Question 
 
Wondering if Mad Men is a vehicle for cigarette marketers to skirt rules prohibiting TV commercials?  
 
Interesting theory, but if it were then Marlboro would have won the bidding war, not Lucky Strike.   

Yeah intriguing theory but I doubt it. There is Alot of smoking but actually, relatively very little specific (brand) product placement. It might even have the opposite effect that the OP is suggesting, given the contrasts with how smoking is generally viewed/depicted today. And considering the era depicted and how prevalent smoking was back then. Some scenes even seem morbidly laughable given the health problems we now know about. -anonAlph 72.151.121.170