Ep 33: As Seen on TV

“What would you pay?...while supplies last…four easy payments…but wait there’s more! Has this ever happened to you? There’s got to be a better way”. That’s right, this week, on Episode 33: As Seen on TV, CFX delves into the world where television entertainment and marketing meet. It’s a world of infomercials, ridiculous inventions, scammers, 900 numbers, get rich quick schemes and televangelists. We take you through the history of this often dubious art form, with a focus mainly on samples from our childhood and young adulthood, but with a few more recent ones thrown in for good measure. We evaluate whether any of this stands the test of time and along the way, we learn… How in Japan the hand can be used as a knife… How preacher Robert Tilton is full of hot air, in more ways than one... What happened if you listened to Miss Cleo… What was Ronco and how its founder made the world safe for lots of absolute crap you don’t need What an early infomercial pioneer did with goat balls. Why dreams make human beings great and how you shouldn’t listen to losers  What happened on Sunday mornings at the Burbank airport Hilton ballroom How to use your theatrical training to make a hot piece of white bread stuffed with crappy apple jam sound like the food of the gods Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.