I went the entire month of May without blogging. I just can't believe I did that! Wow.
Now then. It's time for #9 on the list of 25 Things You May Not Know About Me. It is, "I get sucked into infomercials. I suppose it's because of the great acting."
Infomercials are absurd. It's an entire half hour to an hour of people selling something that, to be honest, if it were worth what they're charging for it, they could probably sell in the store without having to pay actors to push it.
Now, there are a couple different kinds of infomercials. The first is "The infomercial that won't admit that it is really just a half hour long commercial." My favorite example of this is an infomercial for
The Magic Bullet.The impression we're supposed to get from the way this infomercial is set up is that this group of eight or so adults is all vacationing together in the same house, and they've all awakened at the same time. The stars of our show, who will be exhibiting all of the tricks of the appliance, are dressed and coiffed already, but everyone else is messy in their bathrobes. Our two heroes proceed to then make breakfast smoothies, omelets, milkshakes, alfredo, frozen drinks, and salsa at lightning speed right on the countertop.
What it is about this particular infomercial that bugs me is that the writers have gone so far as to attempt at weaving a plot withing the program. There's even a guy who drinks too much and can't stand vegetables (who, by the way, loves the fruit and veggie smoothie from the Magic Bullet).
But now I want one. And, lucky me, if I pay the hundred bucks they're asking for it, I can get a second one absolutely free.
The other kind of infomercial is the kind you're more likely to see. The vast majority of infomercial writers, I'm convinced, have too much self respect to pretend that they can work a plot around the product they're trying to sell, so they set it up like a sales pitch. I prefer this. I recently have seen an infomercial for a product called
Wen. Wen is basically a haircare product that is supposed to make your hair amazing.
And, get this! It is one product that replaces five! Five products! It replaces shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler, and leave-in conditioner.
What a deal at $29.95.
Seriously, if you're willing to wait out the transition period, you can get the same results for free by just not using shampoo for a while. (I haven't used shampoo since February. I figure I can bring that up now, since I'm done transitioning and have decided that this works for me.)
I should now mention that I have only ever bought one product from an infomercial, and that was
Turbo Jam. I love it. I do. It is one exercise program that I can really get into and enjoy, and I'm glad I got it.
So, there you have it. I wish I could explain why it is that I get so pulled into infomercials, but I haven't the faintest idea.
Tune in next time when we discuss "I used to love my job. Now, not so much."
Comments (3)
Wait a minute... can you explain the whole not using shampoo thing to me? I don't find it gross, so I don't mean that in a *ewww* sort of way. I just want to understand how it works and what the benefits are.
I recently saw an infomercial that had Mr. T in it. I wanted whatever he was selling, but I can't remember what it was now. A flavorwave or something.
My favorite infomercial is the one where they're selling that bodyshape stuff that makes it appear like you've lost 10 pounds or something, lol!
Perhaps you enjoy infomercials because they appeal to the "There must be a better way" thing inside you? Haha...
It's the same mystery for me as to why I can get sucked into watching Disney tween shows. That's So Raven was my STAPLE while I was pregnant with Celeste. Still, when I'm at my mom's house, I'll watch iCarly and The Suite Life of Zach and Cody. The fact that I even know the names and plotlines of these shows when I don't have TV at home signifies the level of attachment. :p I know they are stupid. I know they're vapid and pointless, endlessly recycling the same ideas over and over, never getting anywhere or saying anything. And yet, that's exactly why I like them. Maybe my brain is lazy?
~V
@apennieformythoughts - Here's a good link. :) http://www.naturemoms.com/no-shampoo-alternative.html
@TheMarriedFreshman - I watch them, too!