"infomercials" news and stories

We wanted to ignore this, we really did, but it's too infectious. Talk about turning an infomercial into entertainment. Bravo, DJ Steve Porter. Bravo! Slashfoodies, beware of the "breakfast to go."

[Via Urlesque]

We might knock 'em, but there's a reason that infomercials have stuck around, whether they're trying to sop up big spills, give us perfect-looking skin, or help us cook. Some of it might look terrible, but some of it looks downright irresistible, making many consumers fall for the snappy catchphrases hook, line, and sinker.

I remember sitting at my grandparents house in the '80s, watching a commercial for Mr. Mixer, the immersion blender with changeable blades that could whip mayo just as easy as peanut butter, ice, and everything else. Our eyes glazed over in awe, and soon there was a order for two placed to the infomercial gods -- and I got the first kitchen tool I could call my very own.

These days, the blade of choice seems to be the Magic Bullet, which Diablo Cody just raved about over on her blog. But I want to know your infomercial weaknesses, Slashfoodies! Do you own a Foreman Grill? Do you have an old-school Mr. Mixer? The Magic Bullet? Share below!

Funny piece over at Cracked, where they take 10 TV infomercials and see if the products really work. Most of them aren't food related (it's mostly exercise equipment, listening devices, and magnetic pens), but they do investigate two products I've seen advertised non-stop for the past fives years, the Pasta Pro and the Handy Peel. After the jump, the two infomercials.

Cracked calls the ads "laughably misleading." What do you think? I always wanted to get that pasta thing.

You've seen him before. He's the smiling older man, usually wearing an apron, and he comes glowing into your living room at 4 am, offering promises of not one, not two, not three, but four, yes four additional thingamajigs to go with your Showtime Rotisserie!!! Or the Dial-o-Matic vegetable slicer. Or the Flavor Injector. He is Ron Popeil, the Infomercial Man, and founder of Ronco. Forbes has put together a little Top Ten list of products that Popeil has invented and, more importanly, sold. Just how many of these do you own? Maybe none, but you know you've seen at least half of them:

• Showtime Rotisserie - "Just set it and forget it!"
• Flip-its
• Solid Food Injector
• GLH - not food - this is for hair growth stimulation
• Dial-o-Matic
• Food Dehydrator and Beef Jerky Maker
• Pasta Maker
• Pocket Fisherman
• Bagel Cutter
• Inside-the-Shell Electric Egg Scrambler