History Main / EnforcedPlug

* TV shows from UsefulNotes/TheFifties and earlier tended to be extremely blatant with their Enforced Plugs. Most people associate ''Series/ILoveLucy'' with this trope; several episodes would have their plots hijacked for several minutes in favor of an {{infomercial}} for the sponsor’s product. But that was actually subtle for its time; [[http://www.archive.org/details/georgeburnsandgracieallen this episode]] of ''Radio/TheBurnsAndAllenShow'' was more typical.

-->'''Beakman:''' Here's a lamp plug, this is a plug for a toaster oven, 'Be sure to watch "Beakman's World" right here on this station'; [[JustForPun this is a plug for our show...]]

* In ''Film/{{Evolution}}'', the alien invasion is stopped by Head and Shoulders shampoo, and the film ends with the main characters doing a commercial for the product -- but it’s full of BadBadActing, and one of the characters even holds the bottle back-to-front.

* The Argentinian kid soap ''Floricienta'' had in almost every episode some more or less explicit plug for whatever Disney Channel Argentina was airing at the time, usually using the main character's two younger brothers as the pluggers. Examples include them looking at their almost-complete collection of Disney and Pixar [=DVDs=] to choose a film to watch and ultimately setting on ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' or when one of them gets a ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'' live stunt show in the house as a birthday gift.

* In ''Film/TheTrumanShow'', the protagonist’s entire waking life [[TrumanShowPlot is secretly a TV show being produced and filmed in real time.]] Since there are no commercial breaks, ProductPlacement is done during the show; this is accomplished by having the actors playing his family and friends delivering plugs in his presence. An inappropriate and out-of-place plug is eventually one of the things that cues Truman in to the fakeness of his life.

* Both ''Film/WaynesWorld'' films parodied the ProductPlacement phenomenon. In the first film, Wayne objects to selling himself out while simultaneously showing off a series of real-life products and [[BreakingTheFourthWall mugging for the camera]]. The second film has a similar scene parodying a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yW6vObBOVE memetic ad from the 1970s]] where he randomly and inexplicably extols the virtues of Cassandra’s laundry detergent.

* In ''Film/{{Evolution}}'', the alien invasion is stopped by Head and Shoulders shampoo, and the film ends with the main characters doing a commercial for the product -- but it’s full of BadBadActing, and one of the characters even holds the bottle backwards.

** Since its players are right within its demographics, ESPN's coverage of the Little League World Series was previously peppered with intro and bumper packages cross-promoting [[AdoredByTheNetwork/Disney Disney Channel's current obsession]], such as the Music/JonasBrothers or ''Film/HighSchoolMusical''. From 2010 to 2012, it was ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' themed, complete with a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVoVbyT8uQQ baseball-themed version]] of the usual TitleThemeTune. They have since dropped this aspect in favor of a more conventional presentation.

** To return the favor, ESPN wound up plugging ABC's New Year's special ''Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve'' during the games as well; the Orange Bowl had host Ryan Seacrest report from Times Square during the halftime show, and during the Cotton Bowl, ESPN put up a graphic near the end of the first half [[http://247sports.com/Bolt/ESPN-wants-football-fans-to-know-Demi-Lovato-is-taking-the-stage-42427178 advertising]] that you could watch a performance by Music/DemiLovato on ''New Year's Rockin' Eve'' at that very moment (which also kills two birds with one stone, as they’re signed to Disney's Creator/HollywoodRecords). Michigan State fans were likely relieved that they could watch America's most popular New Year's special instead of the CurbStompBattle that ensued (Alabama won 38-0!). If contradictory marketing was part of the plan, it definitely worked: ratings for the 2015 semi-finals were worse than the ones held only 364 days prior, and the organizers eventually decided to move the semifinal games off New Year's Eve in years when the Rose and Sugar Bowl games aren't hosting the semi-finals (the Rose and Sugar Bowl games are always held on January 1, or January 2 if the former falls on a Sunday, regardless of whether they are hosting semi-finals or not).

** Since its players are right within its demographics, ESPN's coverage of the Little League World Series was previously peppered with cross-promotion for Creator/DisneyChannel's current [[AdoredByTheNetwork Flavor of the Month]] (typically during the intro and other bumpers), such as the Music/JonasBrothers or ''Film/HighSchoolMusical''. From 2010 to 2012, it was ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' themed, complete with a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVoVbyT8uQQ baseball-themed version]] of the usual TitleThemeTune (ESPN has since switched the Little League World Series to a more conventional, but still youthful intro package, sans Disney Channel cross-promotion).

* In ''Machinima/TheLeetWorld'', after [[spoiler: winning the first season]], the counter-terrorists return in Season 2 with advertising contracts with [[MegaCorp WolfCorp]], resulting in Westheimer and Chet occasionally inserting plugs for fictitious companies like “Sir Spice-a-Lot’s Chicken” and “Koala Cola” into conversations.

* A particularly poignant example is in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Duckman}}'' episode "Short, Plush and Deadly". Duckman is running away in terror from a monstrous Fluffy and Uranus across a RopeBridge while carrying an injured Cornfed. But then Duckman [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny stops and notices]] that there is a pack of Mentos on the bridge. He pops one in his mouth, and then grins in approval [[BreakingTheFourthWall at the camera]] as '''[[{{Slogans}} Mentos: The Fresh Maker]]''' shows up on the screen. The action scene then screeches back into gear as Fluffy and Uranus abruptly show up ad corner Duckman on the bridge.

