Microsoft Kills Windows 7-themed "Family Guy" Variety Show Due to Questionable Content

From DailyTech: Microsoft in recent years has often turned to unusual means of promoting its upcoming operating systems. While the well-received Windows 7 doesn't need much help selling itself to many customers, Microsoft still decided on some rather unusual marketing techniques. To supplement its televisions ads featuring a little girl exploring Windows 7 and showing how easy it is to use, and its latest "I'm a PC" commercials, Microsoft offered Windows 7 Parties and an upcoming sponsorship of a new show on Fox, the "Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show", hosted by "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane.

The show, set to air November 8 will feature a mix of live entertainment, celebrity appearances, and animated content. It is rumored to have "Family Guy"-like musical numbers. However, it won't be having a Microsoft-sponsored Windows 7 theme anymore.

Those hoping for a Windows 7 Family Guy montage sing-along will be disappointed, as Microsoft has officially cut the sponsorship. According to Variety, the ball dropped fell after Microsoft executives attended a taping on October 16. The program featured MacFarlane and Alex Borstein -- the voice of "Family Guy" matriarch Lois -- trying to sell Windows 7. The pair made typical off-color jokes as they frequently do on "Family Guy", exploring such taboo topics as the handicapped community, the Holocaust, and incest.

Apparently the dark humor was a bit too much for Microsoft as they subsequently decided to pull the campaign citing content concerns. States a Microsoft spokeswoman, "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. 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."

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