Amidst one of winter’s heaviest rainfalls I walked steadily down Brattle Street in Harvard Square. The chilly night air created a fog that shrouded buildings and played with street lamps. It was Friday, Jan. 31, and I was headed for Hasty Pudding’s Man of the Year festivities, honoring its 2025 recipient actor Jon Hamm, who is known for his roles in “Mad Men, “Fargo,” “The Morning Show,” and most recently “Landman” and “Your Friends and Neighbors.”
With a sighted guide at my elbow, Becky held her umbrella as she escorted me with careful navigation, careening around puddles and keeping us upright on Cambridge’s slick brick sidewalks. “It was worth it!” was all I could say as we raced up the steps of Farkas Hall along with other journalists and technicians. Echoes of distant clanging of equipment, chatter and greetings filled the lobby of the famous theater.
Nina and Becky Roihl, photo by Becky Roihl
The Hasty Pudding Club was established in 1795, with its first show staged in 1844. It has continued for 176 productions, interrupted for only five years by two World Wars and the COVID pandemic.
Listed as the oldest theatrical organization in the U.S., Hasty Pudding Theatricals has called 12 Holyoke St. home since 1888. In 1967, Hasty Pudding kicked off its Man of Year award, presenting a Pudding Pot to such notables as Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, Harrison Ford, with Barry Keoghan capturing last year’s Pudding Pot.
After hiking up three more flights of stairs, we sat in the media room where we watched Hamm get roasted by the Hasty Pudding.
With a packed room, the 6-foot-2 actor stepped inside for the press conference amid the click of cameras. While he was described to me as “so gorgeous, so handsome” it was his presence accompanied by his humor that I first noticed.
When the applause slowed, the hands popped up vying for an opportunity to ask their question.
“Should I raise two hands?” I whispered to Becky, who sat next to me on the side of my cochlear implant ear so I could hear her.
“Just one hand,” she whispered back.
Despite the fact I didn’t get my question answered, I was there to witness Jon Hamm receive and kiss the coveted Pudding Pot. I’d give this event a high five. It was entertaining with cordial camaraderie among the media that filled the theater and clearly the actor enjoyed it as much as we did. They didn’t miss a beat, nor did I!
Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year began in 1951. Debbie Reynolds, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Lucille Ball and countless others received their Pudding Pot following the roast. This year, “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo will receive her Pudding Pot on Feb. 5.
