
Episode #45
Big Pharma’s Bizarre TV Ads: Behind the Madness and the Marketing -- EP 045
On today’s episode, Matthew & Chris tumble down the wild and wacky rabbit hole of Big Pharma’s prescription drug TV advertising—where anime secret agents fight nausea, Broadway musical numbers break out over diabetes meds, and even the ball dog steals the commercial. The duo also unpacks some of the week’s biggest headlines: Meta faces another eye-popping fine and new safety rules, Google quietly tests "Remy," its new AI personal agent, and Disney sells out all Super Bowl ad slots for 2027, marking milestones in price and spectacle. But the main course? A deep dive into why U.S. and New Zealand television are still a playground for pharmaceutical ads—and how upcoming FDA changes could reset the entire zany genre. Along the way, the Mischievous Duo roast, dissect, and sort-of celebrate the creativity (and absurdity) behind ads that want to make even side effects look like a show tune. Stick around for insightful banter, classic commercial breakdowns, and a reminder to appreciate the glorious, bizarre art form that is the Big Pharma TV spot—before it changes forever. Grab the new Book “How To Succeed In Marketing, Advertising and Artificial Intelligence Without Really Lying” on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OJDXzU **Join The Marketing, Machines & Mischief Community** ✅ Official: https://MarketingMachinesMischief.com ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarketingMachinesMischief ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewnewell/ ✅ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingMachinesMischief ✅ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingmachinesmischief Marketing, Machines & Mischief is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net






