Product Placement (Wild Turkey)

[bluesbassdad]

I just recently learned the term that I used as the subject of this post. I suppose everyone else already knows that it refers to a financial arrangement whereby a product is prominently displayed within fictional entertainment such as motion pictures and TV.

I saw an instance of product placement last night on a rerun of JAG. The Admiral, who was recuperating from a leg injury at home with a lady friend, asked her to make him a Wild Turkey on the rocks. We got to see her set the bottle on a coffee table as she handed him his drink.

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[kitzg]

The motion picture industry has greatly developed product placement since the mid-1970's. A fellow I knew was perhaps the founder of this concept. While I don't have any bourbon stories he did have Anheuser-Busch as a client. They would pay to have Budweiser placed in social settings. But if a group was going to fight in a bar then A-B had unidentifiable labels used -- to keep their brands from being associated with bar brawls.

By the mid-1980s the studios themselves started soliciting directly (for big dollar amounts) from clients they wanted to place in movies -- and then TV shows.

[cornsqueezins]

Dave, I wouldn't admit to watching reruns of JAG. That is almost as bad as Lawrence Welk reruns. Just kidding....

What you said reminded me of Geena Davis swigging Wild Turkey in "Thelma & Louise". Hubba.... I'm sure that helped improve sales of WT as well as provide a younger, fresher image for bourbon in general.

[Paradox]

I've seen Makers Mark popping up in quite a few movies recently as well. Two recent movies I remember seeing it in off hand are Spiderman and The Gift.

[bluesbassdad]

Dave, I wouldn't admit to watching reruns of JAG. [snip]

Boy, I'm sure glad I didn't mention "Matlock" or "Murder She Wrote".

Actually, it wouldn't surprise me at all if old Ben had a taste of Old Forrester now and then. Jessica seems more like the sherry type.

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[CL]

What you said reminded me of Geena Davis swigging Wild Turkey in "Thelma & Louise". Hubba....

Hmmmm. A young Geena Davis.

[OneCubeOnly]

As long as we're all 'fessing up to our shows & movies, the main character of the movie "Two Ninas" (which is a total chick-flick) repeatedly orders "Dickel" at his local watering hole.

He must've needed his nutrients after juggling two hot women!!

[CL]

He must've needed his nutrients after juggling two hot women!!

That is funny!

(If any newcomers didn't get the joke, head over here to find out.)