Being an insomniac, I often end up passing the small hours in front of the telly. Of course, I could get on with that novel or play a DVD, but being as lazy as I am, I sit through a helluva lot of infomercials. Regardless of how useful or not the products being advertised are, some of the ads - particularly those focused on kitchen appliances and food processors - are quite entertaining... that is, in the so-bad-it's kinda funny sort of way - e.g. the contrived situations (are "dinner parties" really THAT scripted?); the oh-so-fake looks of surprise on the faces of the audience when a "special feature" is revealed - the list is endless. Anyhow, I came across this list some time back and thought I'd share it. You may recognise some of these people. I actually think the RonCo ads are among the better infomercials. But I can certainly vouch for the silliness of the "Mick and Mimi" ads.
Now, to order that Magic Bullet with its set of colour-coded lids (WOOOW!)
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Dunno if he's still around, but I ...
Dunno if he's still around, but I remember Ian Turpie was quite the infomercial personality back in the day...
Classic! I loved that guy - a true ...
Classic! I loved that guy - a true pioneer in NZ informercials.
How about that little cunt (is there really another word to describe him? No, there isn't) who used to do his bit on Mary Lambie's breakfast show? When his segment would roll around, Mary would look pretty embarrassed and would say something like "Now, what have you got for us there, Benjamin?" knowing full well that he would be pushing the benefits of his nature bee pollen every goddamn week. Still, me and my girlfriend at the time were taking it (the pollen), so I guess it worked. Honourable mention to "Ali", the informercial-disguised-as-part-of-the-show woman. Really, really painful viewing every time, thanks Ali.
Leah Parapa is of course this country's most fantastically terrible tv pseudo-personality. Better living everyone!