I’m not going to lie. I’m a little disappointed in both Ford and Designated Survivor for what was one of the worst product placements in a show I’ve seen all year. Designated Survivor has been pretty solid in the ratings department lately but I’m not sure that gives FOX or whoever greenlighted this spot the right to put in ads that might as well be equivalent to that scene in Wayne’s World where Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey are making a parody of advertising and selling out in films. Remember this?
While I’m not saying it was that obvious, it was pretty awful. The scene in Designated Survivor was no different than a real car commercial. You see the dashboard light up, the car is ready to roll and all of a sudden like an angel appearing from the heavens above, here comes the illuminated Ford sign. I mean really? Check out it below, it’s at the 9 second mark.
I always thought product placements were supposed to be subtle so that they can enter the mind subconsciously. Ford had absolutely no qualms last night in saying “Look at us! We’re Ford!” Ouch.
