We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

In Part Two of Rejecting Mad Men, the series finds a home that can’t find financing. A struggling unknown actor named Jon Hamm auditions for the lead – and goes to the bottom of the list. Christina Hendricks’ agent drops her for accepting the pilot. And Matthew Weiner writes a whole new story.

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According to Rolling Stone, Mad Men is the fourth-greatest television show of all time – bested only by Breaking Bad, The Wire and The Sopranos. But before Sterling Cooper ever opened its doors, Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner was rejected by every major network. Including HBO, FX and Showtime. Weiner was told no one would watch a series about advertising, that his main character was an unlikable smoker slash philanderer and that viewers hated period pieces. Mad Men gathered rejections, then dust. Then Weiner's agent got a phone call from a basic cable movie channel.

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This week, we thought we’d do something a little different.

The Apostrophe Podcast Network has several shows on its roster. And if you aren’t already a listener, we’d like to introduce you to our flagship series Under The Influence with Terry O’Reilly.

Under The Influence gives listeners a rare backstage pass into the hallways, boardrooms and recording studios of the advertising industry. Host and career adman Terry O’Reilly tells fascinating and funny stories that connect the dots between pop culture, marketing and human nature.

Today we present to you one of the series' most listened-to episodes called “One Toke Over The Line: 50-Year Marketing Milestones.” In this episode, Terry talks about companies and products that just celebrated their 50th birthdays. Best-sellers in the '70s, best-sellers today. A remarkable feat.

And if you’d like to hear more, Under The Influence has 11 archived seasons ready to binge. Enjoy.

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Kentucky Fried Chicken is the most popular chicken chain of all time, with 25,000 locations in 145 countries. But before the world first tasted Colonel Sanders’ secret recipe of 11 different herbs and spices, the Colonel was broke. At 65. Driving around the South pitching his recipe to restaurant owners and weathering over 1000 rejections. Then he got some truly unbelievable news.

Major show notes for this episode can be found on our website here.

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When RENT premiered in 1996, it became a runaway smash hit. The venue sold out for months on end, lines stretched around the block, "Rentheads" pitched tents in order to secure rush tickets, celebrities were photographed under the marquee. But, what many people didn’t know was that over the previous 15 years, writer and composer Jonathan Larson faced nothing but rejection. He wrote several plays that never saw the light of day, told his work was unfocused or too ambitious. Then a number of Larson’s friends were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

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Chrissy Metz is Kate Pearson. No, really. When the script for This Is Us crossed her desk, she couldn’t believe the similarities. Naturally, she was cast and the series became a runaway smash hit - catapulting Metz to stardom and an Emmy nomination. But before landing the role, Metz was an agent in Hollywood watching her clients land part after part while she struggled to make rent. She was rejected for auditions based on her body type, unless, of course, her body type was the butt of the joke. Then she heard about open auditions for American Idol.

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You voted, we posted. We asked you, our listeners, which episode you think new WRTIY listeners should hear first. And, we have to say, we fully stand by your choice. For our mid-season encore episode, we bring you the story of the incomparable Amanda Gorman:

Overnight, Amanda Gorman became a household name. She is the youngest inaugural poet in American history, a National Youth Poet Laureate and a New York Times best-selling author. But before her Instagram following jumped from 3000 to 3,000,000, Gorman faced rejection and struggled with a debilitating speech impediment. Join us this week as we tell her inspiring story, from bullies and skeptics to Capitol Hill.

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Rolling Stone named South Park one of the greatest television shows of all time. The animated series has earned four Emmys and a cult-following, catapulting its creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, to billionaire status. But 25 years ago, South Park was rejected. Told by executives it was too crude, too controversial and no adult would ever watch a TV show about children. Then Comedy Central called.

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Misty Copeland made history as the first Black female principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. But along her incredible journey to the front of the stage, Copeland was told she had the wrong body for ballet. That she was too curvy, too short, too old, that her skin colour ruined the “aesthetic." Join us this week as we tell Copeland’s story — from sleeping on the floor of a motel room to becoming one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People.

Major show notes for this episode can be found on our website here.

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We don’t regret to inform you – you can now listen ad-free! Plus bonus episodes, chats with Sidney, Terry, Allison & more. Subscribe here.

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In Part Two of Rejecting Rocky Bleier, Bleier visits his old coach at Notre Dame who gives him some upsetting news. The Steelers have a changing of the guard. And the team that drafted Bleier for his heart, gets to see it in action.

Major show notes for this episode can be found on our website here.

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We don’t regret to inform you – you can now listen ad-free! Plus bonus episodes, chats with Sidney, Terry, Allison & more. Subscribe here.

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