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Andrew Zuber Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 3014 Posts |
Having worked in television, I've seen the meticulous details that are attended to when taping a TV show, yet there's something I've been noticing on some sitcoms (I've been watching reruns of Will & Grace) that I can't get over - when there is a product in the kitchen, like cereal, even if it's just coming out of the grocery bag, there is an ugly and VERY visible piece of tape covering the label.
I find it extremely odd that with all the little things being attended to with regards to sets and props, that a propmaster wouldn't be asked to come up with a few random fake cereal boxes. I just find it strange because they don't even do anything to hide it - it's obvious that the brand name has been covered. Anyone else ever notice that and find it strange?
"I'm sorry - if you were right, I would agree with you." -Robin Williams, Awakenings
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
They don't bother with it, because soon they will all be replaced CG labels, of current products.
But it is odd. I have noticed.
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"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
balducci Loyal user Canada 227 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-11-27 13:20, Andrewzuber wrote: To be honest, I haven't noticed this sort of thing for a long time (and Will and Grace aired from 1998 to 2006, so if you were watching early episodes they may not be representative of the current state of things). I've actually noticed quite the opposite ... more and more product placements and visible labels in sitcoms than ever before. An episode in one of the later Will and Grace episodes made headlines for its use of product placement: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/b......ues.html If a label is covered up these days, I half imagine it is because some company declined to pay a product placement fee. Do you watch 30 Rock? It has done some hilarious over the top product placement (though they are not to everyone's taste, of course): http://www.buzzsugar.com/30-Rocks-Produc......g-843223 (Watch the video clip.) 30 Rock "has had 142 product placements this season — which, interestingly, isn't nearly as many as The Office, which has had 381 product placements so far." (And that was in 2007.)
Make America Great Again! - Trump in 2020 ... "We're a capitalistic society. I go into business, I don't make it, I go bankrupt. They're not going to bail me out. I've been on welfare and food stamps. Did anyone help me? No." - Craig T. Nelson, actor.
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Andrew Zuber Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 3014 Posts |
It's season two that I'm watching, where I've seen it a number of times. I also remember seeing it years ago in an episode of Growing Pains - a giant strip of duct tape right across the box label.
The fact that they're earlier episodes shouldn't make a difference, I wouldn't think. I mean how much technology is required to make a fake cereal box? I just find it odd because it seems like such a lazy solution, considering the millions of dollars being spent on a single episode.
"I'm sorry - if you were right, I would agree with you." -Robin Williams, Awakenings
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balducci Loyal user Canada 227 Posts |
Well, I don't have the answer for you. Back then, perhaps they simply figured audiences didn't give a hoot and were better at the suspension of disbelief thing (i.e., wrt duct tape). More recently, someone clearly figured out it was a good revenue stream.
What you described, though, isn't something I've noticed recently (unless it was used intentionally and clearly as part of a joke). Like I think was done on some episodes of Arrested Development a few years back.
Make America Great Again! - Trump in 2020 ... "We're a capitalistic society. I go into business, I don't make it, I go bankrupt. They're not going to bail me out. I've been on welfare and food stamps. Did anyone help me? No." - Craig T. Nelson, actor.
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
The folks who make duct tape must want their product featured in lots of shows.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Bill Hilly Elite user 449 Posts |
When The Beverly Hillbillies was in first run, and the first few reruns, Kellog was a big advertizer. You could always see Jethro with his box of Corn Flakes. After the contract expired there was a piece of black tape over the name and the rooster on the ceral boxes. It seems they were concerned even 50 years ago.
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
I never thought about the CG labels as advertizing! What a great idea.
I think it is also lazy but either the company should be paying for the placement or if not they could sue because they don't approve how their product was shown. |
Andrew Zuber Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 3014 Posts |
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On 2010-11-27 15:35, Jonathan Townsend wrote: Yeah the gaff tape (as in gaffer, not gimmick) must be raking it in with this stuff too. My old roommate in L.A. was a gaffer and that tape was the most expensive stuff in the house. Twenty bucks a roll.
"I'm sorry - if you were right, I would agree with you." -Robin Williams, Awakenings
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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
I liked the cereal in the "Dealers" segment of The Groove Tube: "Flaky Critters."
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
Andrew Zuber Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 3014 Posts |
Yeah it's a good opportunity to put in jokes.
I like what they do on shows like Family Guy: "Generic Puffs."
"I'm sorry - if you were right, I would agree with you." -Robin Williams, Awakenings
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
I think an episode of "Bewitched" had Sam find her mother, shrunk really small, sitting on a package of butter in her refrig.
The brand name on the butter was the special effects guy on the show.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Andrew Zuber Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 3014 Posts |
Ooh that's a clever one.
Interestingly enough, on an episode I was just watching they made a reference to the cereal they were eating (with the normal, untaped box in view.) Maybe they thought if they HAD to talk about it, they could show a label...otherwise they figured no one would notice?
"I'm sorry - if you were right, I would agree with you." -Robin Williams, Awakenings
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balducci Loyal user Canada 227 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-11-28 16:27, Andrewzuber wrote: Given what I said and linked to before, I think it is more likely that it was a paid product placement of some sort.
Make America Great Again! - Trump in 2020 ... "We're a capitalistic society. I go into business, I don't make it, I go bankrupt. They're not going to bail me out. I've been on welfare and food stamps. Did anyone help me? No." - Craig T. Nelson, actor.
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
I've also seen products that were put together to LOOK like real products.
In one show (can't remember which) the characters had a six-pack of beer. The product had a fancy logo on it but when you looked real closely, all it said was; "Beer"
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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