• Ad Age, Wall Street Journal, Tuesday, October 27, 2009 10:45 AM

Microsoft is pulling out of a deal to sponsor a prime time special by "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane after viewing an early version of the show and seeing that the content will include "riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest," Michael Learmonth reports. Those topics were deemed to not be a fit with the Windows brand, according to a Microsoft spokesperson.

The turnabout was sudden. Just a few days ago, Microsoft marketing executive Gayle Troberman told Ad Age: "You'll see us deeply integrated into the content."

"Family Guy" remains in Microsoft's marketing plans for Windows 7 and it hopes to work with MacFarlane "in other areas." "We continue to believe in the value of brand integrations and partnerships between brands, media companies and talent," the spokesman says.

Meanwhile, Ben Worthen And Jessica E. Vascellaro report in the Wall Street Journal that Silicon Valley is ablaze with new advertising campaigns as technology companies bet that business spending will pick up.

Read the whole story at Ad Age, Wall Street Journal »