A Picture Is Worth a 1,000 Bucks

September 12, 2008 2:09 AM

Seth MacFarlane [Family Guy | American Dad!] presents his Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy. But wait... this will not run on Fox - it is web only, and with Google backing. It is also intended that the ads are delivered as part of Google AdSense offering with the NYT stating "advertising will be incorporated into the clips in varying ways".

The innovative part involves the distribution plan. Google will syndicate the program using its AdSense advertising system to thousands of Web sites that are predetermined to be gathering spots for Mr. MacFarlane’s target audience, typically young men. Instead of placing a static ad on a Web page, Google will place a “Cavalcade” video clip. The content will also be distributed via YouTube.

Advertising will be incorporated into the clips in varying ways. In some cases, there will be “preroll” ads, which ask viewers to sit through a TV-style commercial before getting to the video. Some advertisers may opt for a banner to be placed at the bottom of the video clip or a simple “brought to you by” note at the beginning.

posted by the_very_hungry_caterpillar (63 comments total)

So in other words, the hot new innovative future of communication is basically the TV broadcast model. Worse even because it's harder to fast forward through embedded advertising and product placement.

"I may be vile and pernicious, but you can't look away.
I'll make you think I'm delicious with the stuff that I say.
I'm the best you can get. Have you guessed me yet?"

I'm the slime ozing out from your Internets.

Zappa had it right.
posted by three blind mice at 2:29 AM on September 12, 2008 [6 favorites has favorites]

I'll bullseye those ads just like I did womprats in my T-16 back home.
posted by clearly at 2:31 AM on September 12, 2008

Family Guy sucks anyway.
posted by mary8nne at 2:43 AM on September 12, 2008

Awesome! Oh, wait a minute.

No, this is the opposite.

What happened to "Don't be Evil?"

Oh, right, Google is the biggest ad agency on Earth.

Now with Family Guy.

However, internety amateur porn just got a little more disturbing. Try wanking now.

Oh, shit, this is Rule 34 as a business model.

Let's blame Cory Doctorow.
posted by converge at 2:47 AM on September 12, 2008

Opt out.
posted by netbros at 2:58 AM on September 12, 2008

Glen Michael did it better.
posted by the cuban at 3:00 AM on September 12, 2008

Correction: Family Guy and American Dad suck.
posted by dunkadunc at 3:16 AM on September 12, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

I'm selling advertising space in my McDONALDS - I'M LOVING IT! MeFi comments now, and I find that it's a great way to A diamond is forever - DeBeers open up new revenue streams that support my webcontent Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. A Message from the U.S. Department of Transportation. delivery. I honestly don't see what the problem with that It takes a lickin’, but it keeps on tickin': Timex is. So as for all you haters: Time to make the doughnuts! Dunkin' Donuts! fuck YOU.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 3:18 AM on September 12, 2008 [15 favorites has favorites]

This nonsensical joke is created by manatees and sponsored by Burger King.
posted by cgomez at 3:35 AM on September 12, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Is there a medical term to describe people who are allergic to advertising?
posted by chuckdarwin at 3:42 AM on September 12, 2008

I think this is a good thing. Not sure I'm cool with the 'push' nature of video-based Google Ads but I like the idea of embedded advertising. A small ad in exchange for content is fine by me, and probably most people really.

I've been convinced for a while now that if TV companies offered shows online to download for free (a la iTunes store) with a short ad at the beginning, or even one 15-30 second spot in each of the program breaks, then people would be happy to download and watch them instead of torrenting. The motivated ones might skip, or even remove, the ads, but the majority would just watch em.

In these MacFarlane videos I think it's executed very well - not like some current streaming content sites where you have to sit through some annoying 45 second brand ad, in these ones you get a simple 'in-style' advertisement that is basically integrated with the program.
posted by sycophant at 3:56 AM on September 12, 2008

What happened to "Don't be Evil?"

Only on the Internet could inserting ads into a program you're delivering be considered evil. They're doing this publicly, with no deception or hoodwinkery. Exactly how does this even come close to "evil"? Oh right, because asking for anything in return for free content on the Internet is "evil", isn't it?

Seriously, with the number of tools Google has created, and the way we've come to rely on them, Google certainly has an increased potential for evil compared to years earlier. All the same, if anything, they seem more committed to it than before, as they're not doing the bullshit that must be more tempting than ever. They're a good company, the Costco to Microsoft's Wal-Mart.
posted by explosion at 4:13 AM on September 12, 2008 [9 favorites has favorites]

"Tragedy is me cutting my finger, comedy is you falling down a manhole and WALMART: SAVE MONEY, LIVE BETTER" - Mel Brooks and Google AdSense
posted by crossoverman at 4:24 AM on September 12, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Those of you whining about this should go ask your Mommy and Daddy to explain Capitalism to you.
posted by Optamystic at 4:54 AM on September 12, 2008

Those of you whining about this should go ask your Mommy and Daddy to explain Capitalism to you.

