Advertising Shenanigans

Let's just got this out on the table, I'm media savvy. Wise to the ways of advertisers and how they try to shove their products onto the American consumer. One of their worst tricks is the product placement in a film or television. I'm wise and we spent time talking about it in one of my classes this Spring. Also, the brouhaha over 30 Rock and the McFlurry, iPhone and the Slanket has made the public aware (or maybe just Gawker and New York Times reader) of the ubiquitous practice. So with all of this knowledge how did I of all people fall prey to one of the most obvious advertising gimmicks ever?

It started out innocently enough. Lifetime (yes, I watch that channel) was airing a two-part movie of Maneater (yes, I read the book too) starring Sarah Chalke, who I've routed for since she was the second Becky on Roseanne and was awesome as Stella on How I Met Your Mother. The thing is it was sponsored by Vaseline's new Aloe Fresh line of products. It was blatant and kind of funny how they kept showing the commercials. And then came the first time the product appeared in the actual movie. One of the characters is waiting for her friend to come by and she's outside moisturizing her legs!! Really, is this normal behavior? The next instance came while Chalke's characters was interviewing for a job and it comes out of her bag, she endorses the product and gives it to the interviewer. Each time I yelled at the screen "product placement"!! And yet...

I was left with this overwhelming desire to try out this product. Let me be clear, I am already familiar with another product in the line, the cocoa butter one, it's awesome. But I was left thinking would the Aloe Vera be better for summer? Now I am left wanting to try something I don't need, feeling like I've been hoodwinked by Lifetime and Vaseline, and worst to be self-aware enough to know that I am going to purchase something because of advertising. Subliminal messages should work best not this blatant pandering. All I can say is product review!

You can see the movie here