w2ed

December 01, 2009 at 6:33am

First, the "Seth and Alex Almost Live," in my opinion, was not all that funny - Granted, if Fox had put it against NBC Thursday night or any other day of the week where broadcast TV airs comedies it'd smear the competition, but in no way was it even close to being as funny as The Simpsons.  (I'd rather they had replaced "The Cleveland Show" -  why Fox thought it was better than "King Of The Hill" is anyone's guess.)

Second, I'm glad Microsoft pulled out - these clips sucked!  Had they been included in the show, they would have worsened it, possibly to the point of complete dislike.  I hate when advertisers try to incorporate their product into a show that has no relevance to their product because, like these ads illustrate, they usually don't fit, don't incorporate the quality of the show as well, and ultimately feel cheap, as these clips are.

Third, Microsoft's reasoning for pulling out of the show, in hindsight, is sick, sad, pathetic, and embarrassing.  Many of the reasons they pulled out were for the funniest parts of the show - I was busting a gut when Marlee Matlin came out and dressed Alex down!  Had they pulled out and said that they disliked the ads, I'd have believed that more than the stupid reasoning they listed.  (And yes, I know they have an image to maintain, but one of the best parts about Seth's shows is how they're NOT politically correct - we need to stop being sensitive to every little thing and start worrying about the real problems at hand!)

Finally, ironically, they were exactly what I expected - cheap plugs that didn't fit in with the show at all.  Not to be redundant, but as I said before, the political incorrectness of these shows are what makes them great - there's no one and nothing that's above being made fun of or joked about, and nothing that's off limits.  Had they took that humor and better incorporated it, making a little fun of the product (for example expecting something not to work and having it work) in the process, I'd have wondered what Microsoft was smoking when they decided to back out.  As it stands now, I have to wonder what they were smoking when they decided to enter into an agreement in the first place.

Paul_Lilly

November 30, 2009 at 3:06pm

Just to clarify, Microsoft isn't taking issue with these ads, and that's why they're airing them. However, Microsoft is not sponsoring the "Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show," which is a live variety show featuring Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein.

Microsoft was originally going to sponsor the show, but backed out after attending a special taping on October 16. The reason? Jokes about deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene, incest, and other off-color content that Microsoft didnt want associated with Windows.

-Paul Lilly

Mobius

November 30, 2009 at 12:35pm

And they refused these?  These were great, and a hell of a lot better than those Seinfeld ads.  I want to see more Family Guy pushing Windows 7 now...W E N D O H and the number 5... I like it... Maybe get weather correspondent Ollie Williams to have a pitch.

Ollie, how do you like the new Windows 7?

Ollie: I USE WINDOWS 7!!!

And how do you like it?

Ollie: BETTER THAN VISTA!!!

Kalabajooie

November 30, 2009 at 10:00am

Aside from maybe the "you lick your own *BLEEP*" gag which is endemic to Family Guy, I don't see anything in these ads that could offend anyone. I mean, Stewie taking over the world? Isn't that what Microsoft's trying to do anyway?

 

Maybe they felt threatened by the thought of competition.

Who

November 30, 2009 at 9:33am

Microsoft would've been better off going with The Simpsons, they always keep it classy :)