The sleeper hit of the summer, The Help, does not have much by way of product placement. But what it does have, it works, weaving various iconic products from the 1960s into the plot about the struggles of black maids in white households during the turbulent Civil Rights era Mississippi.

Cadillac, Corvettes and Coca-Cola: is there a trifecta of brands more emblematic of America's era of the economic ascension? Coke probably scores the best placement of the film in both prominence and role, as two cold bottles are shared by characters during a heartwarming moment of racial transcendency. In the book, Coca-Cola plays an even more important role, as one maid gets one for her employer to calm her after a miscarriage.Continue reading...

The first preview for the weighty, moody new NBC TV series (coming this fall) about the iconic brand, The Playboy Club, is out.

The question is, will Playboy be able to capitalize on the attention to bring a little of its former luster to a brand that many now know more as a E! reality show staple? Besides paying homage to house that Hef built, it's also a potential windfall for the city of Chicago following the cancellation of FOX's Chicago Code.

Clearly, when it comes to new releases, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has the weekend nearly to itself. So before we get to our look at upcoming releases, here's a look at another retro 60's brand that popping up on US TV screens this fall.Continue reading...