I definately thought the OP was asking about paid advertising, or “produdct placement.”
And I’m fairly sure The Simpsons make non-placement references, eg. iirc, they’ve been quite nasty about FOX.
However I can see a gray area, for instance if a company pays to have a product shown in a satirical way citing any publicity is good publicity, or the makers use a product for some reason other than being paid, or both.
I hope that’s got the question down pat. Anyone know the answer?
Yes, I forgot about that! Very fun gag.
I wasn’t aware that VW advertised during The Simpsons and the OP doesn’t really mention that either, but regardless I will withdraw the Starbucks gag because it is indeed satire and not product placement. (Although it could be; I don’t know if Starbucks places ads during the show and, come to think of it, I’ve never seen a Starbucks TV commercial—I have heard plenty of its commercials on the radio…anyway.)
'Twas I. They weren’t gray, more whitish. It was…interesting…the first few sips. Fortunately I was drunk enough to finish the glass. And eat the nasty alcohol Skittles at the bottom.
Not good times. Actually, that’s a lie. It’s pretty funny looking back on it.
So good times upon reflection.
I know that Sylvania paid a pile of money to be the company that provided the replacement lighthouse lightbulb.