wtf?!? 09.29.08
I was watching the Office online, minding my own business. I was all naive and sheltered and frolicking through fields of ignorance in bliss. I saw everything through a lens of pure white snow little known fact, things look exactly the same.
Then, THEN my world was shattered like a glass patio door in an uncreative romantic comedy that needs a quick shift in plot and a little physical humor. There are the ads that come on at the usual intervals fewer than broadcast television, which is nice. Everyone sort of flips to another browser tab and such. But I watched and am only slightly embarrassed about it.
Within a crappy “interactive” ad for Nissan, there was a billboard within a cityscape. For a moment, while the car came to a stop and the “interactive” features came to rest, that billboard displayed an ad for Heroes. It then switched to the expected and more logical Nissan billboard.
Are you kidding me? Really?
Its not that they already promote the hell out of that weird sci-fi, middle-age fantasy save the cheerleader? really? whats next season? scold the unruly teen in the plaid skirt?. Its not that I dont think the show has some merit I did watch almost four full episodes once. Its not that product placement is all that surprising There is heavy use of an iSight camera within the episode, case youre curious. Still, its absurd.
Did NBC pay for a spot within the spot Nissan paid NBC for? Whoa. My right brain just spasmed. Thats just too much. Can we make an agreement that we keep ads out of ads? Can we just admit thats taking things to an entirely new level that will lay waste to love, affection, smiles and person-to-person connections?
Or not.
I guess we could compound things until russian doll adversiting™ can I just trademark something like that? is there a phone number I should call? is the norm and children grow up without happiness or naivety or the possibility of pension plans. zing! Whichever works best for everyone read: corporate mega-conglomerates who tell us what to think, eat and do.