Archive for May, 2009
Sunday, May 31st, 2009
I’m still avidly following Pitchmen, and I’m glad that YouTube member Gadgetglanman7 is as well, but I thought Pitchmen episode seven (originally aired on May 27, 2009) was a little thin. If I didn’t have a burning desire to learn more about the DRTV industry, I’m not sure I’d still be watching. Maybe a 13-show season was a little too ambitious. Anyway, I found this episode a little painful in spots, because I’d never want my debacles documented on a basic cable reality show. Forbes Riley seems like a very nice person, but this episode gives me the impression that she became too emotionally attached to her fitness product to make rational business decisions. She rejects good advice from the experts about lowering the price point for the Spin Gym, with unfortunate results.
Also, why don’t budding inventors and entrepreneurs ever seem to perform ftrademark searches BEFORE they settle on a name for their new product?
Posted in Anthony Sullivan, Billy Mays, Fitness, Pitchmen | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
Your Savvy Shopper is still a relative newcomer to the world of DRTV, a world that has its own constellation of stars completely unknown to those who don’t watch infomercial and home shopping channels. Others, like Forbes Riley, may seem familiar even if you can’t put a name to the face. Forbes is 49 years old and has been around for decades, performing as an actor, TV host and spokesperson. I became aware of Ms. Riley when I learned she would be appearing on Discovery Channel show Pitchmen with Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan promoting her new product, Spin Gym. Watch her demo reel below to see a small sample of her thousands of hours of television appearances, then read her Six Secrets of Success.
Posted in Anthony Sullivan, Billy Mays, Fitness, In the News, Pitchmen, Video | 7 Comments »
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Big Top Cupcake is a new product that requires little explanation. Here’s the sitch: It’s a pair of non-stick silicone pans in which you separately bake the top and bottom of humongous cupcakes bigger than your head. From toddlers to centenarians, everyone at the table is going to exhibit extreme gleefulness when a giant cupcake with sprinkles is served for dessert. Except for anorexics and dieters. Depending on choice of mix, filling and toppings, I’m guessing 8,000-12,000 calories in one Big Top Cupcake. And that’s why you never bake a Big Top Cupcake just for yourself, especially on a Saturday night when you’re home all alone feeling sorry for yourself because you’re not in a relationship and you’re sure you’ll remain all alone for eternity. Don’t bake it then.
Posted in Food, Kids, New Products, Video | 28 Comments »
Saturday, May 23rd, 2009
Even during Memorial Day weekend, Gadgetglanman7 finds time to upload Pitchmen episode six. I don’t want to be critical of consummate professionals Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan, but watching this episode was not the most exciting 60 minutes of my life. The Grabit damaged screw extractor is an effective and useful product. I was amazed at how long it took to perfect the product and how complicated it is to manufacture. But I wonder if it’s really a good product to promote using direct marketing. For the handyman, it seems like something you might not order in advance, but would wait to purchase when first need. The Tool Band-it is also a solid product, but not so wow-inspiring either. Watch and judge for yourself.
Posted in Anthony Sullivan, Billy Mays, Pitchmen, Tools | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
The Tool Band-it, as featured on the May 20 episode of Discovery Channel’s Pitchmen with Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan (10 p.m. EDT on Discovery Channel. See your TV schedule for encore broadcasts), brings to mind several possible uses. For the uninformed, the Tool Band-it is a black fabric cuff that straps around your upper arm like a blood pressure cuff. The intended use is to hold tools and small items such as nails and screws, facilitated by magnets sewn into the fabric.
But wait, there’s more! Since it’s black, you can wear it to indicate mourning for a recently departed loved one. Since it has magnets, it just might help with aches and pains from arthritis. In the commercial, Billy demonstrates that the Tool Band-it’s powerful magnets will hold a 25 lb. weight. So strap one of these on each arm, attach the weights, and go about your daily routine. In no time, you’ll have biceps like Mr. Universe! Can’t find your holster? Use it to carry your handgun and ammo. Wear it under your shirt and you now have a way to stealthily erase hard drives and other magnetic digital media. The usefulness of the Tool Band-it is truly boundless.
Posted in Anthony Sullivan, Billy Mays, Pitchmen, Tools, Video | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
So who buys the majority of car care products? Men, I’m guessing. At least that’s what DRTV marketers think, based upon commercials like this one for the Wash Wizard. How do you get men to pay attention to your product? Show it demonstrated by women in bikinis, that’s how! It’s strange, however, that once your attention has been grabbed, the bikini girls are gone and never reappear.
Posted in Auto, New Products | No Comments »
Saturday, May 16th, 2009
Your Savvy Shopper was worried when Friday came and went and Gadgetglanman7 had not uploaded Pitchmen episode five. I wondered if he had lost interest in the staged antics of Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan, and if I would be forced to overcome my extreme indolence to digitize the episode myself. But lo and behold, Saturday arrived with episode five freshly digitized for all to enjoy the saga of the still-in-development Spot Sucker and the Heel Stick. Enjoy.
Posted in Anthony Sullivan, Billy Mays, New Products, Pitchmen, Video | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
After seeing Billy May’s spot for Quick Chop, I totally understand why he was a mite peeved at Vince Offer about knocking off his products. Just like with Sham Wow, which lifted many of the demonstrations directly from Zorbeez, Slap Chop uses many of the same demos as the earlier-produced Quick Chop commercial. Chopping multiple ingredients simultaneously to make salad, chopping nuts and cookies for ice cream, removing skin from garlic, making salsa. Quick Chop is also shown chopping ice. I tried this today with my Slap Chop and the results were not impressive. I got some chopped ice, but big chunks of cubes remained after vigorous quicking, I mean slapping. I’ll be anxious to get a Quick Chop and compare. In terms of product design, Quick Chop doesn’t have butterfly hinging Slap Chop, but I’m not sure it’s all the hard to clean. Plus, you get two Quick Chops for the price of one (if you pay the ever-present processing and handling).
Of course, Vince’s pitching style is radically different from Billy’s. And perhaps more importantly, there have been synthetic chamois and vegetable choppers around since long before either of these pitchmen hit the scene. Oh, I forgot, Vince insists he’s not a pitchman. He is a important film director who pitches products as a hobby when he’s not making movies and beating up hookers. Vince, we’re sure that someone would pay to see the sequel to The Underground Comedy Movie.
It would be really entertaining if Vince would show in an episode of Discovery Channel’s Pitchmen and have a showdown with Billy. But we’re not holding our breath for that.
Posted in Billy Mays, New Products, Pitchmen, Slap Chop, Video, Vince Offer | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
After watching this spot, I guess I’m a bad person because I don’t provide my pets vitamins or other nutritional supplements. Hey, I take a daily multivitamin to make sure I’m covering the nutritional bases, so why not Fido? What I really like about OVN Dog Vitamins is that they dissolve in water. I hate giving pills!
Sorry, this product and video are not currently available.
Posted in New Products, Pets | No Comments »
Friday, May 8th, 2009
The ultra-reliable Gadgetglanman7 has yet again demonstrated his mad video-posting skillz, and thus Pitchmen episode four is now playing on our Pitchmen page. The star of “Smells Like Gold” is Nelson Grist and his fantastic product What Odor?, an all-natural odor eliminator which Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan agree to promote . And you can register to win What Odor? in our first-ever As Seen On TV Video Monthly Giveaway. Enter to win!
Posted in Anthony Sullivan, Billy Mays, New Products, Pitchmen | No Comments »
