Andrew Li's Blog

I was beginning to wonder when I would get the chance to blog about the AMC television drama Mad Men, since after all it is about advertising in New York during the iconic 1960’s and this is a marketing blog.

The drama usually commences shooting at the end of winter/early spring. However after much hold up this year, despite AMC having reached a new deal with Lionsgate, and Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner, it was announced Mad Men would not return this spring until March 2012 for the 5th season.  Among many reasons which include cast budgeting, and episode length, one reason that stuck out to me was needing more writing time for integrating more product placement into the series.

The thought of waiting an additional 12 months after already expecting the season to start is unbearable.  However at the same time, as a marketing student, it intrigues me to think of what additional types of product placement the writers could incorporate into the show.  Past product placements reoccuring over the series have included Heinekin beer, Cadillac cars, and Clearasil products.  Many believe additional product placement will take away from the plot show, however being a show about advertising, I don’t see how that’s possible.

Also, companies that want their products placed within the show receive a slightly different result. Different from regular product placement in shows/movies, their products will appear as a primary focal point of the plot rather than a sublte detail. This provides firms greater success in product placement. Looking at the big picture, this is all about money for AMC and lionsgate, as well as perhaps an altered version of their favorite show for many fans. Whether it will be even better or worse, we won’t know for another 12 months.