The 1980s were the golden age of late-night infomercials, where enthusiastic pitchmen convinced millions of viewers that they absolutely needed bizarre, overhyped products. From gadgets that promised to make life easier (but often didn’t) to workout devices that looked more like medieval torture machines, As-Seen-On-TV products were everywhere. Somehow, despite their absurdity, many of these items sold like crazy, filling homes across America. Here are the 12 most ridiculous As-Seen-On-TV products from the ’80s that people actually bought.
1. The Clapper – “Clap On, Clap Off!”
The Clapper was supposed to be a revolutionary way to turn your lights on and off without getting up—just clap your hands, and the lights would magically respond. The commercial made it seem like the ultimate convenience, perfect for people who just couldn’t be bothered to flick a switch. But in reality, The Clapper was hilariously unreliable, often triggered by loud noises like sneezes, dogs barking, or the TV itself. This item wasn’t just an iconic infomercial product, but also an ’80s sensation, as described by Mental Floss.
Still, that catchy jingle—“Clap on! Clap off! The Clapper!”—was enough to make it a hit. Even if it didn’t always work as promised, millions of people bought into the dream of hands-free lighting control. It may have been more trouble than it was worth, but it became one of the most memorable As-Seen-On-TV products of all time.
2. Tiddy Bear – The Seatbelt Shoulder Pad that Some Put Too Much Trust In
This product was a small plush bear that attached to your seatbelt to cushion your shoulder. The infomercial showed people rubbing their sore collarbones and looking miserable—until they clipped on the Tiddy Bear and suddenly felt pure bliss. Time Magazine fondly remembers this as one of the best worst infomercials in a long line of products.
Despite its ridiculous name and the fact that a simple towel could do the same job, it actually sold well. The combination of a cute bear and a problem people didn’t know they had was apparently enough to make it a hit. If nothing else, it gave everyone a good laugh.
3. Ginsu Knives – The Knives That Could Cut Through Anything
Infomercials in the ’80s loved to exaggerate, and the Ginsu Knife commercials were among the most over-the-top. These knives could allegedly slice through tin cans, cut through shoes, and still be sharp enough to cut a tomato paper-thin. The commercial’s dramatic demonstrations made it seem like every household needed industrial-strength cutlery. As detailed on Mental Floss, the Ginsu Knife has quite the background that puts it a cut above the competition.
In reality, Ginsu knives were just decent, cheap knives with a flashy ad campaign. But that voiceover—“But wait, there’s more!”—and the promise of getting extra knives for free turned them into a massive success. Even today, “Ginsu” is still a punchline for infomercial absurdity.
4. The Flowbee – The Vacuum Haircut System
Ever wanted a haircut that looked like it was done by your vacuum cleaner? That’s exactly what the Flowbee promised. This bizarre contraption attached to a vacuum hose and “evenly” cut your hair while sucking up the loose strands. According to The Guardian, even George Clooney likes to go with the Flowbee for his haircare.
Unsurprisingly, results were questionable at best, with haircuts ranging from lopsided to just plain tragic. Yet somehow, the Flowbee developed a cult following, and it even made a comeback in the 2020s. Who knew so many people wanted to combine hair care and household cleaning?
5. PediPaws – The Pet Nail Grinder That Scared Every Dog
PediPaws promised to make trimming your pet’s nails easy and stress-free with its “gentle” sanding tool. The commercial showed happy dogs and cats sitting calmly while their owners gave them a perfect manicure. But in reality, most pets freaked out the second the noisy grinder turned on, making nail-trimming even more difficult.
Despite traumatizing countless animals, PediPaws was a big seller. Pet owners desperate to avoid the hassle of clippers kept trying, hoping their furry friends would eventually cooperate. Most pets, however, disagreed.
6. The Snuggie – Because Blankets Apparently Needed Sleeves
The Snuggie was essentially a backward robe, but its commercial made it seem like a genius invention. “Regular blankets are so inconvenient,” it claimed, showing people struggling to stay warm while reading or using the remote. The solution? A giant fleece sack with sleeves.
It was easy to mock, but people loved the Snuggie. It became a pop culture sensation, selling millions and even inspiring Snuggie pub crawls. As silly as it looked, people couldn’t resist the coziness.
7. The Ab Roller – Because Crunches Weren’t Complicated Enough
The Ab Roller was designed to “support” your head and neck while doing sit-ups, but in reality, it just made crunches more awkward. The commercials made it seem like a revolutionary fitness tool, with chiseled models demonstrating the “perfect” crunch.
Yet most people who bought one quickly realized it was just a bulky piece of plastic taking up space. Like many ’80s fitness gadgets, it ended up shoved in a closet, never to be used again.
8. The Ronco Pasta Maker – Because Homemade Pasta Should Be as Complicated as Possible
Ronco was the king of As-Seen-On-TV gadgets, and the Ronco Pasta Maker was yet another product that promised to revolutionize home cooking. The infomercial made it seem effortless—just pour in the ingredients, press a button, and fresh pasta would magically extrude from the machine in perfect strands. Viewers were dazzled by the idea of skipping store-bought pasta and making their own spaghetti, fettuccine, or even lasagna sheets with minimal effort.
In reality, the Ronco Pasta Maker was more of a project than a convenience. The dough often got jammed inside the machine, cleanup was a nightmare, and the motor struggled with anything thicker than angel hair. Many owners quickly realized that boiling a box of dried pasta took a fraction of the time with far less hassle. Still, thanks to relentless late-night infomercials, thousands of people bought into the dream of becoming pasta masters—only to let their Ronco Pasta Maker gather dust in a kitchen cabinet.
9. The Pocket Fisherman – A Fishing Rod for Your Glove Compartment
The Pocket Fisherman was a collapsible fishing rod small enough to fit in your car’s glove box. The commercial made it look like the ultimate convenience for spontaneous fishing trips.
While it did technically work, it was far from ideal for serious fishing. Yet, its compact design and endless infomercial reruns made it a surprising hit.
10. The Chia Pet – Because Who Doesn’t Want a Plant That Looks Like a Sheep?
“Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!” The catchy jingle made the Chia Pet one of the most memorable As-Seen-On-TV products of all time. It was a simple concept—you spread seeds over a ceramic figure, water it, and watch it grow into a “hairy” plant.
There was no real practical use for it, but that didn’t stop millions of people from buying them. Even today, Chia Pets pop up every holiday season, proving that some ridiculous products never die.
11. The Miracle Mop – The Infomercial That Launched a Billionaire
Before Joy Mangano became a household name, she invented the Miracle Mop—a self-wringing mop that promised to make cleaning easier. The commercial featured Mangano herself demonstrating how effortlessly it worked, and people couldn’t buy it fast enough.
It might not have been as ridiculous as some other products, but the over-the-top infomercial made it seem like the most groundbreaking invention of the decade. Mangano went on to build a business empire, proving that sometimes, all it takes is a good sales pitch.
12. The Ove Glove – Because Regular Oven Mitts Weren’t Enough
This flame-resistant, five-fingered glove promised to let you grab hot pans straight from the oven with ease. The infomercial showed people dramatically tossing aside their “inferior” oven mitts in favor of this high-tech heat shield.
While it did work, it wasn’t that different from a standard oven mitt. Still, thanks to dramatic demonstrations and a catchy name, it became a best-seller.
The ’80s were packed with overhyped, bizarre, and downright hilarious As-Seen-On-TV products. While many of them were more gimmick than game-changer, that didn’t stop millions of people from buying them. If nothing else, they proved that with the right commercial, people would buy anything.
