Anybody who watches “Family Guy” knows that the show constantly pushes the boundaries of good taste. (And I personally think it’s hilarious.) So it was surprising when Microsoft offered to sponsor a commercial-free “Family Guy” special, “Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show.” The sponsorship was part of the marketing campaign for Windows 7.
But now Microsoft has backed out of the deal, saying the content didn’t fit with the Windows brand. On first blush, you wonder if the gang in marketing over at Microsoft had ever SEEN the show. But MediaPost says Microsoft has spend more than $2.5 million on the show since 2005.
What does this say? The content of “Family Guy” isn’t SO offensive that Microsoft can’t buy a few commercials? Or is Microsoft saying the public doesn’t notice the commercials as much as it would sponsoring this special? Or did Microsoft get all the buzz it was looking for? What do YOU think?
And if you’ve never seen “Family Guy,” this about sums it up. And watch it at your own risk.
