From 'The Sopranos,' products to die for - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-29-2006, 12:32 PM

BY KEVIN McDONOUGH
Newsday
Television product placements are here to stay. But are all such plugs a good thing? How about brand-name items consumed by characters with bad reputations? Like the mob family on The Sopranos?

A spokeswoman for HBO denies that the network takes money to place products, and that everything you see on The Sopranos is driven by the creators' efforts to depict Tony's suburban gangster lifestyle.

But a recent episode included scenes that unfolded like product placements, or perhaps a parody of a product placement. Tony surprised Carmela with the keys to a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, a luxury SUV with a sticker price of roughly $112,000. Carmela got behind the wheel and exclaimed, ''What a car!'' Later she showed it off to incarcerated mobster's Johnny Sack's cash-strapped wife, informing her it was, ``A Porsche Cayenne. Like the pepper.''

Ephraim Likerman, general manager of Porsche of Huntington, on Long Island, N.Y., had no qualms about the plug. Or the nonplug, if you will.

What about associating your product with a mobster's wife?

''It doesn't matter,'' explained Likerman. ``Tony is still trying to win back his wife. He's already given her diamonds. He didn't just give her a car. He gave her a Porsche.''

To Likerman the best part of the show was Carmela's ''pepper'' remark. ''Do you know how many times I have to explain what a Cayenne is?'' (Don't get him started on the Porsche Cayman.) ``It's a pepper. A symbol of zest, heat and potency.''

And sales?

``We've already had two people come to the dealership, mentioning the show and looking for the car.''

And this was the day after the episode aired.

''All publicity is good publicity,'' Likerman concluded.

Janice · 04-03-2006, 11:19 AM

I always notice product placement. For years, Tropicana orange juice has been prominently featured on The Sopranos. Tony even pitched a fit a few seasons back, about he likes a little pulp, not a lot of pulp. Maybe it was the other way around.

I just know that Tropicana was always in their kitchen scenes. I haven't seen it yet this season, but now that Tony's going home, we'll see.

Brian Damage · 04-03-2006, 11:51 AM

Cadillac has a big placement on the show. Tony is always driving a Cadillac SUV. As a matter of fact, in one episode, Tony was in a car accident and he said, 'Thank God, I was in a Cadillac or it could've been much worse.'

03-29-2006, 12:32 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	From 'The Sopranos,' products to die for BY KEVIN McDONOUGH Newsday Television product placements are here to stay. But are all such plugs a good thing? How about brand-name items consumed by characters with bad reputations? Like the mob family on The Sopranos? A spokeswoman for HBO denies that the network takes money to place products, and that everything you see on The Sopranos is driven by the creators' efforts to depict Tony's suburban gangster lifestyle. But a recent episode included scenes that unfolded like product placements, or perhaps a parody of a product placement. Tony surprised Carmela with the keys to a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, a luxury SUV with a sticker price of roughly $112,000. Carmela got behind the wheel and exclaimed, ''What a car!'' Later she showed it off to incarcerated mobster's Johnny Sack's cash-strapped wife, informing her it was, ``A Porsche Cayenne. Like the pepper.'' Ephraim Likerman, general manager of Porsche of Huntington, on Long Island, N.Y., had no qualms about the plug. Or the nonplug, if you will. What about associating your product with a mobster's wife? ''It doesn't matter,'' explained Likerman. ``Tony is still trying to win back his wife. He's already given her diamonds. He didn't just give her a car. He gave her a Porsche.'' To Likerman the best part of the show was Carmela's ''pepper'' remark. ''Do you know how many times I have to explain what a Cayenne is?'' (Don't get him started on the Porsche Cayman.) ``It's a pepper. A symbol of zest, heat and potency.'' And sales? ``We've already had two people come to the dealership, mentioning the show and looking for the car.'' And this was the day after the episode aired. ''All publicity is good publicity,'' Likerman concluded.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

04-03-2006, 11:19 AM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I always notice product placement. For years, Tropicana orange juice has been prominently featured on The Sopranos. Tony even pitched a fit a few seasons back, about he likes a little pulp, not a lot of pulp. Maybe it was the other way around. I just know that Tropicana was always in their kitchen scenes. I haven't seen it yet this season, but now that Tony's going home, we'll see.

04-03-2006, 11:51 AM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Cadillac has a big placement on the show. Tony is always driving a Cadillac SUV. As a matter of fact, in one episode, Tony was in a car accident and he said, 'Thank God, I was in a Cadillac or it could've been much worse.'