Topic: Product Placement

The hosts discuss the new "Gran Turismo" film, noting its heavy use of Sony product placement but praising its depiction of positive male role models. Adam Curry mentions that No Agenda race car driver Ashlyn Speed gave the movie a positive review. The segment also touches on the difficulty of getting movies produced without significant corporate sponsorship in the current industry climate.

The Indy 500 broadcast featured excessive verbal mentions of Firestone tires, leading to a discussion on "sleazy" advertising deals where broadcasters are paid per mention. A parallel is drawn to a past MTV deal where VJs were required to refer to Michael Jackson as "the King of Pop" in every instance during a specific promotional weekend.

The television show "New Amsterdam" featured a scene with dialogue about global warming that critics described as forced propaganda. The script included a character complaining about air conditioners "belching Freon," a technical inaccuracy given that Freon has been phased out of residential units for decades.

The hosts discuss the "collateral effect" of embedding social and environmental messages within fictional television scripts. They note how scenes involving recycling or climate anxiety are often inserted into procedurals like FBI to influence viewer behavior and cultural narratives.

The discussion explores the perceived hypocrisy of Hollywood figures calling for gun control while accepting money from gun manufacturers for product placement in films. Examples cited include Beretta paying for handgun usage and the prominent placement of Glocks in the "Die Hard" series. The hosts argue that the media and entertainment industries are complicit in creating a culture of violence that influences individuals like the "Pizzagate" shooter.

Observations of media figures like Charlie Rose wearing the Apple Watch suggest a coordinated product placement effort. The cultural reception of the device is described as cult-like, with some tech commentators jokingly comparing the act of showing off the watch to a collective salute.

Author Danielle Steel faced criticism for allegedly incorporating product placement into her novels. A reader noted a specific instance where a main character expressed excessive gratitude for an Oral-B electric toothbrush, which felt like a paid advertisement embedded in the narrative. This practice is distinguished from traditional native advertising but is viewed by some as selling out the audience for commercial interests.

Sony Pictures reportedly rewrote the script for the upcoming James Bond film, *Spectre*, after the Mexican government offered $14 million in incentives. The changes included featuring modern parts of Mexico City, casting a known Mexican actress, and setting a pursuit during the Day of the Dead festival. This incident highlights the growing influence of foreign governments on Hollywood scripts through tax credits and direct payments.

The NBC show "The Mysteries of Laura" features a segment explaining police forfeiture laws, which the hosts identify as a form of "native advertising" for government policy. They discuss the ongoing scandals surrounding police seizing cash and property from citizens without charging them with crimes. The hosts argue that scripted television is increasingly used to normalize controversial law enforcement practices.

The Pearson Charitable Foundation agreed to a $7.7 million settlement with the New York Attorney General for using its non-profit status to develop commercial Common Core products. Additionally, parents have expressed outrage over prominent brand names like Nike and iPod appearing in standardized tests. A listener provides evidence of Pearson's "barcoded scrap paper" that must be returned to the company after testing.

Samsung reportedly paid $20 million for advertising and integration during the Oscars, including the viral selfie taken by Ellen DeGeneres on a Galaxy Note 3. The discussion highlights the erosion of the "church and state" divide between editorial content and paid advertising in modern media.

The hosts distinguish between "product placement," such as Starbucks cups on *Morning Joe*, and "native advertising," where news segments are paid for by corporations. They cite a *Wall Street Journal* article that transitioned into a pitch for a communications firm and a news report on car safety that suspiciously praised the Chevrolet Spark while panned the Honda Fit. They argue that television native ads are particularly "sinister" because they are difficult for the average viewer to detect.

The blatant product placement of the Chevrolet Camaro in the television series *Hawaii Five-O* is critiqued. The hosts discuss the increasing trend of "embedded advertising" where commercial sponsors are integrated directly into show scripts and dialogue.

The hosts critique the premiere of the Robin Williams sitcom "The Crazy Ones," describing it as a half-hour "native advertisement" for McDonald's. The plot centered on securing McDonald's as a client and featured Kelly Clarkson singing a jingle. They argue that the line between entertainment and corporate promotion has been completely erased.

A CNN human interest segment about a young percussionist is criticized for transitioning directly into a pharmaceutical advertisement for Cymbalta. The hosts suggest that under Jeff Zucker, news reporters may be encouraged to find their own sponsors or integrate product mentions into their stories. This "freemium" reporter model is discussed as a potential future for struggling news networks.

The Dutch Media Authority (Commissariat voor de Media) has established strict rules for on-demand services, including mandatory "bookends" for advertisements and a ban on clandestine product placement. Sponsored content for news or political information is strictly prohibited. These regulations are seen as a way for the state to control the "propaganda tool" of video media.

The evolution of television advertising is discussed through a segment on *OMG Insider*, where a host's interview on the red carpet seamlessly transitions into a product pitch for Olay CC cream. The hosts highlight this as a "shameless" new trend in blurring the lines between content and commercials.

CNN's "Starting Point" with Soledad O'Brien featured a segment promoting Taco Bell's new "Cantina Bell" gourmet menu created by Chef Lorena Garcia. The hosts criticize the segment as blatant product placement disguised as news, noting that the entire panel was shown eating and endorsing the food. They argue this represents a decline in journalistic integrity and a blurring of the lines between news and advertising.

The hosts identify news reports about SEAL Team 6 operations as stealth marketing for the upcoming film "Act of Valor." They argue that the name "SEAL Team 6" is being used as a brand for entertainment purposes rather than accurate military reporting.

The hosts deconstruct an episode of Law & Order: Los Angeles featuring a female domestic terrorist. They highlight a jarring product placement for Red Lobster during an arrest scene. They argue the show is a "meme fest" designed to program the American mind, specifically promoting the idea that federal authorities are superior to local law enforcement.