Does a show as popular as House need a trying-to-be-viral marketing campaign? Fox thinks so: This summer, the network has been pushing a “snakes on a cane” campaign to promote the upcoming season of the doctor-heal-thyself drama. Rather than use strictly traditional methods, the campaign has included ads that don’t mention the name of the show — or that it’s for a show at all. Oooh, tricky. Now Fox has rolled out a five-second ad that confirms the logo does indeed refer to everyone’s favorite Princeton-Plainsboro grouchypants.
The caduceus/cane icon is much more effective than the “snakes” line, just given how dated the joke is, which is why it’s all the more impressive that Mr. Hugh Laurie himself sketched the original design. Hurray, another entry for my “Hugh Laurie Is Awesome” scrapbook!
The new season kicks off Sept. 21, and I for one am duh-hesperate to see what House looks like on the inside of a loony bin. Are you with me, PopWatchers?
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I personally love the campaign and knew immediately what it was for. Can’t wait for this new season of House – it’s going to be interesting!
http://www.zazzle.com/snakes_on_a_cane_official_house_md_tshirt-235994592948451745?gl=El_Moro_Flamenco&rf=238649343444503768
From the moment I saw the add and could see that scruffy defined chin I knew it was Mr. Laurie. And absolutely AMAZING that he sketched the t-shirt design. Can the man do everything?!
I came to the same conclusion right away, but then I immediately flipped to the front of my magazine to make sure I hadn’t picked up some old copy I forgot to recycle. I mean, really? This add would have been more effective during the peak of this movies hype.
hugh laurie is a genius!! i loved that symbol! simple yet highly effective…only to learn now that the man designed it himself! where are the tshirts!!??
I kept seeing this ad and assumed it was for the Red Cross or something! Now it’s actually quite funny.
They better be selling those shirts! As always, Hugh Laurie is nothing short of brilliant!
House had me this season just with their regular ads, and I haven’t watched regularly since the new interns came on. I JUST finished reading “Voluntary Madness” so I am really interested in what they are going to do with this season. Also, I think the creators (along with those on Weeds) really deserve props for taking risks with the evolution of their show. Wow.
I keep seeing this symbol spray painted on the sidewalks in my neighborhood! I kept thinking it was something having to do with health care reform!
Actually saw this ad for the first time in EW and loved it! Was already psyched for the season premiere; I can only imagine the torment House is gonna put the adminstrators of the asylum through and I can’t wait!!!
Don’t they do a HOUSE shirt every summer for some charity? I could swear I heard about something like this last year! Do some research please EW? I am lazy!
I kept wondering what the awesome sidewalk graffiti was for too! It’s on nearly every corner.
Can’t wait for Sept. 21st!!
I ADORE Hugh Laurie and his work on HOUSE is nothing short of AMAZING!! AND, the DUCKLINGS are coming back!!!