Friday, June 24, 2011

Where wolf?

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There, wolf.

The fourth season of True Blood starts on Sunday and, although I'm no marketing expert, I think I've started to pick up on a very subtle, yet consistent, promotional theme over the past two seasons...

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There is no actual blood used in their marketing photos.

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I know it sounds like a madcap conclusion to draw, but I've done extensive research to prove my theory. Just bear with me...

Besides the latest Muscle and Fitness and Entertainment Weekly blood-free cover articles, look at these other recent examples...

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The new GQ article...hemoglobin-free.

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Muscle & Body magazine...bloodless.

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Vanity Fair...not a wound in sight.

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Cosmopolitan magazine...zip.

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Men's Fitness...plasma-free.

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US Weekly...dry.

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I really think I'm on to something here...it's the only consistent visual theme that I've noticed in every one one of these articles.

Perhaps they thought that having blood in the title and then blood on promotional materials may have been too obvious and, perhaps, off-putting to the viewing audience. So, they went in the complete opposite direction hoping that Joe-public wouldn't be on to their scheme.

HBO, you may not think we are sophisticated enough to notice these kinds of things...

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But we do.

We notice.

Speaking of noticing, one of my favorite blogs JoeMyGod, linked to my research today. I'm very honored and glad that countless others will now have access to this very important marketing and PR study. Thanks Joe!

Also...Towleroad posted Joe Manganiello's Werewolf Workout video from Details magazine...again, splatter-free.



My arduous research continues...

7 comments:

Dean said...

I feel bad that they don't pay him enough money for him to afford shirts. I thought there was some sort of minimum pay requirements.

Anonymous said...

God bless you for doing the Lord's work. That was a great way to kick start my weekend.

Lymis said...

I think you need to look at more pictures. This may not be a representative sample.

I think it's only fair to get a bigger sample. Preferably in nice, high resolution. And post them. We'll be happy to help you look. You shouldn't have to do this alone.

KEW said...

I'm sorry to burst your bubble, and it's very easy to see how you became distracted,but there are dribbles of blood behind the words "True Blood" on the cover of Muscle and Fitness. There are even a couple of drops on that magnificent slab of shoulder.

Vampire Hours said...

LOL...I do appreciate all of your concern for the grueling time I had to spend doing research. It was awful....but it's part of the job when you're informing the people.

I hadn't noticed that the ads didn't actually contain shirts....odd, how I missed that. I must have been so tired from my research that I overlooked it. Now that you mention it, there does seem to be a pattern.

I don't think that's blood behind the Men's Fitness logo...I think it's Ketchup. Werewolves love Ketchup, I hear.

Mental note...I need to get Ketchup.

Joel said...

He's obviously a very talented actor. (rolling my eyes)

Vampire Hours said...

Who? I didn't notice any actors in my research. I was strictly studying the marketing angle for the show...from every angle.

I think you're reading into my results...