Top picks from 50 years of ‘As Seen on TV’
1960s: Offering what appeared to be about 5,000 ways to chop carrots, The Veg-O-Matic was introduced by its inventor Ron Popeil and debuted at the International Housewares Show. Sold almost exclusively through TV, it is believed to be the first product to use the red “As Seen on TV” logo, which is not trademarked. Heralded as an easy solution to slicing and dicing produce, it was known for its catchy phrase, “It slices! It dices!”
1970s: Marketed worldwide, the Smokeless Ashtray aimed to make smoking palatable for all — during a time when smoking was actually permitted in public. It sucked in dirty air through special filters and trapped the particles inside. One ad showed a family in a car with dad explaining how the Smokeless Ashtray “allowed his family to breathe fresher, cleaner air.”
1980s: The era marked the beginning of America’s exercise obsession — or at least its obsession with spending money on equipment. Marketed by Suzanne Somers, the ThighMaster was one of the first products to be advertised through a popular celebrity, who demonstrated the product in various settings to show how easy it was to use. More than 10 million ThighMasters have been sold worldwide.
The 1980s also heralded use of much more elaborately produced, higher-cost ads compared with the simple commercials of the 1960s and 1970s. Many ThighMaster ads included endorsements by doctors and personal trainers. In 2014, Somers was inducted into the Direct Response Marketing Hall of Fame.
1990s: George Foreman is probably just as famous for his knockout punches as he is for seasoning salmon. The George Foreman Grill is a small, compact kitchen appliance that presses food between two grilling plates. It is ideal for preparing burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken breasts. Ads used first person testimonials and demos that imitated an actual cooking program — the “George Foreman Grilling Show”.
2000s: Contradicting the low-fat benefits of the George Forman Grill, the Perfect Bacon Bowl makes edible bowls out of cooked bacon. It was one of several “As Seen on TV” products that capitalized on the trendiness of this crunchy breakfast meat.
The 2000s brought infomercials to yet another level of sophistication with actors, fancy graphics, theme songs and a direct connection to social media and the product’s website.
Source: Carol Wright Gifts. For more comprehensive product information, visit: www.carolwrightgifts.com/blogs/as-seen-on-tv-products-from-last-50-years.cfm.
1970s: Marketed worldwide, the Smokeless Ashtray aimed to make smoking palatable for all — during a time when smoking was actually permitted in public. It sucked in dirty air through special filters and trapped the particles inside. One ad showed a family in a car with dad explaining how the Smokeless Ashtray “allowed his family to breathe fresher, cleaner air.”
1980s: The era marked the beginning of America’s exercise obsession — or at least its obsession with spending money on equipment. Marketed by Suzanne Somers, the ThighMaster was one of the first products to be advertised through a popular celebrity, who demonstrated the product in various settings to show how easy it was to use. More than 10 million ThighMasters have been sold worldwide.
The 1980s also heralded use of much more elaborately produced, higher-cost ads compared with the simple commercials of the 1960s and 1970s. Many ThighMaster ads included endorsements by doctors and personal trainers. In 2014, Somers was inducted into the Direct Response Marketing Hall of Fame.
1990s: George Foreman is probably just as famous for his knockout punches as he is for seasoning salmon. The George Foreman Grill is a small, compact kitchen appliance that presses food between two grilling plates. It is ideal for preparing burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken breasts. Ads used first person testimonials and demos that imitated an actual cooking program — the “George Foreman Grilling Show”.
2000s: Contradicting the low-fat benefits of the George Forman Grill, the Perfect Bacon Bowl makes edible bowls out of cooked bacon. It was one of several “As Seen on TV” products that capitalized on the trendiness of this crunchy breakfast meat.
The 2000s brought infomercials to yet another level of sophistication with actors, fancy graphics, theme songs and a direct connection to social media and the product’s website.
Source: Carol Wright Gifts. For more comprehensive product information, visit: www.carolwrightgifts.com/blogs/as-seen-on-tv-products-from-last-50-years.cfm.