** The producers of ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'' didn’t take too kindly to being forced to do a two-part Disneyland episode. So [[WriterRevolt they immediately followed it up]] with an episode entitled "Springtime for David" -- where one of the characters gets a job at a second-rate [[ThoseWackyNazis German-themed]] [[SouvinierLand theme park]] named Edelweiss Gardens, and gets brainwashed into their army of [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul perpetually happy park mascots]].

** The producers of ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'' [[WriterRevolt didn’t take too kindly to]] being forced to do a two-part Disneyland episode. So [[TakeThat they immediately followed it up]] with an episode entitled "Springtime for David" -- where one of the characters gets a job at a second-rate [[ThoseWackyNazis German-themed theme park]] named Edelweiss Gardens, and gets brainwashed into their army of [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul perpetually happy park mascots]].

This was a ubiquitous practice in the Golden Age of RadioDrama. It was also common in the earliest generation of TV shows, many of which had started on radio. These days, it serves as one of many ways to conduct ViralMarketing. The plug can be for a sponsor’s product, or a product offered by the show’s producer, which can include tie-in merchandise, theme parks, or other shows.

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A plug is where a work or individual mentions a product in order to promote it. An Enforced Plug is a plug that is very obviously [[ExecutiveMeddling contractually required]].

As such, an Enforced Plug will usually be delivered awkwardly or ham-handedly; it tends to kill the show’s momentum (and the viewer’s mood). They’re often delivered at the end of the show or after a very obvious segue. The actors try their best but for the life of them can’t sound genuine in their enthusiasm for the product. The writers might actively resent having to write the plug and [[WriterRevolt try to make it as ridiculous as possible]]. {{Parodie|dtrope}}s are common, but they can run afoul of a variant of PoesLaw; actual Enforced Plugs are often so ridiculous that you can’t tell if it’s a parody or not.

A subtrope of ProductPlacement and a supertrope of ProductPromotionParade. Compare TheCon and NowBuyTheMerchandise.

[[folder:Web Original]]

* Done ''very frequently'' by [=YouTubers=], due to many channels no longer being able to sustain themselves purely through ad revenue due to monetization rules getting stricter by the year. Many of these in-video ads are for subscription services like [=SkillShare=] and [=HelloFresh=], [=VPNs=] like [=NordVPN=] and [=SurfShark=], and free-to-play mobile games like ''Raid: Shadow Legends''. ''Raid'' has even achieved [[MemeticMutation memetic status]] due to the sheer number of [=YouTubers=] it sponsors.

** ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' had a Disney World episode where JustForFun/StatlerAndWaldorf complained as they usually do -- but about the place having nothing to complain about.

* Done ''very frequently'' by [=YouTubers=], due to many channels no longer being able to sustain themselves purely through ad revenue due to monetization rules getting stricter by the year. Many of these in-video ads are for subscription services like [=SkillShare=] and [=HelloFresh=], [=VPNs=] like [=NordVPN=] and [=SurfShark=], and free-to-play mobile games like ''Raid: Shadow Legends''.

* Kogorou Mouri from ''Manga/DetectiveConan'' has never shown to be interested in manga, so it is especially suspiciously uncharacteristic of him when he suddenly mentions ''Manga/PsychicSquad'' (a manga also published by Shogakukan) out of nowhere when discussing {{Teleportation}} with his daughter and her friend.

* Every episode of ''Podcast/SporadicPhantoms'' has a ridiculous advertisement for something from the ''Literature/{{Animorphs'' universe}}. The first episode has one for Dealin' Dan Hawke's car sales, and the trio complain that it goes against their environmentally-friendly values, but they need the money.

* Done ''very frequently'' by [=YouTubers=], most notably with subscription services like [=SkillShare=] and [=HelloFresh=], [=VPNs=] like [=NordVPN=] and [=SurfShark=], and free-to-play mobile games like ''Raid: Shadow Legends''.

* Done ''very frequently'' by [=YouTubers=]

** To return the favor, ESPN wound up plugging ABC's New Year's special ''Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve'' during the games as well; the Orange Bowl had host Ryan Seacrest report from Times Square during the halftime show, and during the Cotton Bowl, ESPN put up a graphic near the end of the first half [[http://247sports.com/Bolt/ESPN-wants-football-fans-to-know-Demi-Lovato-is-taking-the-stage-42427178 advertising]] that you could watch a performance by Music/DemiLovato on ''New Year's Rockin' Eve'' at that very moment (which also kills two birds with one stone, as she's signed to Disney's Creator/HollywoodRecords). Michigan State fans were likely relieved that they could watch America's most popular New Year's special instead of the CurbStompBattle that ensued (Alabama won 38-0!). If contradictory marketing was part of the plan, it definitely worked: ratings for the 2015 semi-finals were worse than the ones held only 364 days prior, and the organizers eventually decided to move the semifinal games off New Year's Eve in years when the Rose and Sugar Bowl games aren't hosting the semi-finals (the Rose and Sugar Bowl games are always held on January 1, or January 2 if the former falls on a Sunday, regardless of whether they are hosting semi-finals or not).

* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' is infamous for its product placement, leading to awkward dialogue where every mention of a car or phone is a plug of some kind, and a character is nicknamed "Product Placement Pete" for his [[TheShill frequent delivery of these plugs]]. Its most infamous episode in this respect is “Hero”, where the aforementioned Pete gains superpowers and goes AxCrazy by chewing tainted Stride gum; the plug essentially took over an entire episode, although it didn't exactly paint the product in a great light.