“Microsoft “has signed a deal with Fox to sponsor a variety show produced by ‘Family Guy’ creator Seth MacFarlane, voice of the family guy himself, Peter Griffin, and actress Alex Borstein, who plays wife Lois Griffin. The show will air Nov. 8 without commercial interruption — because it will instead feature Windows-branded programming throughout the program,” Abbey Klaassen reports for Advertising Age.
“The branded-entertainment deal is a collaboration between Microsoft, the brand-friendly Mr. MacFarlane and Crispin, Porter & Bogusky, the ad agency responsible for the multimillion-dollar worldwide Windows 7 push. Microsoft’s media agency, Universal McCann, was also involved in brokering the deal,” Klaassen reports.
“The Microsoft-sponsored variety show, whose working title is ‘Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show,’ is a mix of live-action ‘Family Guy’ musical performances, animated shorts and celebrity guest appearances, and is part of an all-Seth MacFarlane night on Fox. The software company wouldn’t elaborate on what exactly the Microsoft integrations would look like or possible scenarios in which Windows 7 could play a starring role, but said Crispin’s copywriter and art director on the Windows campaign were working closely with Mr. MacFarlane and Ms. Borstein,” Klaassen reports. “‘You’ll see us deeply integrated into the content … you’ll hear a lot about how Windows 7 can help you simplify your PC — it’s simple, fast and easy to use,’ said Gayle Troberman, general manager of consumer engagement and advertising at Microsoft. She went on: ‘Think about metaphors and examples we might use, talking about how simple things are. We’ll be evoking the cast of ‘Family Guy’ in some interesting ways that integrate the product messages.'”
Klaassen reports, “The MacFarlane sponsorship is part of a broader deal with the News corp.-owned network through its Fox ONE multiplatform sales group and also includes 20th Century Fox Television, Fox Licensing and Merchandising, Fox Sports, FX, Fox Sports on MSN and Hulu. Another part of the Fox deal has Microsoft working with its licensing division for a 12-week college tour that will let students try out Windows 7 and receive custom content, such as outdoor movie nights hosted by ‘Family Guy’ characters Stewie and Brian.”
Full article here.
Microsoft’s press release, verbatim:
Microsoft and FOX One to Collaborate on Exclusive Windows 7 Brand Sponsorship of “Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show” (Working Title)
Windows 7 to enhance viewing experience of original variety show special airing Sunday, Nov. 8, on FOX; broader multiplatform marketing initiative also encompasses 20th Century Fox Television, Fox Licensing and Merchandising, FOX Sports, FX, FOX.com, FOX Sports on MSN, and Hulu assets.
REDMOND, Wash., and LOS ANGELES — Oct. 13, 2009 — Today, Microsoft Corp. and FOX One announced an ambitious, unique marketing collaboration that will showcase the best of Windows 7, the newest version of Microsoft’s operating system that will be available in market on Oct. 22. The cornerstone of the effort is the exclusive Windows 7 sponsorship of an upcoming television event devoted to the comedy of Seth MacFarlane, creator of “Family Guy,” “American Dad” and “The Cleveland Show.”
Taking the idea of “commercial-free” to the next level, the original FOX variety special “Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show,” (working title) airing Sunday, Nov. 8, at 8:30 p.m. EST and PST and starring MacFarlane and his “Family Guy” co-star Alex Borstein, will deliver simplicity for viewers — no commercial ad time, no network promotions and no commercial breaks — and instead will feature unique Windows 7-branded programming that blends seamlessly with show content. In a network first, MacFarlane and Borstein have teamed with Windows and their agencies, Universal McCann and Crispin, Porter + Bogusky, to develop, write and produce the customized branded integrations that seek to bring the old “Texaco Star Theater”-style sponsorships into the 21st century. The half-hour special will highlight the comedy duo’s subversive and unique humor with original animation, live-action performances of “Family Guy’s” most memorable musical numbers, comedy sketches and surprise celebrity guests. That night, FOX turns the reins over to MacFarlane for an all-MacFarlane lineup as he also hosts all-new episodes of his signature animated series.
While the way people watch TV has evolved, their desire to be entertained, and marketers’ need to deliver compelling content, hasn’t changed. Microsoft and FOX are joining forces to showcase how the power and simplicity of Windows 7 can enhance the content FOX viewers enjoy most, whether it’s comedy, drama, sports or reality programming on TV or on the Web.
“We’re working with FOX on innovative brand integrations that will show how the power and simplicity of Windows 7 can enhance the content FOX viewers love,” said Gayle Troberman, general manager of consumer engagement and advertising at Microsoft. “We have simplified the PC with Windows 7, and together with FOX, we’re simplifying entertainment.”
