Microsoft abandons Family Guy Windows 7 promo
updated 07:30 pm EDT, Mon October 26, 2009
MS backs out of sponsoring Family Guy
Microsoft in a sudden reversal today exited its sponsorship of a Family Guy episode due to air in just under two weeks. The company had originally signed on to tie Windows 7 to an uninterrupted half-hour episode of the show known as Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show that airs November 8th but now says the material it saw in an early cut is "not a fit with the Windows brand" and will leave any Windows 7 advertising to a 12-week Family Guy-related tour. It's believed the humor was considered too controversial for the software developer.
The animation is still due to show as scheduled but now has a different, unnamed sponsor.
Cancelling sponsorship is a potential blow to Microsoft, which to push Windows 7 has so far deliberately chased an unconventional strategy in marketing. While Family Guy would have been unusual as a full-show promotion, the Redmond, Washington company has gone so far as to launch a Windows 7 hamburger in Japan and make special deals for those living in towns with "seven" in the name.
A publicly available clip from the show is available below.
Family Guy too controversial?
10/26, 08:25pm reply
What the h*** were they thinking in the first place? Had they ever seen an episode before? Every episode is controversial!
jdonahoe
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2006
playing it safe
10/26, 08:28pm (1 reply) reply
Yes, maybe Microsoft should go back to its Windows 7 ads with little kids and puppies.
anthology123
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Nov 2000
as opposed to Balmer?
10/26, 08:30pm reply
as opposed to Balmer screaming and hollering on stage?
macjockey
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2004
Hooray!
10/26, 09:53pm (1 reply) reply
I actually stopped watching Family Guy the day they announced the tie-up with M$. I was utterly disgusted, in a "total sell-out" kind of way. I guess I can start watching it again!
Feathers
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 1999
Hooray!
10/26, 09:56pm (1 reply) reply
I actually stopped watching Family Guy the day they announced the tie-up with M$. I was utterly disgusted, in a "total sell-out" kind of way. I guess I can start watching it again... or maybe not, it is Fox after all. You heard about Glenn Beck in 1990?
Feathers
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 1999
Good
10/26, 10:05pm reply
There was no way Seth MacFarlane was going to compromise his artistic integrity (complete with f*** jokes) to the point that it would have passed MS marketing committee.
WiseWeasel
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 1999
More Floundering
10/26, 10:58pm reply
Every one of these ad things where MS backs out just makes them look weaker and lacking focus and direction.
Look at the pointless and embarrassing Seinfeld thing... except when Seinfeld cashed his check... the idiotic "I'm a PC" ads, the "Windows and PCs are cheap" ads, Ballmer shilling W7 on national TV, now this.
Microsoft is an empty suit. Nothing more.
JeffHarris
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 1999
c'mon
10/26, 11:04pm reply
"a potential blow to Microsoft" - are you serious? Nobody cares about advertising that much, and I doubt if anyone on the planet was eagerly awaiting such a transparent sellout by the Family Guy team.
eddd
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2001
I can't wait
10/27, 07:47am reply
for the future Family Guy episode where they rip Microsoft for pussing out.
climacs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
@Climacs
10/27, 08:39am (1 reply) reply
h*** yea..
So whatcha got there Brian? Is that one of those new.. ahhh.. iPhones? (voice getting higher) WIth the touch screen? Great design? Thousands of Apps.. right there at ahhh.. your fingertips?
eldarkus
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2004