Yep, my Communist League Marxists-Leninists parents did just that. It was quite an eye opener, let me tell you.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 5:13 AM on September 12, 2008 [10 favorites has favorites]

Over a dozen comments and no one has quoted Bill Hicks yet? You guys are slipping.
posted by Cyrano at 5:29 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Capitalism is the economic system in which MCDONALD'S - BA DA DA DA DAAAA I'M LOVIN' IT the means of production are owned by private persons MICROSOFT: YOUR POTENTIAL; OUR PASSION and operated for profit and where investments, distribution, income, production and pricing of goods VISA: IT'S EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE and services are predominantly determined through the operation of a FORD: DRIVE ONE free market.
posted by chuckdarwin at 5:30 AM on September 12, 2008

I'm sure this guy used to be funny at one point, but I can't remember when that was. He's rapidly turning into one of those guys you think used to be amusing but now you'd wish would just fuck off. I guess like Mike Myers, although I never found him funny even in the beginning.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 5:31 AM on September 12, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

I don't know. I know everyone hates American Dad and Family Guy, but I kind of liked the Mario video from Cavalcade of Comedy - I mean, c'mon, you didn't even snicker? Like when he started singing the power star song?!
posted by kbanas at 6:07 AM on September 12, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

Correction: American Dad sucks, Family Guy does not suck.
posted by rusty at 6:17 AM on September 12, 2008

Also, for the sheer multiple word-meaning lulz, it's hard to beat: “We feel that we have recreated the mass media,” said Kim Malone Scott, director of sales and operations for AdSense.
posted by rusty at 6:22 AM on September 12, 2008

Those of you whining about this should go ask your Mommy and Daddy to explain Capitalism to you.

I've seen the film. Didn't care much for the ending.
posted by three blind mice at 6:32 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I don't think Seth MacFarlane's done anything worthwhile since the original Spawn comics.


I wrote google a letter once.

And me in a google sponsored video.

And don't believe anything in this comment.
posted by cjorgensen at 6:39 AM on September 12, 2008

I can't understand people who hate Family Guy.

I can understand it not being your cup of tea, there are lots of things lots of people don't like. I don't like lobster and people look at me like I'm insane.

At the height of their popularity, there were still people who refused to watch M.A.S.H., or Cheers, or Seinfeld. That doesn't mean that those shows sucked.

But for some reason, Family Guy, Simpsons, and South Park all draw either passionate love or passionate hate. Is it because they are animated?

What makes them so divisive?

American Dad is right on the line. I watch it, but mostly because the Tivo grabs it and there's usually nothing else on I can watch in 15 minutes. I sometimes find it mildly amusing, which is often worth my 15 minutes when I'm doing nothing else.

Family Guy however is a great show in my book. It makes me laugh, often and genuinely, and that makes it a good show to me. I've told some friends that Family Guy is like a show that was custom-made for a focus group of quantity ME.

I don't think it is the best show on TV, I don't even think it is the best animated show on TV. It is, however, about the most entertaining show I watch on TV.

Seth beat Fox. Surely he deserves some sort of credit for that. And he's a huge nerd.

Why he's not more popular among this (meaning MeFi) crowd I'm not sure.

And also... showing ads in any context is now evil? Grow up.
posted by Ynoxas at 7:03 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Seth beat Fox. Surely he deserves some sort of credit for that.#

Exactly what I was saying with my (admittedly crap) capitalism line. Shows, especially animated ones, are expensive to produce. McFarlane has found a way to do it that will allow him to operate without the constraints of network television, and he managed to cost Rupert Murdoch money in the process. We should be supporting and applauding this model.

Think of all of the great shows that Fox et al. have canned over the years because though they had a vocal fan base, the numbers weren't big enough to justify a prime time slot on a national broadcast network: Arrested Development, Firefly, even early Family Guy. This could be the future of entertainment production, a future wherein TV shows no longer have to be dumbed down to the level of the thickest 17 year old in Kansas.
posted by Optamystic at 7:22 AM on September 12, 2008

Those of you whining about this should go ask your Mommy and Daddy to explain Capitalism to you.

Only if you ask yours to explain what it's like when intelligent people have an opinion of something that's different than your opinion. Perfectly familiar with capitalism, thanks. Not terribly fond.
posted by regicide is good for you at 7:27 AM on September 12, 2008

*mindless banter that continues for 45 seconds because, you know, the longer it goes on the funnier it gets*
posted by milarepa at 7:31 AM on September 12, 2008

They're doing this publicly, with no deception or hoodwinkery. Exactly how does this even come close to "evil"?

