Blatant product placement in soaps?

[Calvin]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#1

Posted: 10/6/10 at 2:29pm

I happened to be home during the day last week and saw a little bit of Days of our Lives for the first time in ages. At one point, one of the characters launched into a full-out commercial for some bag of frozen Chinese food.

I know soaps are struggling, but for those of you regular soap-watchers, is this common now? I mean, I'm used to seeing bags, boxes or cans of stuff prominently displayed in tv shows, but talking for several minutes about a product while the camera does a closeup of the bag is something else entirely.
Were they out of chowder?

[Q]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#2

Posted: 10/6/10 at 2:33pm

I've never seen anything like that. I wonder what the actors thought?

[morosco]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#2

Posted: 10/6/10 at 2:37pm

I wonder how the actors felt about that scene? Especially the actress who was promoting the food. It must have been tough for her. I mean...to be an actor and have to do crap like that.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#3

Posted: 10/6/10 at 2:42pm

But, that's what they were created to do -- sell soap, one particular brand of soap, during the show. I suppose you'll have to begin calling Days a Chinese Food Opera.
Updated On: 10/6/10 at 02:42 PM

[Calvin]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#4

Posted: 10/6/10 at 2:42pm

I wonder how the writers feel? Did they actually have to write that? Or was it submitted, like an advertorial in a newspaper?

eta: Yeah, SOMMS, it made me think of those old commercial breaks where the actors shill products in character. My favorite is still the Flintstones smoking Winston cigarettes. :)
Updated On: 10/6/10 at 02:42 PM

[MrMidwest]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#5

Posted: 10/7/10 at 3:55pm

More product placement from a few months back

"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#6

Posted: 10/7/10 at 4:08pm

I just posted Caroline's Wanchai Ferry commercial on Facebook! The Midol one was the first time I noticed it, but there have been several others.

[Calvin]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#7

Posted: 10/7/10 at 4:51pm

Ok, not only is the Midol one worse, but I don't even know who those two characters talking are.

eta: Wow, I was way behind the times here! They even made poor Henderson get involved? That guy's still on the show doing his 5-6 lines per year, and one of them has to be to hawk Cheerios.
LOL Updated On: 10/7/10 at 04:51 PM

[StockardFan]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#8

Posted: 10/7/10 at 7:19pm

I've noticed a few things....but nothing that blatant. Mostly on All My Children. One day Adam said something about Ragu spaghetti sauce, and another time there was a big New York & Co. shopping bag on the table in Tad's foyer.

KFTC!!!!!

[clever name]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#9

Posted: 10/7/10 at 7:29pm

Those clips are hilarious! They make me want to watch soaps.


...and eat frozen meals and take pills.

[MrMidwest]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#10

Posted: 10/7/10 at 8:02pm

'It's like a million different flavors in your mouth!'

"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter

[StockardFan]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#10

Posted: 10/7/10 at 8:02pm

I saw the Chinese food one over on Facebook - I LOL'ed.

KFTC!!!!!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#12

Posted: 10/7/10 at 10:11pm

I wish they'd do a product placement based storyline!

[Calvin]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#13

Posted: 10/7/10 at 10:32pm

Well, when I was watching the other day, I was wondering how Vivian took care of bodily functions while locked in that sarcophagus. Maybe product placement is the answer!

VIVIAN: Brady, you have to let me out. My bladder's about to burst.
BRADY: Well, Vivian, you're in luck. Before I put you in there, I also put in a package of Depends!
VIVIAN: Depends? What are those?
BRADY: Depends undergarments. They're easy to wear, like underwear, and have maximum absorbency!
VIVIAN: Wow, and with this new pink waistband, no one will know the difference.
BRADY: Not that anyone will see you!
VIVIAN: Can I shit in them, too?
BRADY: Sure, knock yourself out.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#14

Posted: 10/7/10 at 10:34pm

If I'm not mistaken, in Days time she's only been in there for barely a day. I feel like the past two weeks have been the same day. At least in most stories. I felt like one was moving in its own time zone.
Updated On: 10/8/10 at 10:34 PM

[StockardFan]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#15

Posted: 10/8/10 at 8:02am

Calvin, I'm LMAO at your little scene!

KFTC!!!!!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#16

Posted: 10/8/10 at 11:51am

How did Calvin get away with typing ****?!

[StockardFan]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#17

Posted: 10/8/10 at 3:11pm

LOL, I don't know?

KFTC!!!!!

[StockardFan]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#18

Posted: 10/8/10 at 3:11pm

****


eta: Nope. Didn't work for me!

KFTC!!!!!

Updated On: 10/8/10 at 03:11 PM

[Calvin]

Blatant product placement in soaps?#19

Posted: 10/8/10 at 3:45pm

I'm just sneaky.