Product Placement in Shows

Clareman · 07-03-2012 09:35AM #1

I think I may have taken the Hawaii-50 thread off on a tangent about product placement

so I thought it would be a better option to start a new thread about some of the worst examples of it in shows.

Some recently shocking examples have been the Subway ad on 50 as well as all the Microsoft product placement on How I Met Your Mother.

Anyone have any others? Feel free to add youtube links of course

squonk · 07-03-2012 10:17AM

Not show specific but a lot of shows use Apple laptops without the logos disguised. OK, Apple are very showey with their logo and it's not beyond the bounds of reason to expect the characters might be using a Mac through choice, though they do get credit space on some shows. At least the MacBooks are real products. Microsoft though, not to be outdone, have their own product placement on laptops, showing them with a Windows logo where the Apple logo usually is. I've never seen an actual MS Windows branded laptop! They're usually black laptops too to emphasise the four squares of the Windows logo. It just strikes me as a bit sad really. They're a software company in the main. At least Apple does produce it's own hardware.

Newaglish · 07-03-2012 11:29AM

The Big Bang Theory had a really weird sequence where one of the characters is playing Red Dead Redemption and the camera actually pans to show what he is doing in-game while they talk about it.

I don't mind subtle product placement like people using certain phones or driving particular cars but when this impacts on either camera shots (zooming in or focusing unnecessarily on a particular products) or on dialogue (where the characters talk about or mention the product unnecessarily) it really irks me. The above example has a bit of both.

kitakyushu · 07-03-2012 12:02PM

Product placement is bad enough but product scripting (or whatever it's called) is just a step too far.

I was watching a show called Numbers (or Numb3rs) recently. I'd heard of it but had never seen it before. Judd Hirsch comes on screen and it had just started so I thought I might watch this for a minute and see what it's like.

Judd Hirsch tells the other guy that he's just started a 'well known social media network'* account to keep in touch with his old college friends. The other guy starts rattling off reasons why this 'well known social media network' is so great and that even older people can get something out of it. Judd says he'll check it out and generally agrees that it might end up being a good experience.

This conversation went on for a good 15 to 20 seconds. It was was as blatant as you like! I generally don't mind product placement in episodes (eg items in shot etc) but when it starts spilling into the conversation I think enough is enough. Net result was I turned off Numb3rs and won't be watching it again or opening an account on this 'well known social media network'. So I'd call that a loss for the producers in this occasion.

Of course here's the classic example....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGtig5DiTxc

* = they of course said the name. I won't, but of course I'm sure you know the one I'm talking about.

Clareman · 07-03-2012 12:08PM

The Big Bang Theory always has Alienware laptops on show as well, they tend to go between all the major consoles, that doesn't bother me too much cause they are geeks, but now that you mention it that will annoy me.

mrkite77 · 07-03-2012 07:40PM

Been going on for years. Here's the famous clip from Wayne's World (1992) making fun of product placement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAjXYfTtGas

downwithpeace · 07-03-2012 08:52PM

Happens on Fringe as well, Ford cars and Sprint phones.

Minstrel27 · 07-03-2012 10:38PM

The recent 30 Rock IKEA episode. IKEA must have paid an absolute fortune for it.

Venom · 08-03-2012 12:09AM

Newaglish wrote: »

The Big Bang Theory had a really weird sequence where one of the characters is playing Red Dead Redemption and the camera actually pans to show what he is doing in-game while they talk about it.

I don't mind subtle product placement like people using certain phones or driving particular cars but when this impacts on either camera shots (zooming in or focusing unnecessarily on a particular products) or on dialogue (where the characters talk about or mention the product unnecessarily) it really irks me. The above example has a bit of both.

TBBT kinda has to use real games, comics, toys and other stuff of that ilk or the show would just feel wrong and its not like they only use one manufacturers product all the time as with alot of the other shows.

