MacDailyNews Take: “We’ll never really sponsor it. We’ll just jerk around MacFarlane et al. and ride the free publicity for the 7ista rollout, then take even more free pub when we pull out.” (laughs)
Schneider continues, “Fox still plans to air ‘Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show’ on Nov. 8, but with another, yet-to-be-named, sponsor.”
MacDailyNews Take: Note to Apple, you know what to do (or at least you should).
Schneider continues, “‘Almost Live Comedy Show’ was announced earlier this month as part of a major marketing partnership Microsoft had sealed with a wide range of News Corp. properties to promote the launch of the computer giant’s Windows 7 operating system… But that was before Microsoft execs attended the special’s taping Oct. 16. The program included MacFarlane and Alex Borstein — the voice of ‘Family Guy’ matriarch Lois — pitching Windows 7.”
“For most of the special, however, MacFarlane and Borstein made typical “Family Guy”-style jokes, including riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest,” Schneider reports. “Such material was apparently a bit much for Microsoft.”
MacDailyNews Take: The whole thing was cynically planned out ahead of time and, if not, Microsoft is even more inept than even we think.
Schneider continues, “‘We initially chose to participate in the Seth and Alex variety show based on the audience composition and creative humor of ‘Family Guy,’ but after reviewing an early version of the variety show, it became clear that the content was not a fit with the Windows brand,’ said a Microsoft spokeswoman.
MacDailyNews Take: Why not? Microsoft’s 7ista is a joke on everyone with a PC.
Schneider continues, “Microsoft sent MacFarlane and Fox several notes expressing their concern over the show’s content but ultimately decided just to drop out. MacFarlane and Borstein pitched Windows 7 live in front of the studio audience in the middle of taping ‘Almost Live Comedy Show.’ It’s unclear how the show will be edited and whether the duo will have to shoot new scenes with the replacement sponsor.”
MacDailyNews Take: Again, Apple should swoop in and then MacFarlane and Borstein can pitch what they actually use: Apple Macs running Mac OS X.
Schneider continues in the full article here.
I just assumed Bill Gates would be the Emperor in “Something Something Something Dark Side” …
“creative humor of ‘Family Guy’ “
Really, I have never seen such a thing.
Family Guy is a pretty edgy program — I don’t think it’s a fit for any mass-market product like Windows or Apple. If Apple would jump in as a sponsor on the heels of MS, it would scream of “me too” syndrome which is a poor marketing message, not to mention the “family values” types who would be up in arms with any company that associates themselves with such provocative fare.
That said, it will probably be a funny show. ; D
Family Guy is not PC enough for PCs.
MS never learns. They pay top dollar for consulting firms BS to get suckered. They proudly payed a million dollars to told brown would be a good color for Zune, that went well. How much did they pay for bad commercials until putting a Apple store in their ad worked.
“…riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest,….”
It sounds like something a Iranian president would deny. Not for Apple, but I hope they diss the heck out of M$. (I’m old, is diss spelled correctly?)
” riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest”
Why would Apple want to be associated with any of this? It would damage their image. Poor idea.
I’m don’t believe Apple should step in here. I can see headlines howling about how inappropriate the the material is. And Steve might suffer some nasty cuts, as well.
I do think this episode shows how anxious MS is to appear more desirable to the “hip” crowd. . . . I think they may actually want to be considered “cool.”
lol. “something something something Dark Side.” “something something something complete.” I love how MacFarlane shows his love for Star Wars but can still make fun of Lucas’ clunky writing.
Agreed, though, about Apple NOT jumping on this bandwagon. It’d be quite out of character, for one, and would not be in keeping with the majority of its target market.
In what way is this Mac news?
After the bizarre Gates/Seinfeld ads, the failed Windows 7 launch parties, and now this very public about-face, it seems pretty clear to me that Microsoft hasn’t the faintest idea of how to market Windows to anyone.
MacDailyNews Take: The whole thing was cynically planned out ahead of time and, if not, Microsoft is even more inept than even we think.
In this case, considering the track record of their marketing department thus far, I’d have to go with the latter.
