The Biggest Loser - Extreme Product Placement!

2.The Biggest Loser is one of the top TV shows integrating product placement into their episodes. There are so many products, some simply in the background and some are actually used by the "real life" characters. For example, this episode in particular is a football challenge featuring Jerry Rice and Steve Young, so naturally their is NFL logos all in the background. In addition, when the host presents them with their prize, a trip, she holds up an "Expedia" card. They made the episode about football because it's during Thanksgiving, and we watch football during Thanksgiving,so it was obviously convenient. Specifically, later they all join in for a "healthy" Thanksgiving dinner, and there we get a straight close up shot of Jenni-O Turkey. Later, we have all the contestants wearing their favorite football team jersey, a gift from Rocco the famous chef.
3.Products are so easily integrated in the show because it's a contest and throughout the show contestants win lots of prizes, giving companies an easy and great way to advertise their product, such as Expedia. In addition, it's mainly about losing weight, which is a big health issue in America, so lot's of food products are easily integrated. The ages vary from 20's to late 50's, but the success of the show has developed from getting real overweight people a free opportunity to lose weight and change their lives;their gender or age has no barring on the success of the show.
4. I enjoy the show and am a regular viewer, however the constant product integration does distract me from the simple pleasure of watching the show and seeing how much the contestants have changed. In between commercials there's healthy tips, which I like, but when it comes to "Bob" doing an advertisement on "Extra Sugar Free Gum" as a way to stop cravings, it takes the joy out of watching it. It becomes too dramatic for me and unrealistic, because part of the reason I watch is because they're real people.

Product Integration In Arrested Development

Burger King is referenced a few times throughout this episode of Arrested Development. This scene, however, takes place inside the restaurant and is established by a shot of the outside of the building. The characters say the name Burger King many times in the scene. You can see the advertisements in the restaurant in the background and the BK logo on the cups and fries. The characters discuss the restaurant and how they offer free refills on any drink. The integration is quite prominent, especially at the end of the scene when Tobias says "Its a wonderful restaurant," followed by the narrator's comment "It sure is."

Burger King was integrated into the show because the show needed some extra cash. That's pretty much the only reason. It wasn't because the show was so popular that Burger King would benefit from being associated with it. I suppose it's possible that they might benefit because the show had a typically young audience, but mainly just because Arrested Development needed more money.

The product integration didn't distract at all from my viewing pleasure; if anything, it added to it. It is placed in the show in such an obvious and intentional way that it adds to the comedy of the show. When Carl Weathers is talking about setting a scene in Burger King in exchange for some money, Tobias replies "as long as you don't draw attention to it". It definitely stands out as product integration, but because it was done in a way that is characteristic of the show, it works well and adds humor.

Extra Credit Blog

Lindsey Rogowicz



In this commercial, the feature Volkswagen is trying to promote is obvious, it's safety. The ad does not TELL you audibly to purchase the car because of it's safety rating, however at the end of the commercial it shows the statistic of saftey rating on the car by showing the 4 star crash safety rating. The commercial itself is a great attention grabber because it begins by two friends just talking when the truck pulls out in front of them suprising both them and us as viewers.

For soft sell, I detected that it's doing two things. Jetta's in my eyes, have always been labeled as more of a girl car. Here, it shows to boys driving it and looking very relaxed and comfortable. This shows that the car is both safe, and comfortable to take a drive with anyone because you are both safe.

I think the ad relies way more on hard sell, because it's not necessarily promoting a certain lifestyle, but showing how accidents can occur w/out it even being our faults. In this ad it shows how we sometimes aren't paying attention and therefore can get ourselves into messes and this commercial shows how the safe VW Jetta can help drivers do so.

Product Integration in Spiderman 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hOk80p8K2w

In this scene from Spiderman 2, Peter Parker is learning how to use and control his web like powers. As he begins to practice, it just so happens that the Dr Pepper can is one of the focal points of his target practice. The audience is focused on the can for a little longer than a second as we see Peter Parker practice his newly developed skills.

It was definitely a smart move for Dr Pepper to choose to be integrated into this film. The Spiderman franchise was a huge box office success that captivated audiences everywhere. There are many positve associations that the integration would have on a brand. Peter Parker's character definitely did not hurt the integration as a young, attractive actor.

I don't believe the integration detracts from the pleasure of watching this film. In fact, I really did not even notice it until I went out intentionally looking for product integration. It is slipped into the film in such a way that the audience is not distracted from the moment. There is a realistic factor to the product placement in this scene. Peter Parker is an average teenage guy, who probably drinks soda.

