iPad the star of Modern Family
Warning: This post contains spoilers about the latest episode of Modern Family. You have been warned.
One of my favorite TV shows, Modern Family, was all about the iPad tonight, just days before the big release. The main character, Phil Dunphy, is thrilled at the prospect of receiving an iPad for his birthday, which coincides with the device's release. Of course, the show is a sitcom -- so it doesn't go as smoothly as he hoped.
Throughout the episode, Phil's wife waits in line at an Apple Store while she has her kids asking everyone they know if they can get their hands one on via Twitter, Facebook and text. It all works out in the end when Phil's youngest son pulls an iPad out of a paper bag for his dad.
It certainly was real and not a prop. After singing the happy birthday song, Phil blew out the "candles" atop an animated cake on the iPad's screen. Perhaps ABC's corporate parent's biggest stockholder was able to pull one off the production line in time for the show's filming several weeks ago.
It sure was clever of Apple to have such thorough product placement on one of the season's most popular new shows. You'll see three more screenshots after the break (sorry they're blurry). You can watch the episode in its entirety here.
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Warning: This post contains spoilers about the latest episode of Modern Family. You have been warned. One of my favorite TV shows,...
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This is the app that was actually used in the show
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/happy-birthday-cake/id301012236?mt=8
best show on television right now
I laughed so hard when his wife was telling him that they were sold out and that he could get it in a week, "A week!? A week is forever for an early adopter!!" So true... :)
April 01 2010 at 3:02 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyRidiculous. I love the iPad and love Apple's genius product placement, but I hate how our country just promotes rampant materialism constantly.
April 01 2010 at 12:33 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyConsidering we're just coming out of a recession and 70% of the US economy is based on consumer spending you should probably give materialism a bit of a break right now.
April 01 2010 at 12:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySo what will you personally do, to not contribute to growing materialism?
April 01 2010 at 1:39 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI'm not quite sure that was a paid product placement.
March 31 2010 at 11:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyProduct placement? Yes, but still hilarious. I am so Phil Dunphy.
March 31 2010 at 11:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replya peabody award and an ipad all on the same day, this show rocks! love manny, that kid cracks me up.
March 31 2010 at 11:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHere's the YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBJW1mT613s
Grab it while it's hot!
"It did NOT just do that!?"… awesome episode, one of the best yet!! I really need to get one of those "iPad-thingies".
March 31 2010 at 10:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAs much as I love the iPad (April 3rd feels like Christmas to me), I'm not so sure about this. I'm just not a fan of commercials disguised as TV Shows.
A little product placement... ok tolerable. But the entire show?!
Even if it is my favourite tech company, it feels a little shameless. I had the same reaction when Family Guy was thinking of devoting an entire show to Windows 7. Yuck.
That being said, any YouTube video of this available?? :-)
what was they song they were playing on the show tonight I think it was a fleetwood mac song
April 01 2010 at 12:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYeah, I agree. However, Modern Family is an amazing show and is very well-written and didn't feel like an ad or anything. The iPad was an excellent comedic tool in this newest episode and it wasn't like a run-down of features at all. In fact, it wasn't about what the iPad could do at all, but rather Phil's reaction to not getting one for his birthday. And of course there were other storylines going on that had nothing to do with the iPad, and those were as good or better than ever. One of the funniest episodes I've seen this season, to be honest.
April 01 2010 at 5:39 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot Apps on TUAW
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