family guy posts

Remember when Microsoft thought it was a good idea to enlist characters from Family Guy as their new Windows 7 spokespeople? It was a funny idea, but somewhere between the beginning of production and the scheduled air-date, Microsoft executives realized two things: a) the target audience for a Windows 7 commercial is probably not getting high and watching cartoons right now, and b) the ads just weren't very good.

After seeing clips of the Family Guy ads, I'm not convinced they're better than Microsoft's previous big-budget ad failure, those Seinfeld and Bill Gates spots. At least the Seinfeld ads were totally weird, instead of taking a show you know and love and painfully shoehorning some product placement where it doesn't belong. A mention of Windows 7 in an actual episode of Family Guy could at least have been played for big laughs, but these clips fall flat.

Don't believe me? See for yourself after the jump.

[via Gizmodo]

...is that your surprised face I see? No?

In yet another blunder by the Microsoft PR team, they have pulled out of a planned variety show written by the creator of Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane, and Alex Borstein (the voice of Lois). In a dull, think-of-the-stockholders turn-up for the books, they've decided that the Windows 7 brand does not quite fit inside the Family Guy universe -- and promptly pulled the plug on their sponsorship (though the show will still be aired).

How boring is Microsoft trying to be exactly?

First the house parties -- man, they were coolest events since sliced bread! Now the canned Family Guy episode -- obviously too cool, too risque for ol' grandpappy Microsoft. And here I was thinking Microsoft was trying to appear younger, more hip, cool, and fun. More, well, Apple.

I mean, you saw their store-opening video, right?

Microsoft need to get with it. The lumbering, bureaucratic beast needs to put on some sunglasses and be that cool kid everyone liked at school.

The last thing they needed to do was piss off Seth MacFarlane -- remember what happened last time, after Fox stepped on his toes? Imagine how many jokes in Family Guy are now going to be at Microsoft's expense.

I guess that's publicity, of a sort.

[via CNET]

Welcome to Googleholic, your bi-weekly fix for everything Google!

In this edition:

• Google crawls Flash
• AdSense Referrals and AdWords pay-per-action retired
• Is Picasa being rebranded?
• Google teams up with Seth MacFarlane
• Google Mac Playground
• Farewell, Googlified