The Most Memorable “As Seen on TV” Products From the 1980s

There’s no denying how influential television commercials can be. Anyone who’s hungry while watching a show might take a break to get food if they see a commercial with a juicy hamburger pop up on their screen. Those interested in furthering their education might consider a college or university that appears during a football game. One type of commercial that always seems to rope folks in is for products that are “As Seen on TV.” These advertisements were popular in the 1980s when television truly first exploded.

Plenty of people focused on the advancement of technology in the 1980s. One way folks thought the world would change was by having various things like lights and fans responding to someone clapping. The Clapper was designed with the idea of its owner plugging it into the wall. Once the product was in the socket, all the owner had to do was clap. The machine or appliance would then work until the owner clapped for it to turn off. The jingle of “Clap on, Clap off” will forever be engrained in the minds of those from the 1980s.

Another important product plenty of people saw flash on their screens during the 1980s was LifeCall. While LifeCall was first designed in the 1970s, there was a huge market in the ’80s. Plenty of adult children wanted their older parents to have LifeCall in case they fell or hurt themselves. The product has changed countless lives and prevented multiple disasters over the years. For more 1980s content, click here to read about the teen heartthrobs from the decade and what they look like now.

To compile this list of the most memorable “As Seen on TV” products from the 1980s, 24/7 Tempo consulted entertainment sources. These include Mental Floss, MeTV, and Something Great Marketing.

The Clapper

Folks in the 1980s were constantly dreaming about what the future would bring. Plenty of people thought that technology would dominate the world. This made companies pour millions of dollars into research and development. They all aimed to become the first to create the “next big thing.” One of the most memorable products to come from that era was The Clapper. The idea of having to stand up to turn something on and off was gone with this creation.

All a user had to do was plug it into the wall. Then, they simply had to clap to turn on a product, such as a light or microwave. Once they were ready for the appliance to turn off, they could sit still and clap again. Millions of folks thought it would define the future and get placed inside of every home. While the idea didn’t gain the traction that people from that decade thought it would, the jingle of “Clap on, Clap off” is still stuck in the minds of viewers who saw the commercial on TV.

Flowbee

The same laws that protect consumers today aren’t the same that were in place during the 1980s. This made for some interesting creations, though. One thing plenty of people wished they could do at home for themselves and their families was give a simple haircut. Finding an hour or so per month to go to the barber shop, sit in a chair, and make small talk isn’t for everyone. That’s why the idea of the Flowbee came about.

This contraption combined a razor and vacuum cleaner. Anyone could purchase the item for their home or studio if they were a hairstylist. The razor would cut between half an inch and six inches off of the patron’s head. Once the hair was cut, it would be immediately sucked into the vacuum. There was no cleanup required for a person cutting hair. However, the individual sitting in the chair typically didn’t receive the style they wanted. As time went on, tons of folks realized how dangerous it could be. It’s no wonder the product didn’t last into 2024.

Buttoneer

Thousands of folks have struggled with buttons falling off of their clothes. While there was always a helping hand ready to sew your clothes back together, plenty of people wanted to quickly do it themselves. Prior to the Buttoneer, you’d be forced to have a sewing kit on hand to fix a button that fell off your clothes. Once the product hit the market, consumers were welcome to easily start fixing their buttons.

It worked by punching a fastener into the person’s clothing, thereby attaching the button for the long haul. The idea was so genius that the same type of product is still sold today at various clothing stores and online. There are still plenty of folks who ask for help from their mom or grandma, as they always seem to have the answer. Clothes will be made with buttons for a long time, which means the Buttoneer will always be a hot product to purchase.

The Pocket Fisherman

Fishing is one of the greatest escapes from reality. Millions of people enjoy sitting by a body of water and casting their rods with the hopes of catching a wild animal. Some people take a picture with the fish and throw it back into the water. Others keep the animal and cook it later that night for their friends and families. Most folks had to plan their fishing days in advance. That all changed once the Pocket Fisherman came along.

The handle of the fishing rod was created to be a mini tackling box. While those who used the rod to go fishing couldn’t have the multitude of lures that come in a regular tackle box, the Pocket Fisherman made it easy to hit the water on a whim. The creation was so successful that it’s still being sold to avid outdoors-people in 2024. Ever since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, more people have enjoyed the great outdoors. Fishing rods like this will likely be around forever.

LifeCall

It’s no secret that older folks require extra assistance with some stuff. While most try to always have someone near them, it’s not always possible. During the times when an older person is alone, it’s vital that they always have access to call someone in case they need help. One of the most common scenarios when an old person would need aid is if they fell. For the longest time, an old person wouldn’t have access to call someone if they fell down and needed help.

LifeCall came in and changed everything. It’s arguably the most important modern invention in history. When an older person needs help these days, they have the ability to use a LifeCall that’s on their neck and call for help. The success of LifeCall has saved countless lives and is still an integral part of everyone who’s older and lives alone. LifeCall will continue to be around for the long haul. The price and ease of use are too good to take off shelves.