The problem is with shows like Hawaii-50 is that the product placement is just so in your face it takes you out of the show. The infamious subway advertisment that went on for the best part of 2 minutes was a disgrace not to mention all the other crap like "bing it", the dude from Heroes yapping on about how great his new car was, the full screen shots of phones or the long vehicle shots showing off the badge :rolleyes:

Hell there was even one episode where the two leads were chasing a waitress's car which was a 2011 Camero. Like the viewer is ment to believe a waitress in a kip of a diner who is down on her luck is driving a new $60k car.

08-03-2012 12:43AM

I don't mind product placement when it's done well but far too many films and tv shows go overboard. The numerous shots of the Apple logo and that damned shot of the printer in Fincher's Dragon Tattoo adaptation annoyed the hell out of me. I get that a Mac can look nice but I don't need three dozen sweeping shots of them.

Hawaii 5-0 is one of the worst for it, I was kind of enjoying the show for the dopey, throw away trash that it was. Not somethign I would go out of my way to watch but if it came on I could happily kill 42 minutes. That was until I saw this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfHuZ5qrYX4

Haven't watched it since.

A new trend is Seamless Brand Integration which allows companies to place ads for upcoming products into old episodes of television. It's used a lot in reruns of How I Met Your Mother. Watch as a poster for Bad Teacher is poorly added to an episode of HIMYM from 5 years previously. They added in both the poster and the device that holds it, in another scene an ad for Bad Teacher can be seen on a TV in the background.

TwoShedsJackson · 08-03-2012 07:46AM

Fringe has had a couple of comical placements for the Nissan Leaf. A few episodes back Olivia and Peter decide to abandon their usual monster black SUV and drive an electric eco-car to their destination - cue a couple of lines concerning the distance to the destination and 'oh it's ok we have plenty of range to get there'.

At least Anna Torv and Joshua Jackson had the grace to look embarassed during the scene

and if it helps keep Fringe on the air and get a 5th season they can put such a scene in every episode as far as I'm concerned.

That Bing one in Hawaii 5-0 is pretty terrible but the Subway one has to be the worst:

FreudianSlippers · 08-03-2012 08:27AM

Chuck and Subway was the best. They were so blatant about it that it worked on a comedy show. Plus, everyone knew that Subway saved Chuck from cancellation twice.

squonk · 08-03-2012 10:13AM

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

Chuck and Subway was the best. They were so blatant about it that it worked on a comedy show. Plus, everyone knew that Subway saved Chuck from cancellation twice.

did they? I didn't know that!

White Collar did inserts for the Ford Taurus and some other new Ford in Season 1 & 2 respectively. It was kind of annoying but WC is a fun enough show to get away with it, plus I was thinking that I do really enjoy the show and it's on a smaller network and needs to be paid for so if Ford are ponying up cash to keep the show going, then that's good.

House did a small spot of placement for the Ford Explorer this season. It was just bloody awful. Parks and Adams totally broke from the script to talk about some bend handling feature on the car. It was so poor because House is a fairly serious show and you don't expect anything that blatant.

08-03-2012 11:01AM

I think most of the product placements in 30 Rock were done without the company being aware - I know that was the case with McDonalds and the episode where they're trying to find a McFlurry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aniS3HaLwEY

Newaglish · 08-03-2012 11:06AM

Venom wrote: »

TBBT kinda has to use real games, comics, toys and other stuff of that ilk or the show would just feel wrong and its not like they only use one manufacturers product all the time as with alot of the other shows.

Yes and that's normally fine and generally you'll find they don't get paid for subtle things that are necessary for the scene. The Red Dead Redemption scene however was so awkwardly shoehorned in though - they actually switched the camera angle to show footage from the game.

Goolay · 08-03-2012 11:38AM

I believe 30 Rock has an ongoing deal with Apple also. Think you'll find most characters use iPhones and Macs. Not sure if it's every episode but think there's a credit that says "promotional consideration provided by Apple"

08-03-2012 11:47AM

The short lived but rather excellent Trust Me did product placement amazing well. Each episode was sponsored by a different company and as the show followed ad men the product placement was implemented by them designing ad campaigns for real life products. Was simple but genius. It never felt blatant or in your face and added a extra hint of realism to the show.

Hyzepher · 09-03-2012 01:16PM

The reality is that these days product placement is essential for shows to be viable. In the US traditional ad breaks are becoming redundant as people TiVo a lot of shows.

