# \[i\]Non\[/i\]-Product Placement in TV and Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201 "2005-05-31T12:18:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/21 "2005-06-01T13:22:47Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > One of the common rules of movies and TV shows is whenever you see an airplane, train, ship, bus, or car rental service with a fictional company name, something really bad is going to happen involving said airplane, train, ship, bus, or [car rental service (e.g., “Welcome to Marathon.”](http://www.moviequotequiz.com/reviews/pta.html) That’s why **Cast Away** really surprised the hell outta me. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/22 "2005-06-01T13:45:27Z")
Filboid Studge is the ultimate fictional brand name. 😉 Crelm Toothpaste, from Monty Python. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/23 "2005-06-01T13:59:54Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Lots of shows go the route of covering up one letter in a product name, which I always thought was hilarious. I get they don’t want to give free advertising, but is anyone not going to be able to figure out the “EVER AST” bag the boxer is punching is an EverLast? Or that the refreshing CO A COLA being enjoyed by the secretary is a Coke? > > If I were to produce a movie or TV show, I’d go this route but only with products whose names make another word with letters removed. Delicious SP ITE anyone? Sometimes they only remove part of a letter. I remember seeing on either Friends or Seinfeld a vending machine in the background that was stocked with “N & N’s” candy. That made me laugh pretty hard. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/24 "2005-06-01T14:12:36Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Sometimes they only remove part of a letter. I remember seeing on either Friends or Seinfeld a vending machine in the background that was stocked with “N & N’s” candy. Seinfeld often used real brand names, particularly for candy like Jujyfruits and Junior Mints. However, they also had the occasional made-up brand names like Hennigan’s Scotch and Atomic Subs. For a while, I thought the bookstore called Brentano’s was another made-up business, but it turns out that they have the chain of bookstores in some places up north (no place around here, though). In DC comic books, the superhero Martian Manhunter from the Justice League was addicted to Oreo cookies back in the 1980s Justice League International series. However, in more recent comics (even ones that refer back to the originals), the chocolatey sandwich cookies he loves are referred to as the made-up “Chocos” brand. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/25 "2005-06-01T15:16:09Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > **Repo Man** is the classic example of this. The filmmakers didn’t even make up fake brand names; instead, food is labelled “FOOD” and so forth. Some of it was made up, but not all of it. I’ve had beer in blue and white cans that just said BEER on them. My cheap friend used to buy it all the time. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/26 "2005-06-01T15:24:27Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Seinfeld often used real brand names, particularly for candy like Jujyfruits and Junior Mints. However, they also had the occasional made-up brand names like Hennigan’s Scotch and Atomic Subs. At least one made up brand-name from _Seinfeld_ was done out of necessity. In one episode, Kramer feeds pasta to a horse that runs a horse-drawn carriage, leading to a gassy result. I remember reading in one of those magazines that was published when _Seinfeld_ ended that Chef Boyardee didn’t like their product being used in such a manner. So instead of Beefaroni, the pasta Kramer was using was the similar-sounding but fictional Beef-A-Reeno. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/27 "2005-06-01T16:26:03Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > In DC comic books, the superhero Martian Manhunter from the Justice League was addicted to Oreo cookies back in the 1980s Justice League International series. However, in more recent comics (even ones that refer back to the originals), the chocolatey sandwich cookies he loves are referred to as the made-up “Chocos” brand. Likewise, folks in DC comics drink Soder Cola and eat at Big Belly Burger. There are regional differences, in the greater Gotham City area Zesti Cola and O’Shaugnassey’s are more popular. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/28 "2005-06-01T16:31:15Z")
The Tarantino-verse also has Big Kahuna, that Hawaiian burger joint. I hear they have a tasty burger. For retro-kitschy dining, there’s also Jack-Rabbit Slim’s. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/29 "2005-06-01T16:32:41Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > The Tarantino-verse also has Big Kahuna, that Hawaiian burger joint. I hear they have a tasty burger. For retro-kitschy dining, there’s also Jack-Rabbit Slim’s. I hit enter too soon. I should have mentioned that they also have McDonald’s and Burger King. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/30 "2005-06-01T19:20:15Z")
> [@GLWasteful](#): > > That’s why **Cast Away** really surprised the hell outta me. True, **Cast Away** ’s use of Federal Express was an exception. However, since Fed Ex transports _objects_ like documents and volleyballs rather than _people_ (aside from the pilots and Fed Ex employees), the fact that its plane crashes in the movie would not be as counterproductive to the company’s image than a real airline like United or Southwest foolishly allowing itself to be used in a fictional movie about a plane crash or hijacking. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/31 "2005-06-01T20:17:10Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > Likewise, folks in DC comics drink Soder Cola and eat at Big Belly Burger. If we’re going with comic books, **Astro City** is replete with “Beefy Bob’s” burger joints, complete with the hat-and-scarf-wearin’ cow. Hey, it was good enough for Samaritan and Winged Victory’s first date… ---
**Author:** ![Flying\_Ice\_Cream\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ab097/32.png) [@Flying\_Ice\_Cream\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Ice_Cream_Badger)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201/32 "2005-06-02T18:42:21Z")
The show Kingdom Hospital used the fake soda brand “Nozz-a-la Cola” in every episode. They’d go to great lengths to include a Nozz-a-la bottle or logo as often as possible. There was actually a real reason for this: It was in inside joke for fans of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. In one of the Dark Tower books, the main characters end up in another universe. They figure out that it’s another universe by noticing a bunch of unfamiliar brand names, including Nozz-a-la Cola. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-non-i-product-placement-in-tv-and-movies/306201.md?page=1)