be? I suppose I'd rather be the one who has this happening 20 years in than in the beginning and then have nothing going on 20 years later. I feel like I've been in a 20-year apprenticeship.
Q: Are you sick of the congratulating yet?
A: So sick of it, I wish you'd stop.
Q:How did you celebrate when you heard the news?
A: I went surfing.
Q: Sounds like you're turning into a true Californian.
A: Actually, I started surfing in Long Island in Montauk a long time ago.
Q: What was the reaction from your wife (actress Talia Balsam, who plays his wife, Mona, on "Mad Men?"
A: I called her (from the beach) and she was happy. She said, "I knew it was going to happen," and went back to sleep.
Q: Let's dip into the hypothetical. Is there a spot picked out for the statue?
A: Oh, my God. We just moved into an apartment in Soho, so nothing has a home. Everything is movable. Who knows? I'll give it to the doorman — he can put it in the lobby.
Q: Did you know when you initially got this script what it would become? (The series is up for 16 Emmys, the most of any show.)
A: No, you condition yourself not to think that way. In the beginning you think, "Oh, man, if I just get that one part it will change everything." And then you get that one part and it doesn't change anything. There are a lot of humbling moments in this business.
Q: Is there a feeling of camaraderie between you and Jon Hamm? (Hamm, who plays Draper, also is a nominee.)
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