If you’ve driven along Sunset Blvd. the past few days, you may have seen this:
Or if you’ve been walking in Times Square (burr), you may have seen this:
The billboards are actually covert ads for the midseason return of The CW’s Vampire Diaries, whose slogan is going to urge fans in the coming days to “Catch VD.” Yup, in between ads for The Disney Store and Mamma Mia, the network is recommending people to run out and get a venereal disease.*
Turns out the ads are just Phase One in a campaign to promote the show’s return on Jan. 27. Soon the text-only ads will be replaced by billboards showing this:
Annnnd that image doesn’t really make it better, does it?
This isn’t the first time The CW’s marketing department has pushed the envelope — remember the Parents Television Council jumping all over the network’s “OMFG” ads for Gossip Girl?
Or its “Menage a Tues” ads for Melrose Place?
Asked for comment, The CW’s spokesperson released this statement: “VD simply stands for Vampire Diaries, and anyone who thinks otherwise should probably get themselves checked out.”
* Though, wondering, do viewers in CW’s youthful demo really call catching something “VD”? I mean, if The CW show was titled, um, Sexy Transylvania Diaries, that might work even better.
its funny, my friends and i have had this joke about the vampire diaries for a very long time.
LOL… same here.
Its a lame marketing ploy, I am so glad they did not do something stupid like this for Smallville during its run and made awesome posters such as the one that came out recently with Clark in front of the giant silver S
How would something like that work with Smallville? I don’t think you get it.
what i mean it was one of the few CW shows that did not go into overdrive with sex appeal, and I am glad for it
remember lois giving clark a lapdance half a decade ago? In a uncle same 2-piece bikini?
I’m thinking “Watch some SM!” or “Superman started out as a simple SM boy!” or something.
That is seriously hilarious. I’ve had VD since the start, can’t seem to shake it, and really, I don’t want to… ; )
NANCY I am with you nor am I taking any meds..LOL
It is funny, but people who don’t know the show, will not get it.
They are very shiny. Shiny VD.
….I was thinking the same thing!
Funny how the Vampire Diaries is a smart, sexy show with layered characters and the CW adds are just…well one dimensional and desperate for attention. Vampire Diaries deserves better.
Agree
You’re giving the show too much credit.
That’s why I’ve never call Vampire Diaries “VD”. It’s way too close to veneral disease. But the ads do make me laugh.
Yeah, VD never crossed my mind. I’ve just always referred to it as TVD.
TVD is what my friends and I refer to it as. I don’t get why they would just put “VD”. Craziness!!
Same here. It’s THE Vampire Diaries
I call it VD – IMO TVD is too long an abbreviation. ‘VD’ rolls off the tongue – it never occured to me that it also stands for Veneral Disease. *shrugs*
This is great, its funny, and its something Damon might say, also Mandi should have posted on this she is The Vampire Diaries lady?
Hilarious! Before the old fogies at the PTC get their Depends in a bunch, they should remember that kids don’t say VD anymore anyway.
ha ha. very funny. if you yung ‘uns don’t say vd anymore, than how does this joke even work? whatev.
it doesn’t work for most of us, that’s why I don’t understand why they put it on the ad!
Oh quit whining about the PTC. It’s as bad as the PTC whining about everything else. Whine, whine, whine.
It’s a little risque in my opinion but all of The CW’s advertisements are. You just have to expect it and get over it. People will watch the show regardless of the advertisement. I’m excited for the new episode!
VD is hilarious. That pic of the three is hot but they overdid it with the oil.
I am an “old fogey” (57) and I LOVE it – but I will continue to call it TVD.
The CW makes me ill. These marking people are horrible. Can they please be fired and shipped away?
Are they werewolves “marking” their territory?
I love Vampire Diaries, but with marketing like this, it no wonder why nobody takes The CW Network seriously.
Oh, puh-leeze. As if that isn’t exactly what they want people to think of when they see those ads. How juvenile and sleazy. ‘Catch VD’ and a very suggestive photo of a girl and two guys on a bed. Lame.