Great Microsloth! You sponsor a show – but really dont know what kind of show it is! Good Lord! Family Guy works, because it says the things, people only think – that’s why it was cancelled, then miraculously brought back. It laughs at ‘political correctness’ because PC people usually ‘act nice’, but you still wont be coming over for dinner, or dating their daughter. FG is kinda like this forum, all is dandy online, but if we all ever met in person, the sexist, racist, homophobic, religious persecutors may reconsider their friendships
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” /> The Family Guy is actually very mild compared to South Park because SP actually hits on real topics in an intelligent (satirical) manner. SP frightens so many people, that they refuse to watch that ‘horrid cartoon’, it might cause them to have to think.
@ critic (and others like you) – Hint: try thinking bigger picture.
family guy rules. microsoft blows. no surprises here.
@AppleJack
For the last couple of months, M$ has been doing this “We are cool” astroturf campaign.
They had an bought and paid for article in Fortune magazine saying “Microsoft is cool again” with a picture of Windows7 written in graffiti that was “Commissioned” by M$. Read any M$ fluff piece written in the last couple of months and I bet it says something about “Cool”.
I will give M$ credit for getting a little smarter/more subtle with their astroturfing.
Family Guy isn’t funny. I call it ‘desperation comedy’.
So for once, Microsoft are demonstrating good taste. Shocking.
And yeah, OK. I have to admit Microsoft already have their hands full with another bad joke: 7ista. Good call MDN.
MDN, you are simply retarded. Apple would never be involved in any way with The Family Guy. Please, you half-wits.
@ critic/huh?
open mouth, insert foot. while you’re at it, insert both feet.
I am glad to see that MS has moral standards. I also hope Apple stays far away from this garbage.
wmd
@ wmd – Is that short for “Windows Marketing Department?”
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
agree with wmd
Fox has a two-edged strategy: give the populist masses their cheap “edgy” (i.e. sleazy) entertainment and neo-fascist skewed “news”, while defending the corporate oligarchy. The Rupert Murdochs are laughing all the way to the bank.
I disagree with MDN’s take. And I’m not trying to be snide or rude. But I don’t think Microsoft would be nearly Machiavellian enough to think it was a good idea to sponsor this event and then pull out of it for some free publicity. I truly think this is another example of Microsoft not thinking their advertising through. They have a very button down corporate culture and then they try to get “hip” and they they’re stunned that “hip” might be, well, you know, hip and kinda edgy, and then they realize they’ve made another complete blunder and have to pull out. It’s like they never even watched the show but just heard that it was cool and thought it’d make them cool to be a part of it. It’s fascinating to watch. There are going to be lots and lots of books written about the rise and fall of Microsoft.
I’m with the guys who are saying “Apple, don’t touch this one.”. Family Guy offers maybe a minute or two or excellent comedy per show. A bit more that’s “pretty good”. And a bit more that’s just plain tasteless.
As for the MDN comments … get a clue. I’ve read quite a few compos between SL and 7, and the general consensus is “great job, nearly as good as SL”. Now, I agree these were written by Stockholm Syndrome sufferers so I’ve made my mental adjustments – but the answer is still pretty much the same … “good job” for each. Sure, there are still some problems you could drop a house through, but there are solutions – albeit, noxious ones – for those. AV apps, for example. Buying the full package for a $1,000+ PC, for another. Suddenly you have a package that is an honest competitor, a close runner-up. Good enough, if your job absolutely requires that you run Visio regularly.
The compos all give SL the edge. I say they are being overly fair to MSFT in doing so, but they all give ample evidence that 7 is close. And decidedly better than Vista. A little less vitriol is called for. None of us are going to the Dark Side just because you neglected a snippy comment. Have some faith!
“FG is kinda like this forum, all is dandy online, but if we all ever met in person, the sexist, racist, homophobic, religious persecutors may reconsider their friendships”
Hmmm…. as you’ve just used the typical laundry list of ad hominem character assassination words used by those on the Left to dismiss those on the Right with whom they cannot hold a logical debate, I’m guessing that you voted Democrat last November.