Aka, As Screamed On TV. Wasn’t sure what to expect with Pitchmen starring Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan. After seeing two episodes, it’s safe to say it won’t threaten for best ad show ever, but there’s enough to maintain interest for anyone in or out of the business. It’s typical reality show fare except for surprisingly, half the forced drama. Probably because it’s part doc too.The premise is that they screen several ideas from inventors and pick two to promote from there, create infomercials, and then wait for the results. You know it’s a hit when they have people come back to the office to hear the results versus them calling someone to say it tanked. If you’re a junkie for this stuff, you get to see a lot of what goes into infomercials and realize, that like QVC, Mays knows his shit with regards to what works and doesn’t on TV. They monitor everything.
In addition, you get a look at him and Sullivan in quieter moments. (If, Mays has any—DAMN that guy’s loud.) Oh, and cue jet black hair. Wonder how many PAs are off-camera waiting with Sharpies to touch that stuff up. Most interesting stuff happens though when the chosen few start making changes to the way Mays and Sullivan should pitch their stuff. It becomes a role-reversal as inventor becomes client and the pitchmen become the agency having to follow orders.
See, I get it’s your baby and all, and maybe you’ve sunk your life savings into the project, but when two guys who sell 250 million products to your none say changing one word equals an additional half-million in sales, you STFU. (Supposedly, one of the inventors had already made money prior to being selected, so part about his dreams coming true rings false, but I’m watching more for the behind the scenes crap that goes on.)
Will it last beyond its scheduled run of 13 episodes? Don’t know. If I knew the answer to that, I’d be able to tell if my sideways pizza carrier will be a hit or not. No, wait, watch. Here’s what it does. First, you take hot pizza...
