# Awkward Family TV Ads This Ad for the HBO GO App Shows How Uncomfortable Parents Make Everything By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2014-04-26 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hbo-go References: [ifitshipitshere](http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/hbos-latest-ads-mobile-app-really-hit-home-away/) & [itunes.apple](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hbo-go/id429775439?mt=8) As part of the promotions for the [HBO](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vaseline-x-the-white-lotus) GO app, HBO released a series of ads showing just how awkward it can be to watch a TV show with your parents, especially when the content is risqué. For these ads, HBO demonstrates this with its own programming like Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm and in this case, a scene from Game of Thrones. The 'First Cousins' HBO ad features a family squeezed together on a couch, watching a romantic scene between Cersei and Jaime Lannister, who are siblings. As things get steamy between the brother and sister onscreen, the mom makes a remark about some of their relatives that doesn't seem to help the situation any. The ad is a brilliant way to promote the HBO GO app, which keeps parents at bay to avoid these kinds of scenarios. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.1/10 - Popularity: 20% | Activity: 66% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Unconventional Advertising Techniques:** Creating humorous and relatable ads that poke fun at uncomfortable situations to promote products. - **Streaming Services and Apps:** Promoting the unique features of streaming services and apps through clever advertising campaigns. - **Situational Comedy in Advertising:** Drawing attention to relatable real-life situations through the use of comedic ads for products and services. ### Who This Affects Most - **Entertainment Industry:** Employing innovative advertising campaigns to promote new shows and streaming services. - **Mobile App Development:** Creating disruptive mobile apps that solve digital entertainment problems and provide unique features for users. - **Marketing and Advertising Industry:** Employing creativity and humor in advertising campaigns to create impactful messaging for products and services. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Humorous Period Care Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/period-underwear-1.md) - [Solution-Oriented Holiday Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solutionoriented-holiday-ad.md) - [Interactive Game Advertisements](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/samsung-ads-gamebreaks.md) - [Comforting Oat Bar Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/campaign-for-bobos.md) - [Nostalgic Mayonnaise Advertisements](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meg-ryan-and-billy-crystal.md) - [Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cocacola-family.md) - [Dystopian AI Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anthropic-super-bowl.md) - [Comical Love-Inspired Food Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/burger-king-loveinspired-ads.md) - [Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/windfree.md)