30 Rock and Product Placement

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 11:49am

OK- I'll admit it. I thought last night's show was one of the best ever. But I read this morning that it was 30 Rock's shark-jumping moment and what I saw only as a charming plot line that showed Jack Donaghy's true devotion to his Latina Spitfire was really just an awkward McDonald's ad inserted in TV's wittiest show.

Am I the only moron who didn't see the McFlurry as a paid product placement?
Did 30 Rock's McFlurry Praise Cross the Line?

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 12:30pm

...I thought it was funny. I mean, obviously I knew watching it that it was a product placement, but it was funny. Not as great as the Snapple placement maybe, but I still laughed.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 12:45pm

Maybe I'm stupid but during the show it NEVER crossed my mind that McDonald's might have paid to be part of the episode.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 12:50pm

that's because it's one of the good shows, joe. they would never stoop to something like this on one of the good shows. that's for those heathens at fox and the cw and upn. eh, wtf do i care, that show does nothing for me anyway. nothing i tell you. you are worthress arec bardwin!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 12:54pm

Ever since the product placement episode of the first season, I kind of assume that any mention of a product on the show was paid for. Whatever keeps it on the air.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 1:54pm

All those iPhones the cast uses are placed there too. Tina mentioned in an interview that product placement is a necessary evil for a show so expensive to produce and she was fine with it as long as they acknowledged it. She cited the "can we get our money now?" line from the Snapple episode. I found that line distracting and annoying and the kind of crap I hate.

That Joe didn't get it as a product placement, I would have to say it violated the rule that makes it okay to Tina.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 2:40pm

I always wonder if product placement actually works. I like the show, but I've never bought a Snapple. Is it that I am improperly viewing network television shows?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 2:43pm

When they were eating their McFlurries at the end, I turned to my boyfriend and said "I want to go to there!"

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 2:49pm

But on the other hand, shows need money. And companies need to sell products. I do like the McRib. But I don't like the self-referential distractions.

Updated On: 2/13/09 at 02:49 PM

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 8:50pm

Apparently, it wasn't product placement...

Jack Donaghy's loving ode to the McFlurry in last night's episode of 30 Rock has gotten the blogosphere in a tizzy -- has Tina Fey's Emmy-winning sitcom completely sold out to egregious product placement? According to Ms. Fey, the answer is a resounding no. Fey issued this statement to finally put McFlurry-gate '09 to rest:

“It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the references to McDonald's in last night's episode of 30 Rock were in no way product placement. (Nor were they an attempt at product placement that fell through.) We received no money from the McDonald's Corporation. We were actually a little worried they might sue us. That's just the kind of revenue-generating masterminds we are.

Also, the upcoming story line where Liz Lemon starts dating Grimace is just based on a recurring dream I have.

Seriously, though, it's not product placement.

Also, whoever is writing my Twitter account is pretty funny, but it's not me.”

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/02/tina-fey-respon.html

Updated On: 2/13/09 at 08:50 PM

[EugLoven]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 10:01pm

It is a fact that "30 Rock" is one of the most-popular shows on television to be paving new methods of product placement.

Remember Tina Fey's Soy Joy?

New York Magazine had a very informative article on this very-subject a few months ago... one of the few avenues left shows have to receive funding from advertisers (given the plethora of TiVo and Hulu users)

READ HERE:
http://nymag.com/news/features/51014/
Updated On: 2/13/09 at 10:01 PM

[nygrl232]

Posted: 2/14/09 at 4:43am

What offends me about the McFlurry product placement was the fact that H'wood actresses have clauses in their contracts requiring them to be gorgeous and skinny, and they wouldn't eat any kind of dessert no matter how many coupons they'd lifted out of a church collection plate.

[BroadwayBoy2]

Posted: 2/14/09 at 10:09am

Maybe just me but, I did not see it as a product placement. I think the reason why this show is soo funny is because its so REAL. 30 Rock writers do an incredible job to make sure their humor is always based in reality, why some of it (including Tracy) may be far fetched, and Jenna may be a heighted satire on a diva, I think this show works because its believeable. Unlike those terrible sitcom's that we all know about. Thats why I also think having guest stars on the show works so well, IT TAKES PLACE IN NBC STUDIOS, so of course there will be big names floating around. Even if their not playing themselves.

[skb2010]

Posted: 2/14/09 at 10:17am

I just can't wait for La LuPone to be on.

[Jon]

Posted: 2/14/09 at 11:14am

The episode also featured Jane Krakowski doing an impression of singer Michael McDONALD.

Coincidence? I don't think so...

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/14/09 at 11:36am

Who cares if it's product placement? The episode was really funny and the show has never been shy about doing product placement (the line "can we have our money now?" was from the episode with Verizon, not the Snapple episode). I still think the Snapple product placement is one of the most hilarious moments in 30 ROCK and one of the things that sets it apart from other shows.
The episode was one of their bests and if the reason we got that hilarious Jane Krakowski moment was because of product placement, well, then keep 'em coming.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 2/14/09 at 11:55am

The reality of it is that people now skip commercials resulting in product placement. It is no big deal. Plus, it went with the story line of the $1000 dessert with the truffles and the gold on the top. If I were one of the writers, I would have chosen something like McDonald's McFlurry as opposed to something very general and not as funny.

I am the typical American consumer and that Snapple placement totally worked for me. "Wow, this is diet Snapple?" "I only date guys who drink Snapple." It. was. Brilliant.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/14/09 at 12:01pm

You know, I have to chime in. It's my favorite show. I've loved it since the first episode. Best live action primetime show in existence right now.

But I just didn't find that Snapple stuff brilliant. And one thing I have to vehemently disagree with, is "this show is soo funny is because its so REAL." Real it ain't.

[pli1018]

Posted: 2/14/09 at 1:19pm

Jon I legit laughed out loud at that!

Product placement NEVER crossed my mind when watching Thursday's episode. I agree with BroadwayBoy2 in saying that the show feels REAL.

[Jon]

Posted: 2/14/09 at 1:42pm

The show certainly feels more real than the sitcoms in the 70's and 80's where cereal boxes, beer cans, etc. had the brand names blanked out.

And it always bugged the hell out of me that on "Cheers", people would order "a beer" - without ever specifying a brand name.