Crooked Houses Photo: Crooked House company
On the June 22nd episode of “Jon and Kate Plus 8”, reality television stars Jon and Kate Gosselin announced their separation, and their plans for divorce. As far as ratings for "Jon & Kate Plus 8" are concerned, the show was a huge success, pulling in a record 10.6 million viewers.
But before announcing they were finished, Jon and Kate had an argument about the playhouses they were having installed for their eight children. The playhouses they were arguing over about the placement of are called Crooked House Playhouses.
Turns out, Jon and Kate spread their success, product placement for there show has given many businesses and vacation spots such as Crooked House playhouses, Orange County Choppers, Grand Wailea Resort in Hawaii, and Whirlpool Duets just to name a few. However, one of the biggest responses for product placement for a reality TV show was the episode in which Jon and Kate Gosselin announced their divorce .
How much does product placement in reality TV shows really effect product sales?
Since the show featuring them aired, the Crooked Houses Company has been one of the biggest searches on Google. The small business consisting of five people, with only two full-time employees, has been booming.
"Within 60 seconds of Kate saying the phrase 'crooked houses' on TV last night there were 170,000 visitors to our Web site," said Halliday.
Owned by Glen Halliday, 38, and Jeff Leighton, 34, Kids Crooked Houses has been "inundated" with phone calls and catalog requests since the episode aired Monday evening. Glen Halliday, the owner of Maine based Kids Crooked Houses, told ABC News that the idea for the "whimsical playhouses" came from watching cartoons with his kids in which he saw houses that never had straight edges.
These houses however, do not come cheap, prices range from $1,400 to over $2,500 per playhouse. The doghouse featured on "The Early Show" this past Tuesday costs around $500.
The developers of Crooked Houses definitely got their money’s worth, if you were watching; you might have noticed Kate Gosselin say they were “bequeathed” to her kids, meaning, the Gosselins didn’t pay for these in a literal sense. They also had the kids wear “Crooked” tee-shirts throughout the episodes in true product placement mode.
Other reality TV shows such as “The Bachelorette”, “The Biggest Loser”, “American Idol”, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” all use product placement throughout their shows. This is a very creative and cost effective marketing strategy for many businesses during the tough economic times where budgets for almost everything, including marketing have been cut back.
How far will companies go for free advertizing on reality TV shows, and what can fans expect to see our favorite reality TV show personalities, wearing, drinking, using or driving?
Related Articles:
- Jon and Kate Plus 8: A new chapter (spoilers and topics for discussion)
- Jon and Kate Plus 8: TLC announces despite the divorce the show will go on
- Jon and Kate Plus 8: Kate speaks out about the divorce announcement, it was Jon's decision
Jon & Kate Plus 8 - Crooked houses
Sources: TLC, ABC News, CBS News, kidscrookedhouse.com
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Comments
I have noticed lately there has been a lot more product placement on Jon and Kate, jon was even on the computer doing somethig for Allstate it think it was, the show is popular and the family is getting free stuff its a win win for all!
I have ordered a crooked house for my little girl, we are waiting for delivery, it was expensive but well worth the money we designed it ourselves and I created it so she can even use it into her teens sleepovers outside anyone?
WHo ever thought of the idea of product placement on reality TV show is brilliant, its one thing to see our fav stars in movies or even sometimes on sitcoms using specific products but real people, everyone wins
I will no longer watch Jon (of the Former Jon & Kate)...he committed adultery and now you are going to put the woman he committed it with on your show>SHAME ON YOU!
A neighbor had a Crooked House, it was WAY too tiny and the inside was unfinished. We made one for our kids from packing crates - spent about $100 and it was MUCH better.
I loved the crooked houses, yes quiteexpensive from the tree house my dad built but such a great idea if you can afford it or have it "donated" to you! lol Kate your a great mom keep up the good work with all eight of those beautiful kids
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