Product Placement in The Office
I read an article (link) that mentioned product placement in TV shows today. They used The Office as an example. (along with many others)
Michael Scott has a liking for Chili’s restaraunt, and that is no coincidence. (”Chili’s is the new golf course.”)
To be honest, it really doesn’t bother me too bad as long as it doesn’t take away from the plot of the story. The Office does a very good job at integrating Chili’s into the show when it needs to. For instance, “I’d like an awesome blossom. Extra awesome.” was funny and also got the job done with product placement.
Do you think it is too much in The Office?
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February 15th, 2006 10:14
I don’t think that they even think of Chilis as a product placement. I mean, yes, it does advertise for Chilis, but in order for the audience to believe its a really documentary they have to do realistic restauraunts. And honetly, anything below a Chilis type restauraunt is too.. low class for things like this. Anything above it is a bit too high class for them. And there seem to be Chilis everywhere. So, that’s what I think influenced them more than anything.
February 15th, 2006 10:40
I agree. It doesn’t bother me at all. It just makes it all the more real. Maybe they could do a little product placement in place of a commerical so that we could get a few more minutes of show every week!!
February 15th, 2006 10:50
I am glad that you wrote this article, because I was talking to my friends about the very same thing this week. It has seemed that in the past, product placement was very obvious. The people were eating a certain food, drinking a soda with a conspicuous label, or something of that sort.
Now I have become a little more sensative to spotting these things, and at first glance the Office appears to be fraught with PP. Last weeks episode alone pictured Sabarros, mensioned Red Lobster and Bubba Gump shrimp, talked about the video Michael made on his Mac computer, I don’t know if the references to Conan and Tina McFey were paid, etc. This is on top of other things that come to mind like an entire episode based around the iPod Video, an episode featuring a StarBucks machine, etc, etc.
Sometimes the references are quick and funny, but it makes you wonder just how much of this is for some sort of payment or product in return.
Just my thoughts.
February 15th, 2006 10:59
Yeah, I think places like Chili’s serve a very important purpose in the show. Like Michael saying he get’s a real New York slice of pizza … at Sbarro’s. Because you can tell with Michael that he really thinks Chili’s is a cool, hip place whereas the other office-mates understand that Chili’s is the furthest thing from your local neighborhood bar and grill.
February 15th, 2006 11:07
What about the Whole Apple/iPod show and follow up show. That was way to much. The chilis works because it is a Joke how Michael thinks so Highly of them. (i enjoy the food there too)
But they went overboard with the iPod episode (aka Christmas Party)
February 15th, 2006 11:12
It’s better than them going to some generic fake restaurant that everyone knows is really a stand-in for T.G.I.Friday’s or whatever. The actual product names lends verisimilitude. And really, I didn’t watch the Christmas episode and run out to buy a video iPod. As long as it doesn’t trip up the great writing and get in the way of the comedy or emotional impact, it’s fine.
February 15th, 2006 12:57
If anything, it adds more to the show because its a very relatable hang-out joint. There are Chili’s everywhere!
February 15th, 2006 13:39
The iPod thing is totally beleivable. Who wouldn’t fight for an iPod in an office gift exchange?! Even if they are being paid, I think in a way product placement is actuallt less conspicuous than trying to make everything generic. It always stands out when someone had a can of soda that says “SODA” on it, or when they use the “555″ prefix for phone numbers. We live in a prduct-filled world (now there’s something we can debate the morality of, really) so when attempting to do a show with realism, they must place it in the real, product-filled world.
February 15th, 2006 13:56
I always thought that the video iPod in the Christmas Party episode was a (not so) subtle nod to The Office being released on iTunes…just a thought…
-Marie
February 15th, 2006 14:53
Jaclyn, you may have already heard this, but “there are Chili’s everywhere”…except Scranton. The closest one is in Wilkes-Barre, about 20 miles away. (Hey, Scranton just got its first Starbucks a few months ago!)
February 15th, 2006 15:19
chili’s is grood
February 15th, 2006 16:38
I thought the iPod bit in the “Christmas Party” was great. Ignoring the spending limit was a classic Michael Scott move. And the line “A gift says ‘I love you this many dollars’” was great. If that’s product placement, bring it on!
February 15th, 2006 17:58
I don’t mind the mention of real restaurants in the show because we can all relate. It just makes the show seem even more “real.” I also think that the iPod Christmas show was great. I can still hear Michael Scott saying, “Yankee Swap.” I think they were smart to use the new iPod because many people want one and know that they are coveted. The iPod is a real item in our technology-craving culture so it was the perfect gift to cause a stir in The Office.
February 16th, 2006 06:24
The reality is, that in this new TiVo age of television viewing, commercials are irrelevant, and something has to pay the network bills. Product placement is just a necessary evil in this day and age, and if “The Office” has to have a couple of references to “MailBoxesEtc” or “Hooters”, I don’t object or think they’re “selling out”. At least they’re creative enough to use the product placements in the humor of the show (”Pam? Can you rub butter on my foot? I have Country Crock.”)
Anyhow, a TV show without real elements (people really talk about stuff like iPods) makes the show seem too artificial. I’d rather have it be a little more “real” and relatable.
February 16th, 2006 12:36
You know, I usually notice product placement stuff (like last night on American Idol the judges were all drinking out of Coca-cola cups), but nothing on The Office has ever stood out to me as obnoxious or trite. As for Chilis, that’s very much and “officey” type of restaurant. As long as the product blends with the actual theme of the show without being gratituous, I think there’s nothing wrong with it. Subconscious marketing is a smart thing….
February 23rd, 2006 21:01
I love the product placement in The Office because it adds to the fun. Maybe on other shows it is annoying, but i don’t mind it at all. I’ve actually started going to Chili’s more often just because of the show. It’s a place of buisness. And every time I go, a must is the awesome blossom.