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PTC: Gossip Girl Campaign "Reeks of Desperation"
Another Gossip Girl ad campaign, another controversy.
A series of print/online ads touting the CW series' sophomore season uses sound bites from condemning critics to play up the show's OMG factor. In one ad, an ecstatic Serena is labeled as "Every Parent's Nightmare," while another featuring naked Nate wields the headline "Mind-Blowingly Inappropriate."
The individual ads can be seen here (Blair), here (Chuck), here (Nate) and here (Serena).
POLL: Do you like the ads? Vote here.
That "Inappropriate" non-dorsement is attributed to the Parents Television Council, which is none too happy to see its words twisted. "I think it reeks of desperation, if they have to position themselves as so edgy and so controversial that they've been called out by us," the group's director of communications tells the AP.
CW marketing boss Rick Haskins in turn counters that the mission was to employ headlines that speak to the audience. He told TVGuide.com, "Just like with any ads that we do, we looked for well-written quotes from third-party outlets that support our new unconventional campaign, one that we believe speaks directly to Gossip Girl's sophisticated, media-savvy young adult fans."
"There were several quotes that we considered," he added, "but the four that were chosen really capture what the show is about in a tongue-in-cheek way."
Indeed, the show does feature many tongues in cheeks. I say, "Job well done." — Matt Mitovich
Related:
• The CW Puts Gossip Girl Back on the Web
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Jul 23, 2008 3:39 PM
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Any news being made in regard to an ad campaign is an ad well done. PURE GENIUS!!
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Jul 23, 2008 3:52 PM
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Personally I think the ad campaign is brilliant.
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Jul 23, 2008 4:01 PM
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Hehhehhehhheh, I think someone is pissed off about having their words being used against them.
Oh PTC, you're just...cute.
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Jul 23, 2008 4:11 PM
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I think Gossip Girl's ad is going for the "over the top" and the "shock" factor (Hence "OMG"). And does the ad work??-Yes it does!
Offended I am not!!
Gossip Girl is just how I like my guilty pleasures-Hot, naughty and downright satisfying!!
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Jul 23, 2008 4:43 PM
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I think these ads are genius. The Parent's Television Council needs to get a life.
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Jul 23, 2008 4:49 PM
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I don't watch this show, but love the idea and it really helps that they are basically giving the finger to the PTC!!
I hope others follow suit!
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Jul 23, 2008 5:09 PM
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Indeed, the show does feature many tongues in cheeks. I say, "Job well done."
It's a good thing my screen needed cleaning anyway, Matt, because I just snorted Diet Pepsi all over it.
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Jul 23, 2008 5:15 PM
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Definitely genius.
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Jul 23, 2008 5:17 PM
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funny..people need to relax...teens were out screwing each other before television even existed
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Jul 23, 2008 5:17 PM
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The whole point of an ad is to get people talking...they did an excellent job.
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Jul 23, 2008 5:20 PM
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I think the ad campaign reeks of awesome. The PTC seems to be made up of a bunch of terrible parents who spend so much time watching TV that they fail to raise their kids. GOOD parents teach their children about life, and try to instill values in them so that when the kids inevitably are faced with mature issues, they can have good judgement about them. And kids who are genuinely too to process any material on GG are too young to have unmonitored access to TV anyway.
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Jul 23, 2008 5:38 PM
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Ha, clever idea. The PTC can suck it.
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Jul 23, 2008 5:46 PM
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The actors of this show are hot, the stories are racy, but the shw continuosly shows them doing the right thing in the end. Plus its not like the show was ever geared for parents anyway. Go watch Opera or something. the campaign is as good as the first time gays kissed on regular cable!
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Jul 23, 2008 6:09 PM
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I have applied to the addage if you don't like want to watch it change the channel. I don't think it's right for a group of people to decide what is good and what is bad on tv . I think it's subjective. I also think it's a case of sour grapes because their words are being used against them. It is also interesting to note that if they didn't target these things people wouldn't get so up in arms about it.
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Jul 23, 2008 7:47 PM
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