Blatant product placement in TV/ movies...

[starrzone]

I know that product placement has been around for ages, but I've noticed that it's really getting rediculous lately! I like watching the show "The Biggest Loser", and in every episode they plug something from one of their sponsors in a very obvious way. For example, in last week's episode Bob (one of the trainers) came up to a contestant and asked her what she was making for lunch. The conversation went something like this:

"I'm making whole-wheat spaghetti with sauce and veggies"

Bob: "That seems like a lot of food for one day"

"Oh, I'm preparing enough for a few days so I don't have to spend time cooking"

Bob: "Well, if you want to store food, these ZIPLOCK FREEZER BAGS are perfect for storing food...blah blah blah..."

Geeze! Just had to vent I've noticed that this show in particular is very bad for this sort of thing.

 

[Magic Mom]

I thought the same thing when he was plugging the Fiber One cereal.

"I really want you to step it up, so for breakfast I want you to start eating this.....Fiber One. (Holds up box to the camera) It has 57% of your daily fiber."

 

[Toad_Passenger]

The Biggest Loser is one of the "biggest" offenders when it comes to product placement. From gum to freezer bags, they are hawking something every week. The worst part is, it still doesn't stop NBC from extending the show to 2 hours with 5 minute long ad-breaks every 10 minutes!

We DVR the show every week, because it's absolutely unwatchable in "real-time"

 

[BunsenH]

IMO, that is what killed "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy".

"I put the Panasonic flat screen TV over there......."

 

[golfgal]

It's called advertising. Companies pay big bucks to do that. Personally I would rather have product placement then commercials every 5 minutes.

 

[Magic Mom]

It's called advertising. Companies pay big bucks to do that. Personally I would rather have product placement then commercials every 5 minutes.

I think we all know it's called advertising. But on Biggest Loser it doesn't cut down on the commercials at all. Plus they are so cheesy about it. Bob is a lousy actor.

 

[momrek06]

Its the DVR age, people!

No one is watching commericals anymore ... everyone is taping their shows and fast-forwarding through all those millions of commercials. Sooooo, now, companies want to do what is called "product placement" so that IF you miss their commericals of the product, you will see the product IN THE SHOW you are viewing.

Recently, a DISer posted a thread about a commerical with a little girl and some fish fillets ... she wanted to know whether other DISer's thought the little girl was a brat ... well I would have NO idea as I never watch commericals EVER. I had to watch her video link to see the commerical she was speaking of.

 

[NY Disney fan]

The spanish soap operas on the spanish channels are the absolute worst about product placement. The enlgish shows have NOTHING on the novelas. In the spanish soaps they will write the plot around the product!! In one soap, the guy (who played a lawyer) was on the phone saying (in spanish) "Yes, please call me about my State Farm insurance." and then hangs up.

In another scene, the woman will reach for the Dawn Dishwashing soap and the camera will do a close-up (to the extreme) and stay on it a few seconds, before going to the next scene.

Its embarrassing.

 

[Piecey]

DH and I bought the complete set of Friends and started watching a few episodes every night before bed. It didn't take long to notice that Chandler, for a few seaons, was constantly drinking Yoohoo. It cracked us up. It was never mentioned but the bottle was already turned so you could see the logo.
It worked, too! DH really wanted one after that. lol.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Well, ET and Reese's Pieces did a great job for each other.

But I agree, it is getting silly. What is even sillier is when they cover the products that are NOT being paid to be advertised. Next time you are watching Two and a Half Men, look at the Coke cans. They are in Coca-Cola script, but they say Cola-Cola or some such nonsense.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

For me, the worst offender was Make it or Break it, if anyone watched it (about teenage gymnasts). There was one episode where one of the mom's got a new Kia, and a whole spiel about how affordable it was and how glad they were that they now felt proud of their car and 'fitted in' at the fancy gym! It was awful - the actors looked mortified!

 

[agnes!]

Well, ET and Reese's Pieces did a great job for each other.

But I agree, it is getting silly. What is even sillier is when they cover the products that are NOT being paid to be advertised. Next time you are watching Two and a Half Men, look at the Coke cans. They are in Coca-Cola script, but they say Cola-Cola or some such nonsense.

And I heard that Mars lost out because those were supposed to be M&Ms (instead of the Hershey Reese's Pieces).

agnes!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think we all know it's called advertising. But on Biggest Loser it doesn't cut down on the commercials at all. Plus they are so cheesy about it. Bob is a lousy actor.

Yea, like when he held Victoria back yesterday. I thought oh what is he going to say and then snap it is a commercial. Then I fast forward.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The spanish soap operas on the spanish channels are the absolute worst about product placement. The enlgish shows have NOTHING on the novelas. In the spanish soaps they will write the plot around the product!! In one soap, the guy (who played a lawyer) was on the phone saying (in spanish) "Yes, please call me about my State Farm insurance." and then hangs up.

In another scene, the woman will reach for the Dawn Dishwashing soap and the camera will do a close-up (to the extreme) and stay on it a few seconds, before going to the next scene.

Its embarrassing.

It is like the Truman SHOW! (Movie with Jim Carey)

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I thought I was the only one who found that corny acting offensive. I always think Bob or Jillian(although it is usually Bob)is really going to give me a tip to help keep me on track with my diet. The worst one was the gum. We ALL know gum is the worst thing you can use when you are on a diet. It fills you with gas and makes you MORE hungry because chewing signals your stomach that food is on the way and then NOTHING shows up! That one was IMHO pure trash and bad advice to boot! I don't know about the nutritionals on Fiber ONe cereal but I can tell you the Fiber ONE bars are not great for you either, they have saturated fat which I know is NOT good for you.

 

[SaraJayne]

Its the DVR age, people!

No one is watching commericals anymore ... everyone is taping their shows and fast-forwarding through all those millions of commercials. Sooooo, now, companies want to do what is called "product placement" so that IF you miss their commericals of the product, you will see the product IN THE SHOW you are viewing.

Recently, a DISer posted a thread about a commerical with a little girl and some fish fillets ... she wanted to know whether other DISer's thought the little girl was a brat ... well I would have NO idea as I never watch commericals EVER. I had to watch her video link to see the commerical she was speaking of.

Not everyone owns a DVR.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Chuck actually does this well, they manage to integrate their Subway references into the plot in ways that show they're half making fun of the stupid product placement themselves.

The worst offender that I actually watch is America's Next Top Model. Ugh.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't know about the nutritionals on Fiber ONe cereal but I can tell you the Fiber ONE bars are not great for you either, they have saturated fat which I know is NOT good for you.

Seems fine until you get to the aspartame part. I used to eat it in college until I realized what it was sweetened with...stopped eating it after that, as I have no interest in artificial sweeteners.

 

[momrek06]

Not everyone owns a DVR.

I am posting why I FEEL there is so much product placement on TV shows.

 

[Robinrs]

I am posting why I FEEL there is so much product placement on TV shows.

You're absolutely correct!

I've worked in broadcast advertising in 30 years. The business has changed phenomenally due to the DVR. Advertisers know this and have to find the most lucrative way to get their product out, without it being fast forwarded.

When I worked at Turner I saw this up close. They product placements also were adjacent to a 30 sec spot. Either way they got their advertisement across.

The Apprentice and American Idol make millions with product placement, too. It works like a charm, also.

Now I place ads in local news, which, like some sports are more likely to be watched instead of recorded. Some of our clients do not want to run in programs at all.