Fall TV season is right! around! the corner!, which means the campaigns for new shows are getting into gear, and as usual, network marketing big cheeses are coming up with unusual ways to promote their series. Exhibit A: The campaign for the Courteney Cox-led Cougar Town is including faux ads for Cox’s character’s real estate agency. (Similar signs are a plot point in the pilot episode, too. Synergy, you guys!) The ads will run on benches and bus stops like ordinary real estate spots, which is a cute idea, I guess, except I only ever notice those signs when the agent’s photo makes me chuckle. Why would you pick the photo where you have serial killer face?! etc.
According to an ABC marketing executive, “It’s important to us that we position [the show] in the right way. We don’t want people to think that she’s purely a predator. We want people to know that this is a comedy, and that Courteney is playing a professional woman who is a fun and likable character.”
I have high hopes for the series, based on how much I liked the pilot and how devoted I am to Bill Lawrence (a lot on both counts), and I know it’s too late to change the show’s title, but man, if your marketing team has to make sure people don’t think your lead character is a “predator,” that seems like an uphill battle. Isn’t it passe already to call someone a “cougar”? It’s like using the term “metrosexual.” Blech. I know it’s a joke — the town’s sports teams are the Cougars — but it’s hard to see the word “cougar” as anything other than derogatory and objectifying, which conflicts with the show’s congenial silliness. Lawrence and Co. swore at the TCA press tour that Cox’s character wouldn’t be entertaining new suitors every week, so the relationship-specific moniker seems like an even worse idea.
What do you think, PopWatchers? Does the name “Cougar Town” bug you, or could this ad campaign convince you to give it a whirl?
The title is a total turn-off. It’s sounds like a very lame Oxygen reality show. I may end up watching it but would never admit it.
I want to know what happens when you call that toll-free number…but not enough to actually dial it.
I called it (bored @ work). You get a “this call cannot be completed as dialed” message… although I’m sure they’ll eventually put some show-related recording on there.
Title is awful. And look at all the white people! Can we get some diversity on TV please? Somewhere? Anywhere?!?
The number doesn’t go anywhere. On Scrubs, Turk’s number was CALL TUR, and that was a real number. The cast would leave random messages on the voicemail for fans.
I dial the K
I’ll watch almost anything with Courteney Cox in it!
It’s just a title. Anyone familiar with Bill’s work knows that it won’t be anything like some Bravo reality show.
The title (and homogeneous cast) is enough to convince me that the show won’t be funny. I have better things to watch.
Funny! Look at all the white people. That’s a hoot. I think the title is lame, lame, lame but I know I’ll watch cuz I like CC.
The title “Cougar” definitely turns me off — but the TV ads I’ve seen for the show look pretty funny.
It’s not too late to change the name!
The District 9 bus bench ads were so awesome and unique, nothing can top ‘em!
I looooathe the term cougar!! My bf is 16 years younger that I am so, unfortunately, I’ve been called one may times. Hate. It. It IS passe and derogatory..so let’s get over it people. That being said, I like CC (and Busy Phillips) so I will definitely check it out.
yeah, not gonna watch it. what a gross title. They knew it was insulting when they picked it. Deserves to fail.
People that get turned off by a title don’t deserve to have a TV. Get over it. It’s freaking Bill Lawrence he’s proven time and time again he knows how to make good tv shows. Plus aren’t most of the writers women? So he employs more women than any other show but he had the nerve to use an ironic title like cougar town so you’re turned off. You make so much sense.