Party On Wayne

           

 Product placement has always been a part of popular TV and cinema. If you think about it (when it’s done right), it’s a completely necessary thing. The fact is sometimes product placement is done well, and sometimes it’s done very poorly.

            The reason product placement is such a good move for television and movie producers, is because everybody wins.

• ·         First off, the companies that agree to have their products in a movie or show can see huge profitability. It allows them to advertise to the exact target market they want, because people who watch a show often have similar demographics and behavior.
• ·         Second, the film makers benefit by it because they are compensated for spotlighting a product, whether it is cash or just providing their product. This could be as simple as Starbuck’s supplying a film set with free coffee in exchange for being included in the production. An example on a larger scale is the movie Transformers. GM didn’t actually pay Paramount a dime to have their product in the movie, but they supplied them with over $1 million in vehicles. 
• ·         Finally, the viewer benefits. How annoying is it when you are watching a show and a character picks up a can that says “Light Beer?” It completely ruins the realism of the piece. Having real products that a consumer can relate to makes the viewing experience more enjoyable

Wayne’s World does a great job of poking fun at poor product placement. The scene involves Wayne claiming he would never sell out to a corporation, and then he goes on to painfully emphasize several brand names. While some might find this cheesy, Pizza Hut, Doritos, and Pepsi knew exactly what they were doing. Think about the market segment likely to be watching Wayne’s World. They’re probably stoned outta their damn minds. What better to pitch to them than junk food?! Not to mention that sort of corky comedy is great promotion to that kind of viewer. Altogether I feel that this series of ads created a great marketing mix and was very successful.

Never Been Kissed

This commercial was easily the most hated ad for Superbowl 2013.  It might be described as kiss porn.  Bar Rafaieli even looked like she was about to vomit after this gratuitas kiss, but despite all the controversy what was it that really turned viewers off?  My friend Chelsea commented that "They should have made it a nerdy girl.  No one would be complaining. No. One."  At first I thought she was alluding that something only becomes sexualized when an attractive woman is involved, but I realized she just would have much rather seen David Beckham topless and kissing a geeky girl.  Not even the most repressed housewife in the conservative Bible belt region would have much to say about that.  Despite the controversy there is a bigger story that's not being told.  The inspirational story of actor Jesse Heiman...

Who can argue that kissing Bar was the best day of Jesse's life?  Just who is Jesse Heiman? Jesse has spent years toiling as a background actor having appeared in blockbuster hit movies such as American Pie 2, The social Network, and Spider Man.  In all he has appeared in 140 movies and tv shows as an extra, all the while never giving up on his dreams of becoming a professional actor.

The movie that inspired this blog is non other than Drew Barrymore's heartfelt  Never been kissed, and at 34, is there any doubt Jesse had not made it to second base despite his cult like status as an extra?  Well, Jesse... geeks all across the world salute you and you can now proudly lose the title of 'never been kissed'.

Viva Young Taco Bell - 2013 Super Bowl Commercial

Taco Bell’s Super Bowl Ad was one of the best of the year. The ad did a really good job representing taco bell as a late night place to hang around. Taco Bell makes the association of being young and having fun, with late night meals at everyone's favorite fast food restaurant. The younger generation can relate to  the wild and crazy activities of the retirees, and the  older generation can take the idea that Taco Bell is a fun way to change things up. The song was a spanish version of the song “We are young” by the band FUN. Even though the song is in spanish, the song has become incredibly popular and  the  instrumental is easily recognized by the majority of the viewers. No matter how old you are, you can still act young and  have a great time at Taco Bell. 

Even though Taco Bell did not not advertise a specific product, they were still able to promote their slogan, “Live Mas” ( Live More). For that reason I believe Taco Bell knocked it out of the park with this ad. Viva La Taco Bell.