Sexual Undertones in the Pressa Bella Steam Iron Infomercial
January 5th, 2008 Paul Lucas
Maybe I just have a dirty mind.
The sexual content of some infomercials is quite obvious, such as ExtenZe, Tom Vu, and the Jeff Paul infomercial (which practically shoves four breasts in your face). I have, however, detected a sexual subtext in infomercials, such as the Tony Little Gazelle and the Magic Bullet, which have no obvious sexual content. The latest infomercial to fall in this category is the Pressa Bella steam iron hosted by Forbes Riley and Beau Rials (not to be confused with Forbes Rials and Beau Riley).
Forbes Riley is among the most prolific infomercials hosts of all time (her work in AromaTrim is still my favorite) and Beau Rials is himself a veteran infomercial host (H2O Mop, H2O Vac).
In this infomercial, Forbes Riley squeals in orgasmic glee every time Beau shoots a massive stream of hot, white, wet steam from the Pressa Bella. And there’s a lot more here that should make the Pressa Bella infomercial a Freudian’s delight:
There are many scenes with sexual implications in the Pressa Bella infomercial.
Beau and Forbes “cross their streams” so that the steam from each of their irons intersects and becomes one. (0:34)
There are allusions to gender-bending when Forbes asks Beau if the dress is something he looks good in. (1:10)
There is on-screen text that says “No More Dripping.” (1:31)
One woman irons sexy lingerie for her anniversary. It is hard to tell but the tear caused by the previous iron just might have made that lingerie crotchless. (1:48)
Forbes touts the romantic benefits of the iron with the phrase, “With Pressa Bella, you can keep your fella.” (2:11)
Orgasmic ecstasy erupts over the face of one woman (who looks like Kristin Davis from Sex and the City) forcing her to declare, “Oh my God, I love it!” If you didn’t know better you would assume that close up came straight out of some Vivid Video flick. (2:19)
Beau and multiple ladies (or “Forbettes” as he calls them) simultaneously emit steam as a group. (2:22)
Beau Rials and a man named Dave do a side-by-side comparison of the length of their streams—forcing the lesser man to dejectedly concede, “I got nothing.” (2:40)
I guess size really does matter after all!
Not to mention all the infomercials that are hocking cooking devices. Usually it’s a know it all host, and some guinea pig twit who is there to taste test the foods. These people have their foodgasms down, and it’s done in completely a “sexual” type of way. Insanity!
Comment by Kirk — January 6th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I’ve never noticed the foodgasms before. Maybe I’ll put together a foodgasm highlight reel sometime.
Comment by Paul Lucas — January 6th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
For once the hot air on an infomercial is what the product does, and not what the hosts are saying?
Comment by God — April 14th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Mr. Lucas,
You seem to be a big fan of Vivid Video. Why this bias? Do you think Playboy, Hustler, Private, Adam & Eve, Zero Tolerance etc. do not deserve equal respect from you (and us Porn lovers)?
Comment by Znkp — January 25th, 2009 at 3:22 pm