Vince Offer: Difference between revisions
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==SlapChop Spokesman== |
==SlapChop Spokesman== |
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In December of 2008, Offer appeared in another infomercial originating on the internet for the kitchen utensil SlapChop. |
In December of 2008, Offer appeared in another infomercial originating on the internet for the kitchen utensil SlapChop. His sales pitch also advertises a bundled hand operated cheese grater, the Graty. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 17:59, 23 December 2008
Vince Offer is a writer, director and comedian best known for appearing as a television pitchman for ShamWow! absorbent towels.
The Underground Comedy Movie
In 1999 Offer released the Underground Comedy Movie to scathing and extremely negative reviews. Lawrence Van Gelder of the New York Times described the movie as "a series of sketches built around subjects like masturbation, defecation, alienation, urination, necrophilia, voyeurism, casual brutality and mockery of the unfortunate." He added that Offer "makes the common mistake of equating the recognition of comic potential for comedy itself. For the successful, talent bridges the gap, but here it is absent."[1] DVDs of the film were marketed via television infomercial.
The film also generated several lawsuits. Offer filed a copyright-infringement suit against Peter and Bobby Farrelly and Twentieth Century Fox, claiming that 14 scenes in There's Something About Mary were taken from his own film. The Farrelly brothers responded, "We've never heard of him, we've never heard of his movie, and it's all a bunch of baloney."[2] In addition, Offer sued Anna Nicole Smith for breach of contract, alleging that Smith had agreed to appear in Underground Comedy Movie but backed out, claiming it would hurt her career.[3]
In 2004, Offer, an ex-Scientologist, sued the Church of Scientology, alleging it had declared him a criminal and had urged its members to "write false and malicious reports against him." Offer claimed that the church's action against him caused him to lose a successful business, as many of his employees were Scientologists who quit upon learning of the church's actions.[4]
ShamWow! commercial
Offer appeared on infomercials for his movie and also sold kitchen utensils at a swap meet. Currently he is featured as a spokesman in a commercial for ShamWow! absorbent towels that began airing in the spring of 2008. Offer's work on the ad received some comment in the media. Slate.com's Seth Stevenson praised Offer for his "impressive and subtle mastery of the pitchman's art" and wondered if Offer's "abrasive manner might also mark a unique, new strategy in the annals of pitchdom." Stevenson compared Offer to earlier, "more upbeat" television pitchmen like Billy Mays and the Home Shopping Network hosts and concluded that Offer's "smooth-talking condescension" was more suited to the present zeitgeist than the "earnest fervor" of spokesmen like Mays and Ron Popeil.[5]
SlapChop Spokesman
In December of 2008, Offer appeared in another infomercial originating on the internet for the kitchen utensil SlapChop. His sales pitch also advertises a bundled hand operated cheese grater, the Graty.
External links
References
- ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (1999-05-28). "FILM REVIEW; 15 Minutes (Count 'Em) Of Infamy". The New York Times. New York City, New York. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ Dave Karger, Suna Chang. Monitor: Celebrity News for October 16, 1998, Entertainment Weekly online.
- ^ Bollywoodsargasm, retrieved 2008-05-15.
- ^ "Filmmaker Sues Church of Scientology". PR Newswire. 2004-05-11.
- ^ Stevenson, Seth (2008-05-13). "Salesjerk; Meet the next great TV pitchman". Slate. The Slate Group. Retrieved 2008-12-15.