Microsoft’s product placements in The Big Bang Theory
I’m a huge fan of The Big Bang Theory show. Given a fact that I do have a geek / physicist background it hardly comes as a surprise. I’ve noticed number of different several Microsoft’s products being placed and mention on the show. First and foremost – number of different Microsoft Press books but even Windows 7 finds its way.
The Big Bang Theory – 101
The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created and executively produced by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady. It premiered on CBS September 24, 2007.
Set in Pasadena, California, the show is about two male Caltech prodigies in their 20s, one an experimental physicist (Leonard) and the other a theoretical physicist (Sheldon), who live across the hall from an attractive blonde waitress with show-biz aspirations (Penny). Leonard and Sheldon’s geekiness and intellect are contrasted with Penny’s social skills and common sense for comic effect. Two equally geeky friends of theirs, Howard and Rajesh, are also main characters.
Thank you Wikipedia for this intro, now off to the Microsoft’s product placements in the show…
Microsoft Press books product placement, Part 1.
In a number of episodes in the third season of the show you can see the Microsoft Press books being featured in the background.
This still originates from Orin Thomas (who is Microsoft Press author and trainer) and shows Leonard with the nice selection of Microsoft Press books (mostly for MCTS exam).
In the third season, episode 6 you can see Leonard and Raj while some Microsoft Press books are being featured in the background. Notice that they look exactly the same like in the still from Orin. Two right-most books are straight, then there is some gap and then tri blue books are there and then four red books follow…
Notice that they have the “same organizational pattern” (This is how Sheldon would put it) in all the stills and all episodes (in which they do appear). I guess these guys are not really studying for their MCTS exams!
Later in the same episode with the Leonard:
And then with Howard:
After a while in the same, third season, episode 8, you can see the blue Microsoft Press book just behind Sheldon’s back:
And then comes the episode 9 of the same season with some really heavy Microsoft product placements.
First there are Leonard and Penny with the “blue book” behind them…
And then we are in the Sheldon’s office and three red books are really standing out…
Taking a closer looks reveals some more Microsoft stuff. Some familiar titles like SQL Server 2008 Internals and Programming ASP.NET 3.5 are visible in this close up:
Windows 7 product placements
In the same episode, you can see several Windows 7 screens…
And if we take a closer look you can clearly see Windows 7 Orb and icons for Internet Explorer 8 as well as for Windows Media Player.
Oh, yes, you can also see that cool, retro Windows XP window chrome without title. Who knows, maybe guys are running Windows XP mode within Windows 7.
Microsoft Press books product placement, Part 2.
In the episode 10, bunch of Microsoft Press books have been removed… As you can see, Penny is here, but Microsoft Press books are all gone.
All, but one in the same episode… The “Blue” book is here!
At the end…
Keep an eye for more product placements and let me know if you spot them… I remember seeing XBOX 360 in one of the episodes so if someone can get those stills, I’d appreciate that and I would publish those stills here.
With all those Microsoft Press books, I was hoping to see some related to WPF, Silverlight or Expression – but so far – none.
And as a standard disclaimer – stills published here are just and only for informational purposes. No copyright infringement with CBS, Microsoft or any other third party was intended.
P.S. The Big Bang Theory is pretty cool show. I hope some of the commercial or nation television stations will air it here in Croatia as well (or at least over some of the available IPTV providers).
Let’s keep in touch – You should follow me on Twitter now!
36 Responses to “ Microsoft’s product placements in The Big Bang Theory ”
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Well there was also the episode where they have their “Tuesdays is Halo Night”, and can be seen playing with xbox 360 controllers.
Yup, there you go! This is the one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkELagbcpZk&feature=related
)
hahaha, čim se ti baviš
Imaš xbox u sezoni 1, epizodi 16. btw odlična serija 
Hehe
Hvala ti na komentaru 
This is really cool, and I’m a fan of the show. But are the placements paid, or “earned”?
I’m not really sure – I’d say they are paid as some sort of marketing campaigns…
C’mon guys. Who would belive that these smarts guys are using Windows? Reading Microsoft Press? Duh!…
Hehe I will hold from expressing my opinion on this one. For now.
Oh well, I’ll say it
I’d probably associate those guys more with Linux and Unix kind of stuff rather than Microsoft Press (I’m studying physics myself and all things at the University are mostly *nix kind of stuff). Reason? Well, that’s now completely different story.
But hey, thanks for your comment!
Well there was also the episode where they have their “Tuesdays is Halo Night”, and can be seen playing with xbox 360 controllers.