Analysis of the 7-Day Miracle Cleanse Infomercial (2004)
NARRATOR: The Health Man in many circles is considered to be one of the healthiest people on the planet. He is going to share with you the secrets of how you, too, can heal yourself of just about any health problem, and how you, too, can build a pain-free body. He is a man who was diagnosed with breast cancer and skin cancer. He is a man who was diagnosed with breast cancer and skin cancer twelve years ago. Not only did he heal himself within four months, but something amazing occurred in the process: He became perfectly healthy. Now, here is the founder of the 7-Day Miracle Cleanse . . . the Health Man. [His identity is not revealed during the program, but earlier …
Continue Reading >Analysis of Kevin Trudeau’s “Natural Cures” Infomercial (2004)
In September 2004, after having been charged repeatedly with false advertising, infomercial marketer Kevin Trudeau became bound by an FTC consent agreement under which he agreed to pay a $2 million penalty and be banned from appearing in, producing, or disseminating future infomercials that advertise any type of product, service, or program to the public, except for "truthful infomercials for books, newsletters, and other informational publications." An FTC official stated that the ban was "meant to shut down an infomercial empire that has misled American consumers for years." Around the time that the consent order was signed, Trudeau began flooding the airwaves with a 30-minute infomercial for a book called Natural Cures “They” Don’t Want You to Know About. Although the infomercial suggested that the …
Continue Reading >Analysis of FiberWeigh Infomercial (2003)
MALE VOICE: The following is a paid commercial program. KDOC-TV is not responsible for the claims and representations made by the sponsors of this program. ANOTHER MALE VOICE: The following is a paid presentation. CHUCK WOOLERY: Hi, I’m Chuck Woolery and this is my lovely co-host, Lisa. LISA: You know, Chuck and I have been sitting here talking about just how hard it is to lose weight. CHUCK: You’re right, Lisa. And we’re going to show you how you can lose weight without dieting, changing your eating habits or even exercising. [This claim should arouse suspicion because it is impossible.] And, no, this is not one of those fat-trapper gimmicks or speed-up-your-metabolism products that makes you feel jumpy and out of control. There are no …
Continue Reading >Analysis of Lorraine Day Infomercial (2004)
A 30-minute infomercial featuring an “interview” of Lorraine Day, M.D., is promoting a videotape in which Day claims to have cured herself of “terminal” breast cancer through a 10-step program that features prayer and a “raw food” diet. Donald Barrett, who conducted the interview, is president of ITV Direct, which produced the infomercial and processes orders for the tape. Below is a transcript with my comments inserted in bracketed type. For additional Information on Dr. Day’s story, see Quackwatch. DONALD BARRETT: Hello, my name is Donald Barrett, and welcome to another edition of ITV. Our guest today is medical doctor and cancer survivor with a miraculous story of recovery. In 1993, she was diagnosed with life-threatening breast cancer. After refusing to be pressured into chemotherapy, …
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