Prime time producers have already stated that in show placement will grows beyond traditional ad breaks as thats the way the market is going.

Now the nature of the in show placement is anothe thing - some shows are more subtle than others but either way their existence is only going to get larger

Clareman · 09-03-2012 04:09PM

Sky weren't able to show some of the American Football highlight shows cause of the amount of product placement ads during American sports shows, although that can be very bad, between the Sprint Half Time Show or the AOL Play of the Day or stuff like that it can be very off putting. I find some of the banner ads on shows, especially on CW shows can be very off putting.

Gran Hermano · 09-03-2012 06:21PM

The new and shiny Hyundai sure stands out in the the otherwise grimy post apocalypse Walking Dead.

baalthor · 09-03-2012 06:39PM

The winner must be Fair City with its Spar shop.

ArmaniJeanss · 09-03-2012 09:46PM

Lost had a crazy amount of advertising for Dharma.
At one stage every product in the fridge and cupboards in the hatch was from this company.

FreudianSlippers · 10-03-2012 10:26AM

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Lost had a crazy amount of advertising for Dharma.
At one stage every product in the fridge and cupboards in the hatch was from this company.

Ba dum tsh

iguana · 10-03-2012 05:22PM

Canadian show Being Erica had one of the worst product placements ever. The entire cold opening for one episode was an advert for the latest Ford Focus.

The opening starts at 50 seconds and there are a few heavy handed 'what a great car' moments, then at 1.50 it gets really special.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT1xpTDbR8o

McSpud · 14-03-2012 12:29AM

Gran Hermano wrote: »

The new and shiny Hyundai sure stands out in the the otherwise grimy post apocalypse Walking Dead.

Leverage is fairly blatant about their placement of that car brand too. Lingering on the badge for no apparent reason.

Newaglish · 14-03-2012 10:01AM

Car advertising tends to be the worst. I was watching The Amazing Race the other day and one of the challenges was to "Park your Ford Focus using its innovative Park Assist feature" and then it showed everyone using it and talking about how convenient it was.

Don't get me started on the Apprentice.

FreudianSlippers · 14-03-2012 01:07PM

Newaglish wrote: »

Car advertising tends to be the worst. I was watching The Amazing Race the other day and one of the challenges was to "Park your Ford Focus using its innovative Park Assist feature" and then it showed everyone using it and talking about how convenient it was.

Don't get me started on the Apprentice.

Top Chef does this too with Toyota, it was especially bad this season where they had to drive a few times around Texas.

Boom_Bap · 14-03-2012 04:14PM

That Subway thing in Hawaii 5-0 is far more than product placement. It's an advertisement within the show.

I got pretty annoyed with Californication S5, the first couple of episodes are all about apple product placement. But it seems to have disappeared now thank bejaysus.
There are some shows where people just happen to be using apple products, which is OK. But when the camera zooms in and the products distinctive noise is audible, that annoys the crap outta me. Like with TBBT, it's subtle enough, they are nerds with the latest gizmo's.

If any of you have kids that watch iCarly....or if any of you just happen to watch iCarly on Nickelodeon, all thier computers have a pear as thier logo.

pleasant Co. · 14-03-2012 05:03PM

Newaglish wrote: »

Car advertising tends to be the worst. I was watching The Amazing Race the other day and one of the challenges was to "Park your Ford Focus using its innovative Park Assist feature" and then it showed everyone using it and talking about how convenient it was.

Don't get me started on the Apprentice.

I am shocked [hyperbole], you mention the Amazing Race in a product placement thread but don't mention the Travelocity Gnome, every episode without fail.

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kitakyushu · 30-04-2012 01:58PM

Law and Order SVU.

New character in this show this season and my does he love Skype! His wife is in Afghanistan and he's on his ipad (tm) as often as he can for a chat with the big Skype logo in the top fright of frame for a good 60 seconds a throw.

Even guest characters love skyping their relatives on the show and having pointless conversations with them.

Miguel_Sanchez · 30-04-2012 04:34PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz5acPAKLZo

Product Placement in Shows

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