K-tel Albums

Music has always been part of American society. There are millions of songs out there that help someone get through a tough time they’re going through. Other songs assist groups of friends in getting ready for a night out on the town. However, not everyone in the 1980s could afford large vinyl records or had access to a Walkman. That’s where the K-tel Stars came into play. Most vinyl records held around 13 songs on the playlist.

K-tel Stars held around 20 or 25 songs per record, depending on what tracks were popular at the time. It was the first time a company put together a compilation album of various artists. The records were aired during commercials and played short bits of each song. The reason the records were cheaper than typical vinyls was because the material of the disc was made cheaper. Plenty of young people became addicted to watching television and hearing what the next biggest songs were.

Record Vacuum

Another key item that was found in the homes of music lovers was the record vacuum. There was once a time when records needed to be clean in order to sound as great as they could. If there were parts of fingerprints or pieces of dust on the record, the songs wouldn’t sound how they’re supposed to. It’s also dangerous to wipe the record, as there’s a chance the person could snap it while holding it down to clean.

The record vacuum made it safe and easy to clean records. Once the record was cleaned, it sounded loads better than before. Record vacuums are still sold today, which means the original creator clearly figured out the right design. There’s been an uptick in the interest in vintage records by younger generations. Record vacuums will undoubtedly be popular in the future.

Ronco Battery Tester

It’s vital to know how much power an individual battery has. However, it can be challenging to see exactly where it’s at. These days, most pieces of technology have an indicator in them that tells the user precisely how much power is left in them. Back in the day, technology hadn’t reached that point. The Ronco Battery Tester came into play at the perfect time. The device allowed users to remove the battery from something and see how much power was still inside.

One of the most commonly used items to test the batteries on was a flashlight. When kids went out to play late at night or adults went camping, they usually brought a flashlight with them. Before leaving the house, most folks would ensure the device had enough power to last for the entire evening. If it didn’t, they knew to change the batteries in it. Battery testers aren’t as popular as they once were, but they absolutely did the job that was required of them.

Ronco Egg Scrambler

Most folks look for a shortcut in the kitchen. There’s a lot that goes into preparing a meal, especially breakfast. One of the most popular breakfast foods in the world is eggs. There are plenty of different ways to prepare eggs. Some folks like them scrambled. Others prefer them hard-boiled. No matter what, the Ronco Egg Scrambler was the ideal item to have in every kitchen to prepare eggs with.

There were some complications with the scrambler, though. For instance, it took a lot to ensure the hard-boiled eggs didn’t break while using the utensil. The instructions clearly told users to put a piece of tape over the hole to ensure the insides of the egg didn’t run out of the shell. The folks who like omelet-style eggs loved this device. They could use it and scramble the eggs while they were still in the shell. These days, there are plenty of other options for cooking eggs.

Chia Pet

Tons of kids love having a pet. At the very least, they adore owning something they can take care of and watch grow. However, not every family is in a position to own a pet. That’s why the popularity of the Chia Pet exploded. The way the “pet” works is by letting the user plant a seed. After that, everyone watches it grow inside the shell of an animal. The owner is supposed to water their pet once per day. The longer and more consistently the user waters their plant, the greener and longer the hair is.

These days, there are countless variations of Chia Pets. The brand has expanded from just animals to include characters from shows such as “Scooby-Doo.” The pets give young kids the opportunity to watch something grow. They also are taught responsibility by keeping it alive. It’s a great test to ensure your family is ready for a real pet before splurging on an animal. Chia Pets will likely continue to be popular. Yet, with the rise in technology, some kids might opt for a virtual version of the pet.

Ginsu Knives

Plenty of folks struggled to find the right knife or experienced utensils that would dull over time. That was until the Ginsu Knife came along. While it sounds like it would be from an Asian country, the product was actually made in Ohio. The knife was known for being incredibly sharp and never dulling out. That made it important for the user to ensure they weren’t cutting through whatever surface they were on top of.

These days, there are plenty of knives that replicate the same level of endurance while cutting. Knife sharpeners are nearly a thing of the past in 2024. As technology continues to expand, so will the quality of kitchenware, such as knives. At the time, the Ginsu knife was considered revolutionary. It truly changed the way folks in the kitchen prepare food.

Mr. Microphone

Imagine having a microphone that allows you to set the dial to any FM station. Imagine that it allows your friends and family to listen also. That’s just what Mr. Microphone did when it was first released. Becoming a star in the 1980s was a dream that plenty of folks had. Since there was no social media, people needed to use creative ways to market themselves and introduce their talents to the world.

Those singing had to be within a few feet of whoever they were trying to impress, though. The idea was genius and was sold to plenty of people who dreamt about ending up in Hollywood. With the rise in social media over the last decade, there’s no longer any need for something like this. Talented musicians post covers of famous songs or their own hits on their page. Every so often, a talented artist is found and signed to a brand. For more 1980s content, click here to read about the most memorable stores from the decade.

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