Man, if I watched “Chuck,” that totally would have been the reason why I went to get a Subway sandwich during my lunch break today. Because every time I hypothetically think of getting a foot-long Oven-Roasted Chicken Breast, I hypothetically associate it with…that girl from “Chuck”…and that spy thing they do…and, um, Chuck.
So, yeah, I’ve never seen an episode of “Chuck,” but according to new figures from Nielsen, people really relate the two: the time “Big Mike says that his kidnapping hasn’t been that bad because his kidnappers brought sandwiches” was the fifth most remembered product placement of 2011. Rounding out the top five:
Sheldon using Purell and Amy suggesting everyone play Twister on “The Big Bang Theory” (#1 and #3), Tessa drinking Red Bull on “Suburgatory” (#2), and Beckett driving a Ferrari on “Castle” (#4).
The Nielsen blog posting also reveals that of the 10 series with the highest amount of product placement activity, four of them are on NBC and nine are reality shows (“Idol” topped the list with 577 occurrences). The only exception: “Friday Night Lights Goes to Applebee’s” at #8 with 201. Looks like “Modern Family” is going to have to step its Target-and-iPad-loving game up for 2013 – this is the only award the show hasn’t won.
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I don’t care how many product placements there are, just how blatant they are.
Then again, Psych is pretty blatant with theirs, but I laugh when they do it because they make it into a joke in the show.
Subway saved Chuck from being canceled. So don’t be a dick about the product placement.
Hey Jared.
Product placement in tv shows is the fucking worst. I think they should just get rid of advertising all together and just provide us with free quality entertainment that isn’t cheapened by trying to do things like “make a profit” These television networks should have some artistic integrity for fucks sake.
The iPad thing didn’t bother me, because Phil is exactly the sort of enthusiastic dope who would absolutely need an iPad. (Note that I may be biased because I love Phil.)
But I always notice when they pointlessly linger on a car logo, or how they’re forever highlighting Android and its video capabilities on “Fringe.”
@jeffkeyz I’m actually not being a dick about product placement; I never once say that it’s a bad thing, just that I don’t watch Chuck. Which is a fact. Product placements are annoying, sure, and oddly condescending, but I don’t think they’re immoral. Many shows, like Friday Night Lights, need them to survive. As much as I dislike Applebee’s food (and its general aesthetic, actually), I’ll never TOTALLY hate the restaurant because they gave A LOT of money to one of my favorite shows ever.
Shit. They’ve got me.
@JoshK Product placement saved Chuck. It’s clearly a bad thing.
Gawdamm Fringe had me scavenging Goodwills for an old Selectric 251 that could communicate between universes.
*not sure product placement is all it’s cracked up to be*
Product placement that helps keep a low rated show afloat doesn’t bother me, but the fact that the money printing machine that is American Idol has the most just makes me even madder that it exists…somehow.
I have some thoughts on this issue, but first I’m going to take a sip of this cool, refreshing Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. Mmmm, mmmm. That certainly hit the spot.
Burger King! It’s a wonderful restaurant!
RELEVANT: [www.youtube.com]
Product placement (Coke can on a desk or in the background) is one thing. Product integration (character talking about how much he wants a Coke Zero right now) is something else. Chuck has gone the integration route in a major way. With Subway, it hasn’t been too bad. But the episodes where Awesome and Ellie gush over the unique features of their Toyota Sienna minivan were sad — it was like a Toyota infomercial was spliced into the episode.
Chuck’s charm wore off around the time the slutty asian chick left the show.
“Then again, Psych is pretty blatant with theirs, but I laugh when they do it because they make it into a joke in the show.”
Same with IASIP. “Hey, let’s go have lunch at Dave and Buster’s!”
I really enjoy “The Biggest Loser” (I know. I’m sorry. I just love watching those fatties sweat and cry), but their product placement is the most blatant that I’ve seen on TV. They don’t even try to hide it; the contestants all spout off lines about how great Subway and Jenny-O turkey are as if they’re actually in the commercials. It is, as Josh put it, really condescending.
30 Rock has the best product placement. They make it so blatantly obvious that you don’t even think it’s actual product placement.
I think the only TV show to successfully pull of product placement/integration is Arrested Development with the whole Burger King promo. It was obviously actual product placement, but they made it so obviously a joke that it was product placement that it managed to not be annoying.