60:
20:
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John
Sweetman. The adverts promised that you would "rock, rock, rock your way to a firmer stomach". By 1992, 1.5 million had been sold at $ 19.95 directly from TV advertising, and 2 million more had been sold in stores, This was described by
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described it as "A symbol for TV shopping channels everywhere, a cheaply made, overpriced widget that is destined to be unpacked, tried exactly once, and consigned to the basement".
513:
352:
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The
Abdomenizer is an almost flat, saddle-like piece of thermoformed plastic, about 60 by 90 cm (2 by 3 ft), with handles and a depression for the
71:. Colonello said in an interview in 2014 that the aim was to help people such as farmers consulting his practice in Ontario to do some exercise to develop
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457:
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episode "Tis Time to Smell the Roses" as herself, selling the
Abdomenizer door-to-door. Colonello described the infomercial as "silly" in 2014.
329:"Putting it to the test - how good is the exercise equipment hawked on late-night TV? Are the devices truly effective, safe and easy to use?"
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noted that "they won't make the exercise any easier and they won't magically "firm both upper and lower abdominals," as the box claims."
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advertising. The
Abdominizer is no longer sold after Fitness Quest acquired the rights and then stopped production when sales dropped.
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390:
431:
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What's what: Design expert Oliver
Bennett selects objects that he finds inspirational - and those that are simply a waste of space
514:"Meanwhile folks, back at the ranch ...as the Ewing family reunites, we look at what's been happening to the stars of 'Dallas'"
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718:
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suggest that using an
Abdominizer might lead to overly fast movements, causing injury. A physical therapist interviewed by
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suggested that the device would not protect the back, but would reduce effort and so lower the effectiveness of exercise.
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75:. He made one prototype and tested the product in his clinical practice before being approached to market the product.
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95:
135:, first broadcast in October 1988. They were developed by direct marketer Collette Liantonio and featured actress
153:
175:, Colonello, Dennis, "Apparatus for use in exercising the abdominal muscles", issued 21 June 1988
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Retail sales of the product were not initially successful. The
Abdominizer was then advertised in television
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as "a classic example of the way that informercials can drive the retail market". Tilton cameoed in the
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666:"Infomercial Makes Leap To Big Screen: Bruce Willis To Star In Paramount Pictures' The Abdomenizer"
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353:"50 ways to get fit for summer: 11 - Let a machine take the strain - but which one?"
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569:"Fitness Quest after fiscal fitness: Canton company may double 1990 sales figures"
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invented in 1984 by
Canadian chiropractor Dennis Colonello and marketed through
47:, selling around six million. It was designed to protect the lower back during
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458:"From 'as seen on TV' to as seen at the store - exercise equipment marketing"
192:"Green garbage bags, zippers and ginger ale, Canada's contributions many"
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19:
544:"But Wait, There's More – In the Booth with Voice Artist John Sweetman"
247:"Even the Abdominizer's Inventor Thought Those Infomercials Were Awful"
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Expert opinion on the usefulness of the
Abdominizer was mixed. The
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18:
640:"Something You Might Not Know About Canada: The Abdomenizer"
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Six million were sold in 57 countries, mainly through
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traveler: blue skies, snowy hills, and my abdomenizer
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661:. Using an Abdominizer as a sled, 17 March 2009.
383:"Four Fitness Gadgets You Probably Already Own"
8:
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595:"You can take the girls out of 'Dallas'..."
488:"Collette Liantonio: The Infomercial Queen"
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414:Levinson, Jay Conrad; Godin, Seth (1994).
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86:was affixed advising against this use.
422:. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p.
271:O'Brien, Kathleen (13 January 1993).
7:
638:Stratus, Trish (January 24, 2012).
512:O'Sullivan, Kevin (12 April 1996).
327:Iknoian, Therese (6 October 1991).
31:(often spelled Abdomenizer) was an
486:La Gorce, Tammy (August 8, 2013).
14:
593:Lynch, Donal (January 13, 2008).
393:from the original on 15 June 2009
381:Sorrel, Charlies (16 July 2008).
672:. 12 August 1998. Archived from
644:George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight
542:Rowe, Don (September 25, 2015).
464:. 6 January 1992. Archived from
418:The Guerrilla Marketing Handbook
245:Wisdom, Guy (October 17, 2014).
359:. 10 June 2007. Archived from
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709:Products introduced in 1984
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96:direct response television
78:Many people used them as
154:Married... with Children
277:The Record (New Jersey)
685:- satirical news story
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719:1980s fads and trends
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573:Akron Beacon Journal
139:and the New Zealand
714:Canadian inventions
575:. 14 September 1991
518:New York Daily News
462:Discount Store News
146:Jay Conrad Levinson
63:Abdomenizer Closeup
33:abdominal exerciser
16:Abdominal exerciser
699:Exercise equipment
634:- satirical review
492:New Jersey Monthly
308:. January 16, 1990
283:on 5 November 2012
196:Grand Forks Herald
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630:Joe Bob's America
598:Irish Independent
524:on 15 August 2011
333:Los Angeles Times
302:"The Abdomenizer"
104:Los Angeles Times
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704:Infomercials
678:. Retrieved
674:the original
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254:. Retrieved
251:Men's Health
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133:infomercials
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114:Men's Health
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45:Canton, Ohio
37:infomercials
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650:November 6,
603:November 6,
553:November 6,
548:The Spinoff
497:November 6,
439:November 6,
312:November 6,
256:November 6,
141:voice actor
127:Advertising
29:Abdominizer
23:Abdomenizer
693:Categories
680:2009-06-23
579:2009-06-23
528:2009-06-23
472:2009-06-23
397:2009-06-23
367:2009-06-23
338:2009-06-23
287:2009-06-23
202:2009-06-23
173:US 4752067
160:References
150:Seth Godin
80:snow sleds
670:The Onion
90:Reception
391:Archived
82:, and a
69:tailbone
55:Product
49:sit-ups
39:by the
430:
224:, 2005
179:
646:. CBC
387:Wired
120:Wired
652:2015
605:2015
555:2015
499:2015
441:2015
428:ISBN
314:2015
258:2015
148:and
27:The
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