Sell-Off! Roommates vs. quarterlife
MySpace recently launched two original web series: the high-minded (and high-priced) quarterlife, about 20-nothings in existential crises (check out Karina’s review), and the blatantly low-brow Roommates, about slender women lounging in bikinis. While the two take very different approaches to webisodic entertainment, they both appear to have the same mission: to sell you a car.
Roommates shamelessly hawks Fords, while quarterlife tries to weave its Toyota lovin’ into the story (two characters are making a commercial for Toyota, how meta!). Product placements are a fact of life, especially for nascent web series — but which one works better? After the jump, watch both and vote in our poll.
First up, Roommates and the Ford Focus:
Roommates Ep14: The Test Drive
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And now, quarterlife brings you, the Prius:
quarterlife Part 1
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Well, which one convinced you? The not-even-gonna-hide it approach from Roommates, or the angst-ridden pretensions of quarterlife?
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At least the quarterlife pitch is slightly more subtle. They didn’t hit you in the face with it.
The Ford example is probably more lucrative in the short-term, but the quarterlife example blew my socks off. I think it’s better to build a report with a loyal audience and introduce brands in a respectful way.
I’ll buy the Prius just cause Quarterlife is a far better show.
And the miles rocks.
The angst-ridden pretensions’ of Quarterlife seem to me not only perfectly styled but also to promise excellent on-going entertainment. I think the target audience will sigh a passing “whatever”, recognizing the product placement for what it is and, accepting it, moving on.
What I am waiting for are ‘webisodix’ created outside the United States, from South Korea, Brazil, France, Russia. When they appear on the radar I trust NewTeeVee will spot them.