I AM LEDGEND...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzfv1mCh8Rs


....and I drive a mustang!


The movie I AM LEDGEND, starring Will Smith, begins with a fairly long scene of him driving through the deserted New York city in a bright red Ford Mustang, racing stripes and all. The company nor the name of the vehicle are ever mentioned but it is a very recognisable product and no introduction is necessary. I'm pretty sure later on in the movie he also drives a Ford truck, but its recognition isn't as prominent as the roaring red Mustang that opens the movie.


In doing some research for product placement, I found that quite a few of Will Smiths movies are saturated with product placement. Men in Black I and II are probably the most memorable with the Mountain Dew scene, and other brands such as Victoria's Secret, Burger King and Sprint. Independence Day has a scene where they try to shoot a Coke can and the name is mentioned. Bad Boys II has a scene where a large Miller Genuine Draft truck drives by, as well as the use of quite a few different vehicles in its exciting car chase scene. And finally I.Robot begins its movie with Will Smith using a certain stereo brand, wearing converse sneakers (and mentioning their name in case you didn't catch it) and driving and a specific car. Obviously Will Smith sells products. I know I want to buy a new Mustang with hideous racing stripes after watching I AM LEDGEND.

Over all I think the product placement in most of his movies are done fairly well and actually do add to the believability of the movie. There's nothing worse than watching a moving and seeing a can the say "Beer" on the side of it. In particular I think the scene with the red Mustang might have been a little over the top, and I guess I just expect Will Smith to be driving a better car than what spoiled sixteen year old boys and girls get. It might have been bright red color, or the racing stripes that threw me off, but I'm certain that was done for contact between the dark, gloomy background. Maybe had the car not looked brand new I might have believed it more.

But over all Will Smith must be doing something right and I sure hes making tons of money on top of the money he already get for his movies. Smart if you ask me.


-Alyse Hutchins

Extra Credit Blog- TV Ad

2. This television ad does use some techniques of "hard sell." The narrator speaks in the middle of the commercial and describes how this AT&T cell phone has, "more bars in more places." And as soon as the story of how the cell phone can be used is told, the narrator then tells the audience to "Switch to the network you can trust." These two statements clearly tell the audience that they should have this phone because it not only is a better phone but it also is a company that you can trust and be comfortable with.

3. The commercial is filled with "soft shell" techniques. A little story is told throuhout this commercial. This story plays into the emotional side of the audience. The little girl is missing her dad as he goes to work. Throughout the day the dad shows that he misses his daughter as well and decides to send her pictures of what he encounters throughout the day. Many features of the phone are shown as the story goes on. The dad then gets back home and the little is really excited to see her dad from the long day that he was away from home. Also, the subtle images of "bars" showing up in almost every scene of the commercial, you sort of have to look for it.

4. I do think that this commercial does really try and focus on an emotional way of looking at it. The little girl misses her dad throughout the day and this could relate to anybody in the audience who have ever missed somebody due to being away. It doesn't want you to feel alone when you are missing someone but this commercial shows that you don't have too because if you have this phone you can feel closer even when someone you love is so far away.

Year Old Nike Ad Featuring Kobe Bryant

In this ad by Nike for Kobe's shoe that debuted in March 2008 there is not really any hard sell. They don't spend any time raving about the quality of the shoe, Kobe doesn't try to lead us on to make us believe that they make him a better player, it's more of a laid back just in the life of Kobe type commercial that goes away from the typical format. He does however try to make it seem like the shoes are the reason why he's able to jump over the Aston Martin, but it's mostly comical as the clip is edited and not actually real.

The only thing that could be perceived as a soft sell in this ad is the including of an Aston Martin. They could have chosen any other car in the world to use in this clip, Nike has the funding, but they decided to go with the Aston Martin. It's mention and inclusion in this clip is very short, and it's not really with any kind of intent to get people to go out and buy the car. If anything I think they just wanted to go with a high brand of car, and Aston Martin was their choice. I don't think much more thought went into it than that. Maybe there's some connections through ownership with the two companies, or Kobe may even drive one.

This ad appeals to people's sense of excitement. Watching the clip for the first time I know many people thought that it was real because they did such a good job editing, but they use an impressive stunt to try to draw people in. Also the inclusion of Kobe appeals to people's sense's of success. At the time Kobe was leading his Lakers to the top of the Western Conference and was one of the hottest players in the league. He sells, people want to be like him and have the stuff he has, and that's why Nike included him in this ad.