Eye on Microsoft
About this Blog:
This is Shane O'Neill's blog about Microsoft's corporate strategy and its various software and services — the good, the bad and the ugly.
Microsoft Bails on Family Guy, Remains Uncool
Microsoft has a suspicious change of heart and cancels its Windows 7 sponsorship of "Family Guy".
Looks like the Griffin family and residents of Quahog will not be getting their Windows 7 love after all.
Microsoft has reportedly backed out of its sponsorship of an episode of "Family Guy." A Microsoft rep has said that company watched the show being produced — a variety show with Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane and Alex Borstein, who does the voice for Lois Griffin — and decided it is "not a fit with the Windows brand."
So nowwwww they think the content of "Family Guy" is inappropriate. Huh? Have the people at Microsoft who arranged the sponsorship ever watched "Family Guy"? It's the most irreverent show of all time. Its humor is so outrageous, it'll make your head spin.
A preview for the now canceled Windows 7-sponsored episode of "Family Guy".
Scores of politicians, actors, celebrities and athletes have been ruthlessly mocked on "Family Guy", not to mention every race, handicap, social class and religious affiliation. This is what "Family Guy" does. It's not a fit for any brand, really. But it is hilarious and young people watch it in droves.
Microsoft had to know the show can be offensive, so why get involved in the first place? To have a sudden change of heart over the show's content and walk away is suspicious. I think Microsoft knew all along they would bail and they used Fox and "Family Guy" to build hype for the Windows 7 launch. They wanted to appear edgy, but didn't have the guts to follow through.
It's possible that since Windows 7 was planned to be part of the storyline of the variety show, Microsoft may have been butting in on the creative side too much, resulting in irreconcilable differences. Maybe. But I'm more inclined to think it was a calculated move by Microsoft. I don't know about the contractual logistics of the sponsorship, but Microsoft was probably able to slip out the back door without owing Fox money.
It's a shame because the Windows 7/Family Guy partnership was creating good buzz. By retreating from "Family Guy", Microsoft is blowing a big chance to be a part of pop culture and connect with younger buyers, and that's nothing to "giggitty giggitty" about.
Why do you think Microsoft suddenly ended the Family Guy sponsorship? Let me know your thoughts.
Shane O'Neill is a senior writer at CIO.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/smoneill. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter at twitter.com/CIOonline.
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