infomercial news stories on Newser

'Diet' Crystals Trying to Conquer World

Nick McMaster — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:58:26 CST

Scientists may be dubious about their actual benefits, but Sensa diet crystals are set to go global anyway, reports Slashfood . The products claims to make the scent of food—and therefore the flavor—more intense. The idea is that a more intense flavor will make dieters feel fuller after eating...

Station 'Forgets' to Air O'Donnell Infomercial

Matt Cantor — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:44:00 CDT

Following the lead of President Obama's 2008 campaign, Christine O’Donnell has made a 24-minute campaign ad to show on the eve of the election—but the Delaware cable station her campaign paid to run it hasn’t done so, the Huffington Post reports. “The campaign bought the time last week, but...

JD Hayworth Starred in 'Free Gov't Money' Infomercial

Kevin Spak — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:13:34 CDT

You have to love fiscal conservatives like JD Hayworth—you know, the kind who go on TV at 2am to tell you about the billions of dollars the federal government is just dying to give away. In 2007, soon after losing his House seat, Hayworth starred in an infomercial for...

Just in Time for Xmas: Weezer Snuggie

Polly Davis Doig — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:47:48 CST

If you want to destroy Rivers Cuomo's sweater, he's down with that: The Weezer frontman would prefer to wear a Weezer Snuggie anyway, which he's hawking right alongside the band's new album . The stunt comes complete with an infomercial in which bandmembers parade around in their Snuggies—yours for only...

Top 5 Billy Mays Infomercial Wares

C. Raymond Hidalgo — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:00:01 CDT

Many of the As Seen on TV goods hawked by the late Billy Mays were reviewed in the pages of Popular Mechanics; Harry Sawyers runs down the bellowing talent's top five infomercial products. Hercules Hook: A heavy painting and a sack of books were no match for a hollow-wall anchor...

Mays Autopsy Shows No Drugs, No Trauma

Kevin Spak — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:12:46 CDT

Initial autopsy results suggest that infomercial celebrity Billy Mays died of heart failure, the medical examiner announced today. The autopsy didn’t reveal any head trauma or drug abuse, both rumored causes of the 50-year-old's death, but did find hardening of his arteries, the St. Petersburg Times reports. He was also...

Infomercial Icon Mays Dead at 50

Nick McMaster — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:50:12 CDT

Television pitchman Billy Mays was found dead in his Tampa, Fla., home today, the St. Petersburg Times reports. He was 50. The promoter of everything from baking soda to cleaning supplies said he felt unwell last night after landing in a 737 airplane that blew out a front tire. Mays...

ShamWow Guy's Other Claim to Fame: Ex-Scientologist

Nick McMaster — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:59:32 CDT

Vince Offer Shlomi, the ShamWow pitchman who gained infamy after being arrested for badly beating a prostitute last month, is also a renegade ex-Scientologist, Gawker reports. Shlomi joined group in 1982, made connections with Scientology’s many entertainment-industry adherents, and found financing to start filming The Underground Comedy Movie , featuring such...

ShamWow Guy Arrested After Hooker Fight

Kevin Spak — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:21:22 CDT

He may seem like a nice man with a magical towel, but Vince Shlomi—better known as the ShamWow guy—was arrested last month for punching a prostitute, the Smoking Gun reports. Shlomi, 44, told police he took 26-year-old Sasha Harris back to his hotel room and paid her $1,...