So as you might remember, I watched "The Voice" season premiere on NBC last night (Sept. 24). I also live-tweeted it as it went along with my reactions to different parts of it.  It was fun, but I gotta admit, I was feeling a little cynical about the whole affair. 

It seemed like the show was trying to present these heartfelt, underdog stories about people overcoming their obstacles against all odds, right? It's a show where people can empathize with the contestants and root for them to succeed and improve in their big, crazy dreams. They throw in some celebrities here and there, and all in all everyone's happy, right? Right. Or are they?

For me, the show is something I enjoy, don't get me wrong.  But I do get distracted in a negative way when I see Starbucks coffee cups carefully placed in each shot and someone randomly driving up in a Kia. I get that they're a TV Show. I get that it's not a charity. They are in this to make money.  But why not just buy a commercial? That would seem more... I don't know.  Straightforward. Maybe not so condescending. That's what it feels like to me when I see very obvious product placement like that. Do they think that we don't see it? That we don't know what they're trying to do? It's not like I'm going to stop watching the show, but it almost makes me want to NOT buy Starbucks or whatever else they're trying to sell.  It's like I want to spite them for hitting me over the head with advertising that they think they're being "clever" on.

People understand advertising. It works. That's why you buy a commercial if you own a business. But for me, it seems more "on the level" to do a commercial than product placement. Don't insult my intelligence, you know? Just talk to me, advertiser to consumer. I know that's what our sales staff here at the stations try to do.  They talk to you about stuff you might want or need, and if you want or need that thing, you go buy it.  They don't try to "trick" you.

Maybe I'm overthinking this.  Let me know what you think in our poll, or if you have more to say, leave a comment and tell me what you're thinking, and get points for taking the poll here.

Product-ily yours,
Behka

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