The Joke About Product Placement
2006-Nov-16 by KYJoe
Lately, as advertisers scramble for ways to pander their clients' wares to the evermore ADD'd public, we're seeing an interesting trend: making fun of product placement while still placing the product.
What the hell am I talking about? That's a good question. And the answer? Well, let's take a look at a couple examples: Talladega Nights and one of NBC's new shows about a sketch comedy show with the address of the location of the show's stages in the title, 30 Rock.
Now those of you who have seen the Ferrell picture may recall the tongue-inside of-cheek sequence where the family is seated around the table, but before they can eat, Ricky is contractually obligated to mention his sponsor Powerade as well as an assortment of other high profile corporations (many of which you can see in the photo below).
How many products can you find in the picture?........... 9. Don't forget the jackets.
30 Rock makes a similar point too in the episode that aired tonight. When Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy (the Head of Television and Microwave Sales or some such title) announces that there will be "product integration"on their sketch show, the writers scoff at the notion while raving about the various Snapples that each of them is drinking.
"Ha ha! We're ripping on the practice of product placement. But even while doing so we're making gobs of money."
This is actually a pretty damn good show. What with 30 Rock, The Office, Scrubs, and
that Scientologist's show, NBC Thursdays are becoming "Must see" again.
And that's the catch. Can you really lampoon product placement if you are doing it all the while?
Maybe I'm missing the boat, though. Could be. I've missed the boat before. Are laughing because Ferrell, Fey, et al. are saying, "Hey we're ripping on product placement while placing products, which means we're hypocrites!"
Hey, I don't know what the answer is. Either way Powerade, KFC, Snapple and others are footin the bill.
My advice: Come up with some fictionalized version of a popular product. That way, you make the joke yet keep your integrity. Of course, the pay's a bit less though.
