Top 10 Most Successful Infomercials of All Time: TV Gold!

Remember 1984? While Ghostbusters was haunting movie screens and Prince topped the charts, something big was happening on TV. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) decided to lift a ban on long-form television ads. This move, under President Ronald Reagan, planted the seeds for what we now know as the infomercial.

Enter Kevin Harrington, a panelist on Shark Tank and often called the “Inventor of the Infomercial.” He saw an opportunity to fill those late-night TV slots with extended commercials. By 1985, Harrington’s creations were starting to become a quirky part of American culture.

But wait, there’s more! The 1990s and 2000s were the golden age for infomercials. The pitchmen and women became stars alongside their products. Billy Mays shouting about OxiClean, boxing legend George Foreman grilling up a storm, and who could forget Vince offering a “Slap Chop” solution? Infomercials continue to bring us “As seen on TV” wonders. Here are ten that truly deserve a prime-time spotlight for their success.

10. Thighmaster

Suzanne Somers, famous from Three’s Company, found a new wave of fame when she teamed up with Thighmaster in 1990. This simple exercise tool was a hit. You just placed it between your knees and squeezed. Thanks to Somers’s memorable infomercials, Thighmasters sold like hotcakes.

The ads featured a cheerful Somers in a leotard, showing how easy it was to use. Add some glowing testimonials and a doctor who looked the part, and Thighmaster was set for success. Somers eventually bought the company outright, a smart move. Originally priced at $19.95, it now sells for $79.99. To date, Thighmaster has raked in over $100 million. What’s her secret? Somers says, “Always tell the truth. The public is smart, and they can smell BS.”

9. Sweatin’ to the Oldies

Health and fitness products are infomercial staples. Late-night TV is often filled with promises of quick fitness fixes. But few made a splash like Richard Simmons and his late ‘80s aerobics program, Sweatin’ to the Oldies. The concept was simple: a dance-aerobics workout led by Simmons himself. The infomercials were a party, with everyday people dancing to a live band in a room full of balloons.

With his iconic afro, tiny shorts, and infectious smile, Simmons created a fitness craze that lasted until he closed his studio in 2016. The series earned over $200 million and is still available on streaming services. Simmons himself noted, “I am very excited that my groundbreaking fitness series of ‘Sweatin to the Oldies’ still is so relevant and popular.” It truly is a gift that keeps on giving.

8. Snuggie

The best products often come from the simplest ideas. Take the Snuggie: it’s a blanket with sleeves! While other sleeved blankets existed, none matched the Snuggie’s success. This was largely thanks to its hilariously campy infomercials that first aired in 2008. These ads were a nod to classic infomercials, complete with slightly unconvincing actors, a wooden voice-over, and plenty of smiles.

The Snuggie is still a popular item. Over 20 million have been sold, bringing in over $400 million. It’s funny because the Snuggie solved a problem most people didn’t realize they had. Even its creator, Scott Boilen, isn’t sure why it became such a hit. He said, “If I knew how the Snuggie became so successful, we’d have 15 more products like that. It just struck a chord at the right time.”

7. Ped Egg

Speaking of solving problems, the Ped Egg is essentially a cheese grater for your feet. It might sound niche, but over 40 million people bought one! The Ped Egg is the most successful product launched by the TV marketing company TeleBrands. Its commercials, first airing in 2009, were a bit…unappetizing. TeleBrands wasn’t shy about showing people scraping dead skin off their feet, all while a narrator declared, “Don’t put sexy shoes on ugly feet!”

These ads certainly grabbed attention. While direct sales picked up, the real money for Ped Egg was in retail stores. The commercials made consumers aware of the product, but more importantly, they caught the eye of big retailers. Selling for just $10, the Ped Egg generated nearly $450 million during its TV run and remains a top product in its category.

6. Total Gym

When Chuck Norris gets involved with a fitness product, it instantly gains credibility. The Total Gym is a versatile, full-body workout machine. CEO Tom Campanaro designed the first Total Gym way back in 1974. It gradually gained respect, even earning praise from Consumer Reports. In 1996, Campanaro partnered with American Telecast Products (ATP) to create the first Total Gym infomercial. They needed some star power, and they got it with Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley.

The QVC infomercials for Total Gym were a mix of motivating and slightly cringeworthy. It seemed like a legitimate way to get fit, but the cheesy presentation was sometimes hard to ignore. Nevertheless, the Norris/Brinkley duo worked wonders. Total Gym is still a popular fitness item, with ads airing in 85 countries. Over four million units have been sold, leading to more than one billion dollars in revenue.

