Family Guy Set to Help Sell Windows 7

One of the hottest TV shows of the season, and even previous TV seasons, is Seth MacFarlane’s Family Guy. I admit that I personally thought the episodes so far this season have been mediocre at best (and I’m a huge FG fan), but it seems like I’m one of the few who feel that way. It was reported just the other day that the show actually eclipsed ABC’s Desperate Housewives as being the Sunday night leader in terms of ratings.

Since Windows 7 is launching right in the middle of TV’s fall line-up, Microsoft had a unique advertising idea. What about sponsoring a Family Guy episode with the overall hint of recommending the company’s latest OS to consumers? That’s not just an idea, but a reality, as the show is currently in the works, and will be called, “Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show”. It will air on Sunday, November 8 at 8:30PM ET (and PT).

The idea behind this unique advertisement is a throwback to “Texaco Star Theater”, which was a TV variety show that featured a main overall brand, although it didn’t entirely effect the programming itself. So in this Family Guy episode, it’s unlikely that the episode will bluntly force Windows 7 into the dialog. Rather, I see it as more of an overall sponsorship, which will be mentioned during the commercial breaks. I could be wrong, though. It’s going to be interesting. Here’s to hoping it’s actually a funny episode!

“While the way people watch TV has evolved, their desire to be entertained, and marketers’ need to deliver compelling content, hasn’t changed,” the companies said. “Microsoft and Fox are joining forces to showcase how the power and simplicity of Windows 7 can enhance the content Fox viewers enjoy most, whether it’s comedy, drama, sports, or reality programming on TV or on the Web.”