Have you seen a mass-media advertisement recently? Deception and hoodwinkery.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 7:37 AM on September 12, 2008

I've been convinced for a while now that if TV companies offered shows online to download for free (a la iTunes store) with a short ad at the beginning, or even one 15-30 second spot in each of the program breaks, then people would be happy to download and watch them instead of torrenting. The motivated ones might skip, or even remove, the ads, but the majority would just watch em.

Yeah, like that'll ever happen.
posted by designbot at 7:39 AM on September 12, 2008

But for some reason, Family Guy, Simpsons, and South Park all draw either passionate love or passionate hate.

Well, put me down for someone who thought the earlier (pre-cancellation) Family Guy was hilarious, but am really very ambivalent about the most of the stuff that's come out since. I don't hate it, but I don't go out of my way to watch it.
posted by Comrade_robot at 7:39 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Ynoxas writes "But for some reason, Family Guy, Simpsons, and South Park all draw either passionate love or passionate hate. Is it because they are animated?"

Family Guy sucks because the writing and jokes are sub-par and completely random. I understand some people love that. There was even an episode of South Park which used this as a running subtext, that Family Guy sucks, but, hey, some people like it. To be fair, The Simpsons verged over into that territory a few years back, although it used to be brilliant. South Park is still pretty good, although a bit "up its own ass," as they put it.
posted by krinklyfig at 7:45 AM on September 12, 2008

I just want to say that I thought the dog on the $25,000 pyramid was funny.

Carry on.
posted by wittgenstein at 7:48 AM on September 12, 2008

That reminds me of that time I did a series of advertisements disguised as cartoons ...
posted by krinklyfig at 8:17 AM on September 12, 2008

Seth MacFarlane sucks donkey balls.
posted by krautland at 8:20 AM on September 12, 2008

Have you guys watched the video? It's about the least annoying product placement I've ever seen. Ooh, the King burst through the screen for a second and then the cartoon proper started.

also, Family Guy does not Suck. American Dad does, sure. Also, South Park sucks.
posted by shmegegge at 8:47 AM on September 12, 2008

Family Guy sucks except for the baby and the dog. American Dad is Family Guy with an alien instead of the funny baby and dog. So it sucks.
posted by tkchrist at 8:58 AM on September 12, 2008

Y'all are such haters. Seth McFarlane is funnier than Jerry Seinfeld on his best day, and I say that as someone who generally has no love for cartoons and lots of love for smart comedians. And the fact that he's bypassing Fox and distributing directly via teh internets and using Google -- who, you may recall, brought us back from the brink of every damn inch of the web being covered in blinking, flashing, scrolling, obnoxious banner ads by introducing text ads in the first place -- seems like a lot better approach than the alternatives. Don't like it? Don't watch it.
posted by notashroom at 9:49 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Family Guy and American Dad just are not very funny. That's why they suck.
posted by tadellin at 9:57 AM on September 12, 2008

Sucks. Rules. Sucks. Rules. Sucks. Rules. It's so Beavis and Butt-head in here! Yah!

Talk about an awesome cartoon...
posted by nosila at 10:13 AM on September 12, 2008

"Seth McFarlane is funnier than Jerry Seinfeld on his best day"

I agree, but considering the fact that Jerry Seinfeld is not in the least bit funny, it isn't saying very much.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 10:16 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Oh, Metafilter, you are so over capitalism. Like, I can totally see you eye rolling like a motherfucker.
posted by oncogenesis at 10:29 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Two flyover state gentiles having a conversation:

"Seth McFarlane is funnier than Jerry Seinfeld on his best day"

"I agree, but considering the fact that Jerry Seinfeld is not in the least bit funny, it isn't saying very much."
posted by Zambrano at 10:31 AM on September 12, 2008

I don't think Seth MacFarlane's done anything worthwhile since the original Spawn comics.

Todd McFarlane.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:34 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

It's about the least annoying product placement I've ever seen. Ooh, the King burst through the screen for a second and then the cartoon proper started.

Um...

22 seconds of opening crap, most of it Burger King guy.
34 seconds of actual cartoon.
20 seconds of end-credits.

Talk about insulting the viewer. It's like those Flash games that spend their first 2Mb downloading their opening spinning 3D wank-off logos.
posted by rokusan at 10:37 AM on September 12, 2008

I don't think Seth MacFarlane's done anything worthwhile since the original Spawn comics.

