No double dunkin'

I've been totally obsessed with MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew." You can see for yourself that I'm not alone in that sentiment.

It's not my place to provide any critical examination—although, really Mario, "dance for their lives"? Is that a new way of saying "do-or-die"? I've personally been getting a kick out of seeing all the product placements for "ABDC's" primary sponsor, Dunkin' Donuts. It's not enough that we're getting cocmmercials and flashes of the corporate logo every interstitial opportunity possible; we also have to see the crews partake in the bounty of sugary doughnuts and super strong coffee.

I understand that the show, therefore the reach of the advertising, is national. But this wouldn't be so hilarious to me if it weren't patently obvious that the show is filmed in Los Angeles where we have exactly zero Dunkin' Donuts stores. Those kids from Orange County were probably like, "Huh? We thought this was urban legend."

I also didn't realize that there have been such intense, passionate conversations about Dunkin' Donuts on many local message boards, usually started by some East Coast ex-pat, 'plaining about how L.A. sucks, and it sucks even harder because s/he can't get a daily dose of Dunks. Depending on the demo, a bunch of fellow ex-pats will give their cohort a "word" or L.A-lovers will shout down the whining. MTV, there was no need to fabricate an East-West head-to-head for the finale. It looks like your corporate sponsor has long been feeding that sort of turf rivalry.

This particular blogger cracks me up: The post essentially calls out Angelenos, insultingly imploring them to open a local franchise. Dude, if you're so convinced at DD's virtue, why don't you or any East Coast transplant man up? Yeah, money talks...

—Jiyeon Yoo 

Postscript: I did manage to talk to the corporate office, and I got the typical hedging about the company's expansion plans: While California is definitely a target for future franchising, details won't be clear for another year to a year-and-a-half. Which most likely means, never. I can understand the hesitation: Dunkins hightailed it of dodge in the late '90s. It probably needs some coaxing before it returns. Anyone?