INDUCTEE #8

"AS SEEN ON TV" PRODUCTS

    As Seen on TV products— the unmatched champions of late-night infomercials that promise to revolutionize your life with the mere push of a button, the twist of a knob, or the slap of a plastic contraption. These products, bathed in the glow of overly enthusiastic testimonials, claim to solve problems you never knew you had. Whether it's a a pair of magnifying glasses with lights that just hurt to even wear or a magical kitchen gadget that ends up being more puzzle than utensil, the allure of solving all life's inconveniences for just $19.99 (plus shipping and handling, of course) is irresistible. Who wouldn’t want a bacon cooker that saves you the immense hassle of using an ordinary oven?

What Went Wrong?

   These gadgets, gloriously hawked by shouty men and overly excited women, arrive with promises to make your life simpler, only to end up as modern-day relics of disappointment. Think of them as the impulse buys that keep on giving—giving you reasons to question your own judgment, that is. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, then it's surely lined with boxes of unused As Seen on TV products, each a tiny testament to hope triumphing over experience.