“We’re thrilled to be joining forces with Windows 7 on such an exciting, highly collaborative marketing campaign featuring the very unique talents of Seth MacFarlane as he overhauls the old Hollywood tradition of the sponsored variety show by marrying Windows 7 messaging with content,” said Jean Rossi, president of FOX One and executive vice president of Sales for FOX. “By partnering with 20th Century Fox Television, Fox Licensing and Merchandising, FOX Sports, FX, FOX Sports on MSN and Hulu, we have developed a complementary initiative that goes well beyond the screen with customized assets that connect consumers with Windows 7.”
In addition to sponsorship of the variety show special, Microsoft and Fox Licensing and Merchandising are working together to reach more than 4.3 million college students in person on campuses across the country. The joint 12-week college tour gives students the chance to try Windows 7 for themselves and enjoy customized entertainment created by Fox Licensing and Merchandising such as outdoor movie nights hosted by “Family Guy’s” Stewie and Brian, online videos, and other customized “Family Guy” content.
Microsoft and FOX One will roll out marketing collaboration efforts with a variety of FOX One properties including 20th Century Fox Television, FOX Sports, FX, FOX.com, FOX Sports on MSN and Hulu.
Source: Microsoft
MacDailyNews Take: (while Peter is changing Stewie) Stewie: “No, you idiot. That’s not a Baby Ruth, that’s Windows 7. (Peter stares for a full minute in silence then Stewie begins to urinate) Stewie: “Ahhhhh! The ‘wow’ starts now.”
Direct link via YouTube here.
“Oh no! Peter Griffin is no longer my role model. :-(“
Try using Glenn Beck instead.
Wow. Joanie sure, um, developed nicely.
“Pimping” isn’t the word I would have used. “Whoring” is.
“Microsoft and FOX One will roll out marketing collaboration efforts with a variety of FOX One properties including 20th Century Fox Television, FOX Sports, FX, FOX.com, FOX Sports on MSN and Hulu.
“
As long as they don’t infect Fox Soccer Channel it won’t affect me.
Regardless, Microsoft will sell a couple- hundred copies of windows 7 and lose another 100 to piracy.
So, they’re good, not cool but filthy rich.
If its as <strike>good<\strike> stable as they say it is, I’ll lift a copy.
Millions, that is.
the answer to making Windows suck less is a Family Guy episode?
nice.
And I once held a modicum of respect for MacFarlane (which, from me, is saying alot). Guess that’s gone…
Why do you need a press release for a marketing campaign.
That’s like announcing an announcement. RiDICulous.
Is Family Guy that popular? This is a pathetic attempt by MS to get some airtime. Trainwreck. Waste of money. I want my product touted by a cartoon. It’s just retarded.
Microsoft is so stupid. How did they get the monopoly they have?
Seth … take the money and run. It simply won’t matter how good, bad, funny or not the show will be, it won’t change that fact that it’s still just another crappy Windows release. If MS came to me with a huge paycheck and told me to create a show, I’d take it in a heartbeat! MS can afford it. Did Seinfeld take a popularity hit for taking 10 Million to appear in 2 commercials? He’s just as funny as ever. Seth will be the same…funny as ever.
Seth McFarland is a talentless prick so I couldn’t care less. Windows 7 and that douche are a perfect pair.
So Microsoft is going to collaborate on writing comedy…now that’s comical.
Has Microsoft looked at any episodes of “Family Guy”? Potty humor, gay jokes, tasteless crap….yeah, I guess they have.
Well, I have spent several months testing Windows 7 and now they are going to convince me that all the problem I found are not true? it is all in my imagination?
Good old Microoaf sure knows how to blow that monopoly earned dollars on useless initiatives.
Good one, Ron! FSC is the only Fox I watch, too!
Is there a BSD being placed in the show?
The tie-in is obvious:
Family Guy : fat, ugly, boring, irrelevant.
Microsoft: fat, ugly, boring, rapidly becoming irrelevant.
First Seinfeld, now Family Guy. Lost a bit of respect for them. And Whoopi standing like an idiot in that T-Mobile commercial.
I don’t think this will help Microsoft as much as it will hurt Seth MacFarlane, who may lose his last layer of coolness by taking on such a dumb project.
Hilarious because Seth MacFarlane can pull of some great humor… and hilarious in its misguided failure to promote Microsoft in any useful way.
And could Seth MacFarlane possibly get any more cynical than this? No. Which is why we love him!
How many mac users will watch this show? The cool people won’t watch it – it will be too annoying. And the really cool people don’t watch american television anyway…
Video preview at Ars technica
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/10/sneak-peek-family-guy-meets-windows-7.ars?utm_source=microblogging&utm_medium=arstch&utm_term=Main Account&utm_campaign=microblogging
I wonder how much uproarious laughter the line “I just Twittered” will generate amongst the young crowd MSFT is going after with this. After all, they don’t need Windows 7 to Twitter. Besides, that demographic is on Facebook anyway.
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“Think about metaphors and examples we might use, talking about how simple things are”
Why it’s almost as fast and easy as a Mac Plus!