Public Relations Spam Randomness
You have to admire the creativity of PR people sometimes, desperately trying to shoehorn their products into stories about whatever might be making headlines, and then blindly sending those stories to bloggers whose blogs may or may not be at all related to the products they’re trying to sell. Here are some ridiculous pitches I’ve gotten recently.
“Betty White is going to host SNL. Will she wear a [Product Name] girdle? Been known to wear girdles daily, viewers are predicting she will host Saturday night’s show in one of today’s most scandalous fashions.”
Nice dangling modifier there, PR person. (That being said, girdle or no girdle, I’m going to be watching the hell out of SNL this weekend. And Betty White can do or say or wear whatever she wants! She’s a Golden Girl!)
“[Product Name] will established itself as one of the most sought after web sites that provides live feeds and information for people and the media to discover what the country really thinks about current issues. With the heartbreaking end to Kate Gosselin’s professional dance career on DWTS, many are wondering what will happen to the future of post-Kate Dancing With the Stars!”
It was heartbreaking, you guys. Didn’t your heart just break when Kate and her crappy dancing got voted off? Haven’t you been WONDERING ABOUT THE FUTURE ever since?? (The best part is that the website determined 67% of people thought the show would be fine. Okay then! PHEW! Guess we dodged that bullet, America!)
Parents and celebrities alike are turning to the [Product Name] to comfort their infant. Just look at the pages of this week’s People Magazine where you will find Sandra Bullock watching her new baby, Louis, sleep peacefully in a [Product]!
What does this have to do with my blog, anyway? Oh, apparently Marissa Janet Winkotur also uses [Product]. Okay then. Makes total sense!
[Product Name]’s “Pick an Idol” promotion may offer a glimpse into who might take the American Idol prize this season! Each week, the Idol with the most votes receives a complimentary bouquet of [Product] in a color selected by the fans. Since the promotion began, Crystal Bowersox has been near or at the top every week with Casey James, Lee Dewyze, Andrew Garcia and Katy Stevens also winning.
Yeah, how’s that working out for you, Andrew and “Katy”?
Weirdly, as rando as these press releases are, they all have one thing in common. I guess it’s true what they say: celebrities sell! Or at least, they try to.
Posted by mo pie
Filed under: Advertising, American Idol, Celebrities, Feel Good Friday, Hairspray, Humor, Kids, Magazines, Meta, Music, TV
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I wish there was some sort of product I could put my baby in so she’d sleep peacefully while I’m watching Betty White on SNL, in an attempt to console myself over the heartbreak of Kate Gosselin’s dancing career coming to an end.
Sigh. It pains me that people think this is what PR actually is. Unfortunately, even my students.
On behalf of serious public relations professionals everywhere, let me apologize for the ridiculous incompetence of the people sending you these press releases (who, I would argue, have been contaminated by marketers, since that’s really what they’re doing–but I digress).
(Looks up from other pursuits)
Hmm? What’s that? Heartbreak? Over whom? Oh! That’s right! The woman who used to have that reality show I never watched about her Very Large Family who got divorced and then went on that dancing show I never watch.
(Goes back to other things and forgets the name Kate… what was her name again? Eh, never mind)
And my lack of interest in Betty White’s undergarments knows no bounds. Love her, really don’t care about her skivvies.
Grrrrrrr…..this is shameless, but sadly what many deem necessary to sell a product these days. *sigh*
Wait, how did this happen?!?!?! Betty White?! She’s old (over 35), not super-skinny and rockin’ a bikini in the pages of “Us Weekly,” hasn’t flashed her vajayjay in public (as far as I know), isn’t on a reality show, she’s just…talented.
(scratches head)
How did she get so popular?
Some of my faith in humanity has been restored.
And Kate’s dancing should never happen again
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