Ron Popeil, inventor and king of TV pitchmen, dies at 86

[left-of-center2012]

Ron Popeil, the quintessential TV pitchman and inventor known to generations of viewers for hawking products including the Veg-O-Matic, the Pocket Fisherman, Mr. Microphone and the Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ, has died, his family said.

Popeil died “suddenly and peacefully” Wednesday at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his family said in a statement. He was 86. No cause of death was given. Popeil is survived by his wife of 25 years Robin; daughters Kathryn, Lauren Contessa and Valentina; and four grandchildren. A fifth daughter, Shannon, died before him.

Popeil essentially invented the popular image of the American television pitchman, whose novel products solved frustrating problems viewers didn’t know they had. He popularized much of the vernacular of late-night TV ads and infomercials, with lines like “Now how much would you pay?”, “Set it and forget it”.
“But wait — there’s more,” he’d say in the ads.

https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/ron-popeil-inventor-and-king-of-tv-pitchmen-dies-at-86/

[Jim G.]

1. Dan Aykroyd Used To Really Send Him Up On SNL

[left-of-center2012]

3. As mentioned in the linked article

Popeil was constantly parodied in pop culture. He was sent up by Dan Akroyd in the early days of “Saturday Night Live” with his “Bass-O-Matic” sketch.

“Weird Al” Yankovic had a song on his “In 3-D” album titled “Mr. Popeil,” whose lyrics said, “I need a Veg-O-Matic! I need a pocket fisherman! I need a handy appliance that’ll scramble an egg while it’s still inside its shell! … Help me, Mr. Popeil!”

Popeil was happy to take part in the parody himself, understanding and embracing his campy public image. He played or voiced himself on shows including “The X Files,” “The Simpsons” and “King of the Hill.”

[Jim G.]

18. You Got Me...

I only read the except in your OP. I guess I figured I knew all I needed to know about him.

[NurseJackie]

2. Now he can try out his Embalm-O-Matic, Easy Casket*, and Miracle Home Cremation Oven...

Now he can try out his Embalm-O-Matic, Easy Casket*, and Miracle Home Cremation Oven... just set-it and FORGET IT!



(* some assembly required.)

[Jim G.]

4. LOL!

[Champp]

6. What's the 1-800 phone number? I want to call NOW for bonus stuff

[samnsara]

5. wow that brought back memories!

[doc03]

7. I don't remember what he called it, his spray on hair was the worst. I think maybe

Crazy Rudy used it.

[Sibelius Fan]

8. There's a warehouse somewhere filled with cases of that spray-on hair gook.

[doc03]

9. Would that be Four Seasons Landscaping nt

[left-of-center2012]

20. "he Ronco version sold over a half million cans"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spray-on_hair

[left-of-center2012]

19. Ronco GLH "Hair in a Can"

Spray-on hair was one of the products pioneered by Ronco in the 1980s, under the name "GLH-9" (Great Looking Hair Formula #9).
The product "was popular in the 1990s with 30-minute infomercials for the product on late-night cable TV", and the Ronco version sold over a half million cans.
GLH came out in liquid form but contained powder particles that stuck to the follicles on the scalp.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spray-on_hair

[doc03]

24. Great Looking Hair formula #9.

[Ace Rothstein]

10. I'd watch the hell out of his infomercials as a kid.

[Kingofalldems]

11. That fishing rod was pure crap.

Did he sell anything of quality?

[maryellen99]

13. The Ronco Showtime Rotisserie Oven

We’ve had it for a few years and it works really well.

[dameatball]

12. "Set it and forget it!" The Ronco Rotisserie was great. Unfortunately it put out a lot of heat in

the kitchen.

[maryellen99]

14. Yep we only use it for Steak nt

[dameatball]

16. Last time I saw mine was on the patio of my daughter's college apartment.

[Blue Owl]

21. My favorite part of the infomercial

was when he randomly picked up that hammer and gave it a whack to demonstrate its durability...

[House of Roberts]

15. And to think,

he did it all without a British accent!

These days you can't sell on TV without a British accent!

[Drunken Irishman]

17. One of his last tweets was a photo with him and Joe.

He stopped tweeting in 2019.

Link to tweet

[LeftInTX]

22. He was younger than I thought....

I always thought this pitchman was like 10 years younger than my parents. He was like 4 years younger than my mom.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

23. Dang

No more late night infomercials