CBS Getting Flak Over HIMYM Commercial

Monday, March 24, 2008


I know you've seen this promo about 4,000 times over the last four days, but Mike McCarthy actually brings up a pretty good point in his USA Today column about the Britney Spears-How I Met Your Mother commercial. Here's his quote and the promo....

Worst promo. Who's the genius behind the lame promo during CBS's coverage of the tournament Saturday and Sunday about Britney Spears' appearance on How I Met Your Mother? In the clip from tonight's episode, Spears' flirty receptionist asks Neil Patrick Harris' character if they can have sex, then go shopping. Cute. We know Hollywood loves to outrage the squares in Middle America. But there are kids watching these games.


It might be a little much to say that "Hollywood loves to outrage the squares in Middle America", but he's right when he brings up the fact that kids watch the games. It would be okay if they ran this during the late games and another one during the day, but CBS had this running from Noon to Midnight during the first two rounds.

CBS Criticized for Britney Spears 'How I Met Your Mother' Commercials in March Madness (Fanhouse)
CBS analyst Davis nails trifecta of long shots (USA Today)

22 Comments:

Honestly, they'd be better off selling the fact that Sarah Chalke (far right in the first picture) is in the episode.

Signal to Noise said...
Mar 24, 2008, 12:30:00 PM  

Hmm, isn't it odd that whenever a lot of people will be guaranteed to be watching TV, SB, Final Four etc, the networks feel that pushing the limit on sexuality is a good thing to do.

Mighty odd, wonder why they do that.

This commercial is funnier knowing Doogie is queer.

E Buzz said...
Mar 24, 2008, 12:30:00 PM  

I'm more offended by CBS saying this is "the episode everyone's talking about." Really? Have you met one single person who is talking about Britney Spears making a special guest appearance on a mediocre CBS sitcom? One?

J.J. said...
Mar 24, 2008, 12:42:00 PM  

I wasn't offended. Maybe it was because I was laughing so hard at the notion of Doogie Houser supposedly being turned on by a woman. He's gay, morons. We kind of know that already. Maybe pair up Britney with a heterosexual man. Oh, wait...there aren't any starring on any CBS programs. My bad.

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 1:04:00 PM  

Is it just me or does HIMYM look like the name for whatever it is when a man loses his virginity?

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 1:12:00 PM  

CBS was just trying to get eyeballs to a show. You can't keep canceling Jericho and moving shows from the Showtime division. The only way this is in the news after tomorrow is if they decide to auction off the clothes she wore in the episode...

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 1:24:00 PM  

I'm still trying to understand how FOX gets away with the commercial crap they always put on during NFL, MLB and NASCAR coverage on weekends. I enjoy watching all of these with my 6 year old son, but have to keep a finger on the remote during commercials for Prison Break, 24, etc. The violence that makes it into just the commercials is way too much. I'd rather have my son see a Britney sex innuendo than the stuff FOX routinely brings out.

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 1:40:00 PM  

so how do you parents explain to the kids why singing animals never show up in your Jeep?

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 1:54:00 PM  

God forbid The Children™ hear anything about sex.

troymccluresf said...
Mar 24, 2008, 2:30:00 PM  

Was this on before or after the many Viagra commercials.

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 2:33:00 PM  

CBS parades dead hookers in pools of blood every Sunday for my football addicted young sons. They need toi get their standards and practices people out in front of this shit because they could easily use another line from Spears without the "sex" one.

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 2:34:00 PM  

so it's okay that your children listen to Britney's music with all the sex references and go to her concerts with the sexual dancing. you're all complaining about the word 'sex' being used ONCE. gotcha!

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 2:43:00 PM  

"I'm still trying to understand how FOX gets away with the commercial crap they always put on during NFL, MLB and NASCAR coverage on weekends. I enjoy watching all of these with my 6 year old son, but have to keep a finger on the remote during commercials for Prison Break, 24, etc. The violence that makes it into just the commercials is way too much. I'd rather have my son see a Britney sex innuendo than the stuff FOX routinely brings out."

Ummm...you are letting your 6 year old child watch Prison Break and 24, but you are worried about the violence in the commercials? This is why I hate stupid people with children.

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 3:13:00 PM  

Anon 3:13 Learn to read. He is complaining about the commercials "for" Prison Break, 24, etc. that occur during NFL, MLB, and NASCAR coverage.

And Britney Spears makes me not want to watch the show and I usually do.

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 3:37:00 PM  

I don't believe they should have used those commercials. I think they were hoping it would be controversial so people would watch it.
Forget it, I would rather watch the women's NIT than that show.

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 4:10:00 PM  

Screw the kids. If she's good enough for Mike Patrick, she's good enough for all of us.

GMoney said...
Mar 24, 2008, 4:12:00 PM  

The only way this is in the news after tomorrow is if they decide to auction off the clothes she wore in the episode...

http://www.seenon.com/

I think I know where Tim Brando & Mike Patrick will be tonight after 9pm.

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 4:29:00 PM  

"Ummm...you are letting your 6 year old child watch Prison Break and 24, but you are worried about the violence in the commercials? This is why I hate stupid people with children."
I think it's people like this guy that these commercials are targeted at.

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 9:20:00 PM  

Mostly I'm just offended that they'd cram Britney Spears on what's actually a pretty decent show.

macomeau said...
Mar 24, 2008, 11:21:00 PM  

How I Met Your Mother is one of my favorite shows, but Britney Spears makes me not want to watch it.

Anonymous said...
Mar 24, 2008, 11:55:00 PM  

I wasn't offended at all. I agree with the guy who said that they only used the word sex.

Anonymous said...
Mar 25, 2008, 11:15:00 AM  

Please. Sex is all around commercials from menstral cycles to ED. But when it's Britney Spears saying "SEX" looking like a secretary then it's not okay. I thought it pretty much got desenstized after the 12th time of the game.

Anonymous said...
Mar 25, 2008, 9:09:00 PM  

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