This Monday, TNT will be premiering a new series titled ?Trust Me.? It follows the story of Rothman Greene & Mohr?a fictional ad agency that competes with actual ad agencies, like Leo Burnett and DDB. The cast is helmed by two familiar TV celebrities: Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanagh.
To make the series feel more authentic, producers have integrated some real products and brands in the plot. In one episode, the agency handles the account of Unilever for the product Dove. The plot makes it a natural choice for product placement and branded entertainment. There are even cameo appearances of actual agency execs in the series.
The producers are working with different names and companies advertising industry to make the series more realistic. For instance, they are currently negotiating with Adweek.com to print Rothman Green & Mohr as ?agency of the year.?
?Trust Me? offers brands and advertisers the chance to insert their products in the plot in an unsuspicious manner. It lets the advertisers elude the disadvantages of traditional TV advertising?giving them a more secure chance at being seen by the audience.
?It?s one of the most fascinating projects I?ve ever worked on,? said Linda Yaccarino, executive VP and chief operating officer for Turner Entertainment. ?It?s a natural backdrop or foundation for advertisers to associate with a show set in an advertising agency.?