Two networks irked their viewers this week as certain product placements did not go according to plan.
Fox’s rating juggernaut “American Idol” opened its Thursday show with a stunt promoting “The Clash of the Titans”. Actors on a screen via a live hookup from the London premiere of the movie and clips of the movie mashed with clips of “Idol” were also played. This was considered to be worse than the show where Mike Myers appeared to promote the disastrous “Love Guru”.
ABC, on the other hand, used two of its shows in a failed attempt to promote products, the first being the Apple iPad on “Modern Family”. The story was about Phil, who loves gadgets, and in wanting an iPad for his birthday the show is about the struggles that his family goes through to get him one. The storyline and presentation has not well received by viewers; they simply considered it to be a story that the company had sold to Apple. Although ABC denied it, nothing so far has changed public perception. But the worst offence ABC committed was using “Lost” to promote the mid-season return of the “V”.
An almost ever present countdown plastered on the episode had “Lost” fans disgusted and complaining. It was even mocked by late nighters’ Letterman and Colbert on their shows. Though it could be unrelated, the alien invasion show returned to a lukewarm reception resulting in moderate ratings. The alphabet now regrets using such an annoying tactic on a show that was powerful enough to shift the Presidents’ State of the Union address and said that it will not use any such tactics again.