5. Showtime Rotisserie

If there were a Mount Rushmore for infomercial pitchmen, Ron Popeil would surely be on it. He started his company, Ronco, in 1964, releasing famous products like the Pocket Fisherman. But in 1998, Popeil introduced the item that took Ronco to new heights: The Showtime Rotisserie and Barbecue. The infomercials were driven by Popeil’s enthusiastic presentations. He’d demonstrate cooking a chicken while a captivated co-host offered amazed reactions.

It was in these ads that Popeil coined his famous catchphrase, “Set it and forget it!” It’s hard to forget the Showtime Rotisserie’s success, with sales reaching an incredible 1.2 billion dollars. In 2005, Ron Popeil sold Ronco for $55 million. He passed away in 2021, but not before enjoying many years as a very wealthy man. Aspiring chefs can still buy a Showtime Rotisserie on the Ronco website.

4. Bowflex

Bowflex has been a player in the fitness game for a long time, debuting in 1986. It wasn’t until 1996, after some legal hurdles, that Bowflex could be widely marketed. This put it in direct competition with Total Gym. Bowflex is a home gym that uses a pulley system and tension rods to create resistance, offering a lighter alternative to traditional weights.

Early Bowflex infomercials had a distinct style. A 1996 spot opened with a display of perfectly sculpted bodies. The rest of the 30-minute ad combined testimonials from “real people,” scientific claims, and product demos by very fit models. Bowflex earns its spot on this list not just for total sales but for its impressive annual figures. Over 2.5 million units have been sold, and the company reports an annual revenue of around $194 million.

3. George Foreman Grill

Many people think former boxing champ George Foreman invented his famous grill, but that’s not quite right. It was actually developed by Michael Boehm, who worked for a Chinese home electronics company. Boehm had a prototype but struggled to promote it. In 1994, George Foreman was asked to be a brand spokesperson. He tried the grill, and surprisingly, it was his wife who loved it and encouraged him to take the deal.

The following year, Foreman was on TV, pitching his “Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine.” An aging ex-boxer selling mini grills on TV didn’t sound like a recipe for success, but it worked! The friendly Foreman showed everyone how to cook burgers in minutes, while his co-host kept the studio audience excited. The George Foreman Grill has sold over 100 million units and achieved an astounding $202 million in annual revenue. It was so good, he put his name on it!

2. P90X

In the world of fitness infomercials, P90X is in a league of its own. Created by trainer Tony Horton, P90X followed his 2001 Beachbody program, Power 90. When P90X launched in 2005, it was backed by an unmissable TV ad campaign. Unlike other fitness infomercials, P90X looked cool. It was 2:00 am, and a super-fit 53-year-old Tony Horton was on screen, promising you could get “absolutely ripped in 90 days!” America was captivated.

P90X ads were sleek and modern, moving away from the corny style of older infomercials. They featured testimonials, interviews with Horton, and group workout demos. While the P90X workout is intense, Horton claims it’s for everyone, from teens to seniors, athletes to government officials. The program sold incredibly well. By 2012, Beachbody had sold over 4 million copies of P90X at $119.85 each. Tony Horton and Beachbody bring in an estimated $400 million in P90X revenue annually, making it the top fitness infomercial and number two overall.

1. Proactiv

If this list proves anything, it’s that you never know which products will click with the public. Who would have guessed that the most successful infomercial of all time would be for a skincare product? Proactiv was developed in 1990 by dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields. Five years later, they signed a licensing deal with Guthy-Renker, a giant in the infomercial world. This partnership paved the way for the celebrity endorsements that made Proactiv a massive success.

In 1999, Judith Light, star of Who’s the Boss, was featured in the first celebrity-endorsed Proactiv ad. Since then, Proactiv campaigns have included stars like Alicia Keys, Julianne Hough, Kendall Jenner, Jessica Simpson, Adam Levine, and Justin Bieber. How did Proactiv attract so many A-listers? They could afford it. In 2014, Proactiv reported an annual revenue of one billion dollars. Even in 2021, 26 years after its debut, Proactiv still brought in $27.5 million in sales. As long as celebrities and acne exist, Proactiv will likely remain the champion of infomercials.

From simple exercise gadgets to revolutionary skincare, these infomercials didn’t just sell products; they became part of our cultural landscape. They mastered the art of the pitch, often with a dose of cheese, but always with an undeniable appeal. What made them so compelling? A mix of relatable problems, enthusiastic presenters, and the promise of a quick, easy solution.

What’s your favorite infomercialmemory or product? Leave your comment below!