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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Death of the Infomercial?

    Since the 1950s, late night TV has been the world of the infomercial: late night hucksters selling ginsu knives, wearable towels, Snuggies... But infomercials have become a victim of their own success.

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    By Madeleine Brand • May 10, 2014 • 1 min read

    Since the 1950s, late night TV has been the world of the infomercial: late night hucksters selling ginsu knives, wearable towels, Snuggies... But infomercials have become a victim of their own success. At more than $200 billion, the late night “direct response television” industry has attracted big companies that are squeezing out the backyard inventors that used to populate the space. Is the infomercial as we know it disappearing? Is that a bad thing?

    The full episode

    3 of 5
    So Cal Political Races, Infomercials & a Bullying Law
    1. 0:00Presidential Fundraising
    2. 7:10Press Play Voters' Guide
    3. 15:43Death of the Infomercial?You’re reading this
    4. 27:20Mother's Day Movies
    5. 39:19Criminalizing Bullying
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Andrew Walsh

      Too Beautiful to Live

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Ariel Bogle

      Slate

      News

    The full episode

    3 of 5
    So Cal Political Races, Infomercials & a Bullying Law
    1. 0:00Presidential Fundraising
    2. 7:10Press Play Voters' Guide
    3. 15:43Death of the Infomercial?You’re reading this
    4. 27:20Mother's Day Movies
    5. 39:19Criminalizing Bullying
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand