A few days ago, I posted about the product placement in the The Office. Well, after watching some old episodes of The Office, I am a bit more confused on the whole practice of product placement. (What’s my deal with the letter “p” today?)
In this picture of Toby, he is talking about Dwight’s anatomy questions. But, if you look behind him at the candy bars, you’ll notice that they are all turned backwards. The designs are familiar. I can recognize the Almond Joy, the Hershey’s bar and the Abba Zabba. (I think.)
Are there any advertising experts out there that can share light on this? If you show a non-sponsor product in a show, does the company have to pay the show or or does the show have to pay the company?
Sharp eye! I never would have noticed that.
I’m no advertising expert, but I do think the product would have to pay or give permission to be on the show – and that showing a product without such permission would infringe on the rights of said product.
Which is why some products are blurred out of movies and shows, etc.
Just my two cents. Hope it helps.
Actually, what’s interesting is in later episodes they’re turned the correct way. And hey, is that Dwight’s wallet in there?
Top row, left side, 4 rows of Raisinets…I would be in candy heaven if I worked there…
Here in the real word, half (or more) of our conversations revolve around television, advertisements, and products. If it didn’t we wouldn’t be here. That’s part of the shows great success. They include conversations about other shows on other networks – specifically Lost. And who out there with any computer knowledge does not want an ipod? I don’t necessarily think product placement is a bad thing when done to advance the shows humor.
Eddie, I would have never recognized the raisinets. Good eye!
cause of how my classes are set up, i have no time for a real lunch so i have 2 bags of raisinets and a bottle of water for lunch every day. i could spot a bag of them from a mile away.
I can spot an Abba Zabba a mile away. So when I saw that delicious thing behind Toby… I drooled all over myself.