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I wonder sometimes about the sensibility of the marketing department when a failure like this happens. Microsoft immediately, and embarrasingly, pulls their marketing in a partnership that had been originally established with Fox and Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane. This comes just days after Microsoft touted this new collaboration as something that was sure to be a success.
The cause?
Someone actually sat down and watched an episode of Family Guy and realized that the “riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest” were “not a fit with the Windows brand.”
Really? Someone should have just asked the intern what Family Guy was before committing.
I can just imagine how the stuffy board meeting must have gone.
- "We need to market ourselves as cool, hip, and funny."
- "Let's find a popular TV show that our target market will be watching."
- "How about Full House? What about Family Matter? Those are wholesome shows."
- "Those shows aren't on TV anymore, they haven't been for a very long time."
- "WHAT!? Why wasn't I informed."
- "Hey look at this TV guide, there's a show called Family Guy, let's contact Fox and get this partnership going."
- "Yes sir!" (said in unison as the minions run off to make phone calls)
- "Yes, Family Guy sounds like a great show, I wonder if they have that Urkel on there, he's one funny guy."
Note: I swear I didn't have the office bugged...no really I didn't.
The lesson from all this? Be sure to know where your taking your brand BEFORE you commit to a marketing partnership.