Seth MacFarlane could have saved those, maybe. Brutally bad, like a drunken Frank Miller if he had been raised in Catholic school.
posted by rokusan at 10:38 AM on September 12, 2008

Pop culture references!!!!!! Me get it!!!!! Hilarious!!!! Koolaid man bust through wall!!!!. I REMEMBER that!!!!! Hahahahah!!!!!!!
posted by sharksandwich at 10:47 AM on September 12, 2008

you're counting the seconds? this is how you measure how well your time is spent?
posted by shmegegge at 10:48 AM on September 12, 2008

Family Guy is the best TV comedy of the last thirty years. There. I said it. Not to everyone's taste, to be sure, but, yes, BEST. It is the stinkiest of television cheeses, aimed at the haughtiest and most knowledgeable conoisseurs de culture populaire who actually get all the references and are capable of recognizing and appreciating irony. People, that is, like myself. Couch potatoes. Addicts.

This nonsensical joke is created by manatees and sponsored by Burger King.

Funny you should mention the manatees. It seems to me this second teaser is rather self-deprecating in the very "X+Y=Funny" manatee method detailed in that rather typical display of South Park-brand smug.

Now, all that said, these spots could very well just be Family Guy outtakes. If Seth MacFarlane can make a bazillion dollars off his leftovers, more power to him.

And, finally, American Dad is indeed not very good, due in no small part to its lack of random Family Guy madness.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:01 AM on September 12, 2008

very ambivalent about the most of the stuff that's come out since

You can't be ambivalent about the ipecac race. C'est impossible.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:08 AM on September 12, 2008

theyre not that funny either. like throw away gags from family guy.
posted by joelf at 11:24 AM on September 12, 2008

you're counting the seconds? this is how you measure how well your time is spent?

No, I would have written "a forever of lead-up" and "a big chunk of time", but then some MePedant would count them anyway, so I went back to make sure I was right. :P

I was also interested in how it would compare to the 22 vs 8 minutes of content vs commercials in a typical sitcom. Not well.
posted by rokusan at 11:26 AM on September 12, 2008

That shit is dopey.
posted by pianomover at 11:44 AM on September 12, 2008

Anyone remember The Goddamn George Liquor Program when it came out in 1997?

I only mention it because 2 minute web clips for one gag is soooo nineteen fucking ninety-seven!
posted by furtive at 1:03 PM on September 12, 2008

wow, I did not know about those. thanks for the link, though.

I sometimes wonder if John K will ever recover from mental illness enough to make another good cartoon.

Because the ripping friends was terrible.
posted by shmegegge at 1:46 PM on September 12, 2008

Hi I'm on metafilter and I hate everything.
posted by puke & cry at 1:50 PM on September 12, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Worst. Episode. Ever.
posted by erniepan at 3:12 PM on September 12, 2008

This one is for Cyrano because I also love Bill Hicks :

"By the way, if anyone here is in marketing or advertising...kill yourself. Thank you. Just planting seeds, planting seeds is all I'm doing. No joke here, really. Seriously, kill yourself, you have no rationalisation for what you do, you are Satan's little helpers. Kill yourself, kill yourself, kill yourself now. Now, back to the show. Seriously, I know the marketing people: 'There's gonna be a joke comin' up.' There's no fuckin' joke. Suck a tail pipe, hang yourself...borrow a pistol from an NRA buddy, do something...rid the world of your evil fuckin' presence."

I miss Bill Hicks :(
posted by liza at 3:47 PM on September 12, 2008

Ehh... wasn't so bad
posted by Willpsy at 6:18 PM on September 12, 2008

Pope, I was trying to make a joke. Seth MacFarlane/Todd McFarlane. I guess I failed.

I just don't want people thinking I an an idiot. Oh, actually I am fine with that. Carry on.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:40 PM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

glen michael is the man
posted by sgt.serenity at 8:59 PM on September 12, 2008

Is there a medical term to describe people who are allergic to advertising?

Sane.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:09 PM on September 12, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

I can't understand people who hate Family Guy. I can understand it not being your cup of tea, there are lots of things lots of people don't like.

It might have something to do with its Lazarus status. Firefly That Family Guy (uniquely?) survived cancellation would invite comparisons with dozens of worthy programs that did not. Firefly. And since some of these programs, though untimely ripped from the screen, were of such pure strains of crystalline genius FIREFLY as would make a sane man kill for just another gram, I would understand if certain... envious hostilities were directed at certain parties. FIREFLY.

Seriously, how? How did you do it? Was it hoodoo? Do I need to collect hair clippings?
posted by kid ichorous at 4:15 AM on September 13, 2008

Wow, another "No, MY subjective interpretation of mass-media entertainment is absolute truth" dick-wag-off.
posted by tehloki at 12:32 AM on September 14, 2008