I'd Buy That!
I'd Buy That!
A Bad Commercial Challenge
A Bad Commercial Challenge
Infomercials have convinced people to buy some truly ridiculous things—banana slicers, Snuggies, and tiny hot dog toasters. Your task? Write and perform a commercial for a terrible product. Maybe it’s completely useless, overly complicated, or solving a problem that doesn’t exist. The challenge is to sell it with absolute confidence, using every trick in the marketing playbook.
Make It Believable (At First) – The best bad commercials start with a real-sounding problem before spiraling into nonsense.
The Over-the-Top Pitch – Use dramatic voiceovers, exaggerated testimonials, and impossible promises to make your awful product seem like the next big thing.
Create a Catchphrase – All great ads have a hook. Does your product have a jingle? A tagline? A famous celebrity endorsement that makes no sense?
Include the Fine Print – If there’s a “BUT” in your product’s greatness, sneak it in. (“Guaranteed to work… sometimes.” “Side effects include mild confusion and financial regret.”)
A great bad product usually fits into one of these categories:
The Over-Engineered Mess – A simple task made absurdly complicated. (The Sock Sorter 5000: Because organizing your socks should take 12 steps and require a power outlet!)
The Unnecessary Combination – Two things that should never be fused. (Toothpaste-Flavored Ice Cream! Because why brush your teeth after dessert when you can do both at once?)
The Solution to a Nonexistent Problem – Something that fixes an issue no one has. (Pre-Moistened Napkins: Because dry napkins are a thing of the past!)
The Wildly Dangerous or Impractical – A product that sounds useful… until you think about it. (Pocket Hedge Trimmers: For those times when you need to trim a bush on the go!)
The Reverse Microwave – Instantly makes hot food cold! Perfect for when you heat up leftovers and immediately regret it.
The One-Time Umbrella – Made from biodegradable tissue paper! Lightweight, easy to carry, and completely useless in actual rain.
The Slipper Alarm – Wakes you up every time you step out of bed! A loud siren blares the moment your foot touches the floor. Great for heavy sleepers. Bad for everyone else.
The Automatic Hug Machine – A pair of robotic arms that wrap around you when no one else will. Comforting? Maybe. Slightly terrifying? Definitely.
Who is the target customer for this ridiculous product?
What fake testimonials or celebrity endorsements could make it sound appealing?
What would the “AS SEEN ON TV” version of your product look like?
How does the ad distract people from realizing the product is actually terrible?
Real Infomercials (Flex Tape, ShamWow, Slap Chop) – High-energy, over-the-top enthusiasm for products that maybe don’t need to exist.
SNL’s Fake Commercials – From the Bass-o-Matic (a blender for whole fish) to Mom Jeans, these sketches sell the absurd with absolute sincerity.
Tim and Eric’s Parody Ads – Strange, unsettling, and oddly effective at selling nonsense.