TV Shows And Product Placement
Hey there everybody … all three of you … I think there was a blue moon out last night so I guess it’s time for me to post once again …
So Shari and I have a new favorite TV show … Modern Family. The jokes are surprisingly fresh and as new parents a lot of the humor resonates REALLY close to home. Personally, I love the show because I can totally relate to the character of Phil Dunphy. To describe it in the easiest way possible, the guy is ME. He likes to smack talk about his wife, but only after making sure she’s not in earshot. He lives in a bit of a fantasy world where his self evaluation may be a little more inflated than it deserves to be. And most importantly, he’s a tech toy FANATIC!!!
I knew this when in a previous episode he was trying to teach his wife and daughter the correct sequence of remote control button pushes to turn on the entertainment system PROPERLY. I myself have struggled with this and indeed sovled the issue by picking up a kick-ass all in one remote. However last night’s episode took Phil’s love of tech to a whole new level. He was geeked because it was his birthday. And why was he geeked about his birthday? Because it was on the same day as the release of the new Apple iPad.
Normally when a show hits viewers with a product placement I just roll my eyes and start mumbling under my breath. Reality shows like Biggest Loser, Survivor and Amazing Race aren’t even subtle about it with “challenges” being brought to you by various products. 30 Rock is normally the only show who handles placements perfectly, by delivering a scathing satire in the same breath as the actual product placement. Just think of the whole Jack Donaghy – Elisa – McFlurry love traingle and you’ll know what I’m talking about.
So it was amazing to me that last night it took me almost a good ten, fifteen minutes to clue in that the whole iPad angle COULD have been a placement! So believable and in line with his character was Phil’s desire for the iPad that I just took it, hook line and sinker. It wasn’t until the second commercial break that I realized not only that the iPad WAS coming out this weekend, but also did I remember about the fact that this was an ABC television show … ABC is owned by Disney … and Disney and Apple are the BEST of buds aren’t they?
I was right there with Phil, sharing his excitement about the new toy which was launching THAT very weekend. And when he uttered the line, “Next week! That’s like the worst thing you can say to an early adopter!” I was RIGHT there with him in that sentiment.
If you haven’t seen the show, you need to. The fact that they’ve created enjoyable realistic RELATABLE characters is only one facet of this fantastic show. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go line up for my iPad.
