Only two of the things I claimed in the headline are true.
According the The Sun, Pitbull's new video has been deemed unfit for TV broadcast in the UK:
Saucy scenes from the video that have seen the complaints flooding in include full-on nudity, a semi-naked girl stroking herself on a bed, another naked girl drinking from a vodka bottle, bum slapping, sexually explicit romps, dirty dancing and more....
There is also obvious placement of a well known vodka brand which leads to further violation of regulations about alcohol and sexual content.
It's rather run-of-the mill sexploitation, as far as I'm concerned. I was more upset about the appropriation of one of my favourite reggae songs:
I guess today's consumers are a cynical bunch. There was a time when product placements in entertainment were a dirty little secret. Then the '80s came, and a generation grew up with Saturday morning cartoons that were just 30-minute toy commercials. Young adult TV shows started to be sponsored by retail fashion brands. James Bond started selling BMWs controlled by Ericcson cellphones. Etc. Etc.
Fast-forward to the digital age of advertainment. People willingly watch long-form commercials that can be 5+ minutes long. They know it's all selling, and they don't mind at all. It's just the way it is.
Into this context comes the next convergence of advertising and entertainment: "shoppable film"
Next week, Target will launch "Falling For You," starring Kristen Bell (of Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Veronica Mars). It's "a romantic comedy highlighting fall fashion, beauty and home product from Target—a clever extension of the fall marketing campaign."
In three online episodes, the target market can watch Kristen, along with Zachary Abel (“Make It or Break It”) and Nia Long (Fresh Prince of Bel-aire”, “Big Mama’s House”) play three Target employees bumbling their way through planning a fashion show. The video hints that two of the characters fall in love along the way — I'll assume they mean the two white people of opposite gender.
As they watch the "film," viewers can e-shop the clothes they see from Target without stopping the action. Because I'm sure it's riveting.
Are you sick of movies that try to ruin solid product placement with things like plot, action, and characters? Do you also ache to see B-list TV actors cashing a paycheck by appearing in extended commercials for a discount retailer? Then the folks at Target have got the show for you!
According to Celebuzz: "Christina Hendricks celebrates with Johnnie Walker at her annual holiday party at a private residence on December 10, 2011 in Los Angeles, California."
No subtlety here. But it's also the perfect storm of booze, boobs and branding.
Buzzfeeder Gavon Laessig said, "It's as though two examples of perfection were dropped into the Large Hadron Collider and smooshed into one giant wad of perfection. We've discovered the Higgs Bosom. Why, yes, Christina Hendricks…I would love some scotch."
Me, I just can't wait for Mad Men to come back. But perhaps a stiff drink would get me through...
No, it is not an ad. At least not in the traditional sense. It's apparently from series 5, episode 3, but I can't be bothered to slog through online transcripts.
I haven't seen that kind of in-episode shilling since Fred and Barney took a smoke break.
The Telegraph reports U.S. President Obama's (presumably unpaid) product placement for Buxton mineral water at the G20:
Buxton was treated to the world's most coveted endorsement when the US President, who was answering questions with Mr Brown at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, turned down his hosts' offer of a glass.
Displaying the cool demeanour for which he has become renowned, Mr Obama took several leisurely sips from the bottle, displaying its logo to viewers watching the event around the world.
I assume this was done because of security concerns, or else the stubborn independence Obama is known for, but it raises some questions:
2) Bottled water? In 2009? David Suzuki will give Obama a talking to next time he's in Canada. Or was his blatant waste of petrochemical products a show of confidence in our ability to develop new recycling technology or find new reserves?
Who knows? This could be a whole new revenue stream for Americans to start paying off their massive debts. Perhaps in the future we'll see Presidents dressed head-to-toe in logos, like NASCAR drivers. That would be cool.
