Last week's episode of CSI: NY used a prominently featured Fendi bag billboard in its plot and it got me to thinking about advertising and product placement on TV.
When I was a kid, I was irritated whenever a character opened a box of Loopy Fruits, which didn't really exist. It pulled me out of the realism of the story. What, didn't they eat Frosted Flakes like the rest of us? Drink Coke instead of Fizzy Soda? What were these fake brands?
Today we've gone the other way. Every TV show is an ad for Blackberry, Ford, Mac, or some other product. And it's gone beyond setting the realism of a scene, as you're well aware. CSI NY happens to be one of the worst about this. One episode a few years back had Danny getting a call from someone on his new phone, which he not only answered, but name-checked, complete with Coldplay ringtone. Since it didn't figure into the plot (even though I kept waiting for it to), it was grossly unnecessary.
So this is what it's come to. Since DVRs, VCRs and online viewing have changed the way people deal with commercials, shows are digging deep into obvious product placement to make money. It's no longer, "Get in the truck," It's, "Get in the Ford F-150." Really? Who talks like that?
Fact is, if you're gonna do it, can't you do it a little less obviously? Or do the advertisers pay for which star handles their product, whether they mention it by name or how long they discuss it? Can't the Ford just be parked in the scene? Or is that assuming that in this ADD world, we can't even focus long enough to pay attention?
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