Yeah, what Jessica said. I know what Robin's saying about it seeming natural, but so many people are hip to product placement (and seeing logos disguised when it's not) that all logos come under scrutiny.
It's all about choices, Faith. The ones we make, and the ones we don't. Oh, and the consequences. Those are always fun.
Angelus ,'Smile Time'
Boxed Set, Vol. III: "That Can't Be Good..."
A topic for the discussion of Farscape, Smallville, and Due South. Beware possible invasions of Stargate, Highlander, or pretty much any other "genre" show that captures our fancy. Expect Adult Content and discussion of the Big Gay Sex.
Whitefont all unaired in the U.S. ep discussion, identifying it as such, and including the show and ep title in blackfont.
Blackfont is allowed after the show has aired on the east coast.
This is NOT a general TV discussion thread.
bon bon - Aug 22, 2006 6:33:33 am PDT #600 of 10001
It's five thousand for kissing, ten thousand for snuggling... End of list.
CFerg - Aug 22, 2006 6:42:26 am PDT #601 of 10001
brenda m - Aug 22, 2006 6:47:23 am PDT #602 of 10001
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
OTOH, someone drinking a can of Coke or a bottle of Bud is a lot less -distracting than the mock-ups you sometimes see.
Nutty - Aug 22, 2006 6:49:53 am PDT #603 of 10001
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
I remember seeing some behind-scenes stuff with a 90s TV show -- I think it was Homicide -- where they wandered through the costumes and props, and showed off all the fake logos they used. Shafta soda, and Vista credit cards, and everything. Close enough to the real McCoy that nothing was glaring; but different enough that nobody got to sue (or got paid). I'm relatively OK with the fake McCoy becoming real in cases like that.
Now, the truly inspired product placement is, e.g., the cell phones on The X-Files. The whole show would have fallen apart narratively if not for cell phones, so the brand name gets to set itself up as literally crucial! (N.b. I am sure they actually did this, but they never had actual lines like, "Thank goodness for my Nokia Bleepo 1000!") What would Veronica Mars be without texting and *69 and forwardable voicemails? And Supernatural better be getting big bucks from Sam Colt, to say nothing of that salt company with the little umbrella girl. Possibly also Chevrolet.
§ ita § - Aug 22, 2006 6:50:10 am PDT #604 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
If I don't see the logo, I have no idea what the product is
You can't tell a bottle of Red Stripe or a can of Coke without seeing the logo? A Powerbook without seeing the glowing apple on the lid?
However, I think "Pass me a can of Coke on your way back from the fridge." is plenty subtle. People do use brand names in real life.
So, I guess, for me subtle means "not too unrealistically."
Jessica - Aug 22, 2006 6:54:17 am PDT #605 of 10001
If I want to become a cloud of bats, does each bat need a separate vaccination?
You can't tell a bottle of Red Stripe or a can of Coke without seeing the logo? A Powerbook without seeing the glowing apple on the lid?
That was badly worded -- I said "see the logo" when I meant "recognize the brand."
brenda m - Aug 22, 2006 6:59:49 am PDT #606 of 10001
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
Now, the truly inspired product placement is, e.g., the cell phones on The X-Files. The whole show would have fallen apart narratively if not for cell phones, so the brand name gets to set itself up as literally crucial!
I'm confused. What did they do with the cell phones?
lisah - Aug 22, 2006 7:00:41 am PDT #607 of 10001
Punishingly Intricate
and professional wrestling is scifi, or at least it's fiction and there's gravity involved
Have they even tried to explain why they are showing wrestling?
Jessica - Aug 22, 2006 7:01:35 am PDT #608 of 10001
If I want to become a cloud of bats, does each bat need a separate vaccination?
I don't think so, but since the wrestling money pays for some of the spaceships, I'm not complaining.
Ginger - Aug 22, 2006 7:02:43 am PDT #609 of 10001
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
OTOH, someone drinking a can of Coke or a bottle of Bud is a lot less -distracting than the mock-ups you sometimes see.
That's just what I was thinking.
However, I think "Pass me a can of Coke on your way back from the fridge." is plenty subtle.
And in the South, you almost always use Coke to refer to soft drinks in general.
One product placement that would work is Jack Bauer's cell phone, the one that never runs out of charge. Also his deodorant.