Poker Deposit BonusListen Up TV Commercial Encourages Snooping
March 29th, 2007 Paul Lucas
There is a “short form” infomercial being aired currently that manages to pack more strangeness into 30 seconds than most infomercials can manage in 30 minutes.
This commercial is for a device called Listen Up, which they describe as a “Personal Sound Amplifier.” You can see a video of the TV commercial here. (Unfortunately, the video at this site has terrible picture and sound quality, but I couldn’t find it anywhere else online.)
Basically Listen Up is a hearing aid, but one designed to look like it’s an MP3 player so that grandpa can look hip and cool instead of looking handicapped.
But what is most interesting about the commercial is that they actually encourage people to use Listen Up to eavesdrop on conversations—or “discreetly listen in” as they phrase it in the ad. So we get a woman listening in on her neighbors across the street and a man at the gym spying on two hot chicks. You might have noticed that the people being snooped on in the ad only have nice things to say. “Have you met the new neighbors?…I met him. He seems nice,” says the lady walking her dog. Even more implausibly, the two women at the gym are actually talking about how hot the guy listening in on them is. (Although once they find out he’s the kind of weirdo who uses a hearing aid to spy on people they’ll find him considerably less attractive.) This isn’t the best way to market this feature. No one wants to hear banal compliments. People eavesdrop so that they can hear juicy gossip or catch someone talking bad about them behind their backs.
The other interesting scene is the couple sitting in the pew using Listen Up to better hear the church service. That doesn’t seem like a good idea. This couple is so pious that they want to make sure they can hear the entire sermon—but everyone around them thinks they’re listen to an iPod the whole time! No doubt their fellow congregants will talk bad about the couple behind their backs—but with the Listen Up at least they’ll be able to hear it!
Ya, I totally agree, what kind of product encourages people to be a wierdo evesdropper
Comment by Nope — December 30th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
This blog post is HILARIOUS! I’ve been meaning to blog about this commercial for weeks and in doing a google search, I found your blog. I meant to talk about the mean bitch in the commercial. Who’s also in the commercial for the portable light switch…still acting bitchy. LOL
Comment by Sugar — January 4th, 2008 at 12:43 am
I’ve never seen the commercial for the portable light switch but I’ll look for it now. I guess that actress is trying the corner the market for “Bitchy Woman on Cheesy Gadget Commercials” roles.
Comment by Paul Lucas — January 4th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Product is a DUD and a scam. I bought one. You have to put the amplifier within 12 inches of the speaker, otherwise, all you hear is static. I called the customer service office but because I bought it at a store and not “their” website, they refuse to replace it. They are willing to sell me another one at the same price however. No thanks, I don’t think so. Don’t waste your money.
Comment by Marlean — August 29th, 2008 at 8:55 am
That woman really sets tone! “COULD YOU TURN THAT TV DOWN… PLEASE!” Its not what she says, its how she says it that makes any stable person want to slay her. The first scene is not enough - the poor guy has to be humiliated again while the Harpy is on the phone, “DOES THAT HAVE TO BE SO LOUD!!”
You know the actors have to be aware of how bad and inappropriate these scenarios are, not to mention the product itself. I can’t get my mind around that an agency hired a production company and actors to produced this “gem”; had the clients on set and was able to keep a straight face. There were production meetings, product meetings, pitches and all the sort circled around this product; and no one said, “sigh - I don’t know about this…” I just got a piss shiver thinking about it.
Comment by Jeff — November 17th, 2008 at 5:34 am
On a similiar subject - how about the AT&T commercials where the mother is ‘putting down’ the teenager about the leftover minutes. She is really obnoxious!! I can’t find where to complain to AT&T.
Comment by Glenda Swink — November 18th, 2008 at 7:42 pm