Microsoft has bailed out of its plans to sponsor (and exclusively at that) “Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show”. Fox still plans to air it on Sunday Nov. 8, but with a yet-to-be-named sponsor.
“Almost Live Comedy Show” was announced earlier this month as part of a marketing partnership Microsoft had with News Corp. properties to promote the launch of the new Windows 7 operating system.
But FOX made the mistake of letting Microsoft attend the special’s taping on Friday October 16 which included typical Family Guy type jokes that were more than Microsoft could handle.
“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,” read a Microsoft statement. “We continue to have a good partnership with Fox, Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein and are working with them in other areas. We continue to believe in the value of brand integrations and partnerships between brands, media companies and talent.”
Ha!
So when they say “We initially chose to participate in the Seth and Alex variety show based on the audience composition and creative humor of ‘Family Guy,’” they really mean audience composition only, because they can’t possibly have ever watched a single episode.
Gotta love something that scared Microsoft away.
Watch, MAC will sponser now. LOL!!
Wow, way to diss the key demo that supports Apple geniuses! Who knew, Seth MacFarlane is contervorsial?
Mel says:
October 26, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Gotta love something that scared Microsoft away.
Watch, MAC will sponser now. LOL!!
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If Mac picks it up, I hope they tailor ads with the young guy counterpointing the buffoon from MS.
Why pull out? Who cares if its controversial? Isn’t that what brings in viewers and more possible money for your product? Microsoft will be crying when the ratings are through the roof.
@RJ, they’re afraid of super-conservative groups boycotting them.
The special might exceed the usual content on Family Guy, and being the lone sponsor makes them a target.
There’s supposed to be more to it than just Family Guy stuff anyway. I will definitely watch it on Hulu, where I watch all my shows, and this news only makes me want to see it more.
@JTM
Errr…
Super conservative groups boycott Fox….isn’t Fox News their new Messiah?
How unbelievably stupid of Microsoft. Family Guy has only been around for a decade folks… didn’t have time to actually watch a few minutes? Or did they think they’d be different? MacFarlane will skewer anything, friend and foe alike. It’s humor intended to offend, plain and simple. And it’s right in the golden demographic everybody’s looking for.
I’ll watch no matter who’s sponsoring, but it sure will be funny to see if they throw some Microsoft jokes in there now.
@johnthemon A boycott would maybe work if it was some other company but if conservatives do start boycotting Microsoft who would they go to? The much more expensive Mac Operating System in this economy? and I highly doubt conservatives know what Linux is.
What did Microsoft think Family Guy was before getting into bed with them? What a bunch of dumbasses! Family Guy has been around for awhile, and they offend almost EVERYONE! I guess they are going to run with “Bob the Builder” now?
It’s an old rule because it rings true: Never buy sight unseen. That’s why I rarely get anything when it first comes out. Hopefully, MS has learned its lesson.
Has Microsoft never seen Family Guy? REALLY? a decade of this, and they’ve never seen it… come on…
Microsoft will feel stupid when the ratings are through the roof, and which sponsor jumps on this, will b the lucky ones in the end…
and now that people found out about microsoft backing out, it will attract more viewers. I will b watching! and looking for microsoft jokes, lol
With this special, I wonder if Fox regrets getting rid of Mad TV?
In Microsoft’s defense, Family Guy’s humor is way harsher now than it was in its earlier seasons. It’s very possible the people at Microsoft just haven’t watched in a while.
Im no fan of Family Guy, but this is just too funny. Every kid should know that you can’t sponsor Family Guy without having to take some shots at you.
Jesus Moreno – Wow, that’s quite a bold, sweeping, stereotypical comment about conservatives not knowing what Linux is. Everyone knows that political ideals is what drives your taste and knowledge in operating systems. Your statement truly reflects how little you know and how closed minded you are.
@Jesus Moreno,
I think Brian got you on your stereotyping, so I’m going to cover your comment that a boycott wouldn’t affect microsoft.
The fact is, it might not much, but they don’t want their brand associated with something many people find offensive, not just super conservatives. I have a feeling the special goes a bit further than your average Family Guy episode.
I have to agree with what Microsoft did. I have been a Family Guy fan since the beginning and I have gotten more offended lately than I ever have by them.
No one will know why Microsoft bailed out until the show airs. If you read the post, you would have noticed that they got out after attending a taping. They probably have very good reason to get out. And, do you honestly think that nobody knows what Family Guy is like at the huge company of Microsoft ? That’s just ignorance on your part if you believe that. They would never make a big decision like backing or not backing this big of a deal blindly. Also, I think Microsoft has plenty of advertising and customers. This was just some good extra advertising. I don’t think they’ll be upset that they got out.
It’s easy to sit at your computer and come up with good one-liners about Microsoft, conservatives, etc. to make your point. But, you should get out in the real world and see how it works.
Kudos to Microsoft. If they didn’t like what they saw then they have every right to pull out.
Micorsoft is dumber than bill gates’ wife is ugly.
or even microsoft….or whatever their name is.
The guys at microsoft obviously have never watch family guy. Name me an episode of family that isnt controversial and offensive to someone.
Here’s a quote from Variety….
The special includes “typical ‘Family Guy’-style jokes, including riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest,” said Variety, which first reported Microsoft’s exit.
Is this what passes for humor and entertainment these days? I’m with Microsoft, count me out.
Johnny, what you and Microsoft are missing is that that’s what Family Guy is always like. They never should have partnered with them to begin with if they weren’t expecting that sort of humor. (Personally, I agree with you. The humor is not to my taste. Doesn’t change the fact that Microsoft should have known what it was before they got into it.)
Surely Microsoft knew what type of humor they were getting involved with before they agreed to link this special with a major, multi-billion dollar software launch. These are computer geeks, of course they know what goes on with Family Guy. It’s a ridiculous, knee-jerk reaction to say they didn’t know what they were getting into.
The fact that they pulled out only after viewing the content of the special makes me wonder just how ’special’ this special really is. It could be that the special just plain old fashion stinks. It could be total crap and they decided they didn’t want it associated with their brand. There could be many reasons they pulled out. To make the presumption they were shocked by the content seems foolish.