In a conversation about the WGA Strike (no,this post isn’t about that…) a few days ago, Jackson Miller said that the true future of revenue in television was most likely in product placement. I’ve been re-reading that statement in my head over the last week, and I have to tell you. I think Jackson is dead-on. And I have to further tell you that I think I find product placement in my shows both entertaining and memorable. For the most part, that is.
I was watching NCIS [shut up! It’s a good show!] last night, and the Diet Coke product placement was both subtle and entertaining, but I remembered the product. Arrested Development‘s tie-ins with Burger King were hysterical and left me craving BK for a week afterward.
All of that being said, I am sick and tired of the product placement in the reality shows I watch. I’m not big on most reality TV because I just don’t find it all that entertaining, but I will cop to both Little People, Big World and Deadliest Catch. After last night, though, I’m about ready to cancel my season pass to LPBW. It’s been obvious for awhile that Matt Roloff is gaming the popularity of the show to cash in on endorsements and product placement. I started watching the show to see how someone with a unique condition faces the obstacles and challenges of daily life. I kept watching because I liked the family dynamic. But now? I can’t help but think all of the strategic product placement is ruining the show AND the kids. On the last episode there were 4 minutes devoted to watching Amy Roloff and two of the kids play with a new Wii. We even got a close-up of the box and a mention of the product name. A recent episode mentioned “Mountain Dew” about 11 times. [Don’t even get me started on all of the underwritten trips and home improvements that I initially whined about a year ago.]
I guess I don’t mind seeing products crop up in a subtle way when the show works them into the plot. But when the entire point of the show is diverted to such mindless pursuits as “watch us play with our Wiis!” then I feel like I’ve been tricked into an infomercial.
Just Another Pretty Farce 
This kind of summed it up for me:
http://www.shortpacked.com/d/20071126.html
I don’t see a problem with product placement on LPBW. This type of revenue grabbing been going on for years. The dynamics of the Roloffs as a family is what keeps me watching week after week. They don’t sugarcoat the family life of a growing family or the physical restrictions they encounter in every day living. They don’t hide the laundry or pick up the dirty socks. At the same time, they do not play into the camera and put on an act like so many of the reality shows on TV lately. I know my own grandchildren love Wii and if you were filming their family life day in and day out, you would have a lot of footage of them playing Wii. So I don’t believe it was product placement. As for the Mountain Dew…I must’ve missed that episode. To mention Mountain Dew 11 times I would agree is excessive. As for the trips, I enjoy seeing them on vacation and if they get a free trip in exchange for the publicity the ship/hotel/airline etc get…I say go for it. Oprah has more than enough money to pay for her guests to fly in and stay at a nice hotel, however, she is always thanking the airline and the hotel for taking care of her guests…so I think we can be pretty sure the show is not picking up that tab.
Maybe LPBW is just jumping the shark… if all they have to do is show you them playing video games.
Thanks for the link Kat.
Ironically, as I was reading your post I was thinking “oh shit, how am I going to advertise Plato’s Closet without commercials?!?”
Speaking of TV advertising that pisses you off, how about the non-commercials on Public Television stations after kids shows!
Nice post – I’m from the UK and we’ve just legalised product placement. You may find my post on the matter interesting: http://is.gd/3iNFB