Mixing the great American traditions of gaudy showmanship and practical ingenuity, the “As Seen on TV” genre encompasses a great deal of zany products. The brand may well have been ahead of its time when it got started over twenty years ago. The best As Seen on TV products each had their own viral moments, even before we knew what “going viral” meant.
In addition to the late-night infomercials we’ve all come to know and love, the modern era has introduced us to a new type of As Seen on TV product. Shark Tank is the perfect incubator for new and weird products we didn’t know we needed. The show is known to increase the sales of nearly every product that appears, even those that don’t get an investment.
Among the crazy products that have been produced by As Seen on TV, Shark Tank and other TV shows, there are some that are surprisingly practical. For every Shake Weight and Snuggies, there’s a Scrub Daddy and NutriBullet. From useful cleaning solutions to cooking tools, here are some of our favorite products we’ve seen on TV throughout the years. We’re sure you could use one or two of these in your life.
1. Squatty Potty The Original Bathroom Toilet Stool
BEST OVERALL
With hilariously weird commercials and appearances on shows like The Howard Stern Show, this As Seen on TV item is anything but full of crap. The Squatty Potty promotes healthier bathroom posture. This simple stool provides a more ergonomic way to take a poo; keeping your feet elevated is supposed to help you move the mail more smoothly. This particular model is adjustable from seven inches for normal adults to nine inches for children. This product may seem silly, and it is, but long-time users can’t imagine going number two without it.
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Buy: Squatty Potty The Original Bathroom Toilet Stool $29.99
2. Grip Clean Pumice Hand Cleaner
BEST FOR SKIN CARE
If you’re a fan of Shark Tank, you might remember the dirt bike riding entrepreneurs who invented Grip Clean, an innovative hand wash for men and women who regularly use oily or sticky DIY products. We’ve featured this tough-as-dirt soap before, and that’s because we’re big fans. Grip Clean contains Bentonite Clay, olive oil, coconut oil and lime oil, which all work together to absorb oils and scrub off other stubborn materials. Plus, it only takes one wash to remove pretty much any substance. Simply apply the soap, lather up for a few minutes and rinse. You’ll end up with clean hands every time.
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Buy: Grip Clean Pumice Hand Cleaner $10.99
3. The Original Shamwow
MOST MULTIFUNCTIONAL
Somehow, the Shamwow guy (a.k.a. Vince Offer) has become an enduring piece of popular culture. His dedication to selling his product made us all secretly want to buy a Shamwow. Now, you can actually buy this half towel half sponge directly on Amazon. Use it to clean your car, the floor or the family dog, and then throw it in the washing machine. You’ll wonder why you didn’t bite the bullet to buy this multifunctional shammy years ago.
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Buy: The Original Shamwow $15.95 ($4.43 / oz)
4. Snuggie – The Original Wearable Blanket
BEST GIFT IDEA
If you think Snuggies have been buried by the sands of time, think again. These sleeved blankets are as popular as ever, and for good reason. The super-soft fleece creates a cozy blanket, and the wearable aspect means you never get cold arms, even when you need to change the channel, use your computer or eat your dinner. It may be like wearing a robe backward, but buying a Snuggie is one decision you’ll never regret.
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Buy: Snuggie - The Original Wearable Blanket $17.99
5. Simply Fit Board
BEST FOR FITNESS
The Simply Fit board offers a fun way to get your core workout in. Simply stand on the board and twist your body. Pair with weights for an even more advanced ab and core workout. Alternatively, hold either side of it for an extra challenge during your pushup reps. The Simply Fit Board is available in four fun colors. For at-home fitness buffs, this is one As Seen on TV product that’s worth buying in real life.
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6. Drop Stop Seat Gap Filler
BEST CAR ACCESSORY
If you’ve ever dropped your phone or wallet down the gap between your car seat and the center console, you’ll know how difficult it is to recover whatever slips down that pit. Thankfully, the creators of Drop Stop lost one too many things their adult-sized hands couldn’t retrieve. The result is a high-grade neoprene device that fills the seat gap. This one-size-fits-all-cars product slips onto the seat belt buckle and adjusts to the size of your car’s gap, ensuring nothing can fall away from your reach ever again.
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Buy: Drop Stop Seat Gap Filler $19.99
7. Scrub Daddy Dishwand Kit
MOST USEFUL
The Scrub Daddy sponges blow those dirty, old sponges you’ve been using out of the water. Each sponge is fitted with three different materials, namely FlexTexture to scrub, ResoFoam for suds and ArmorTec to scour. In addition, the sponges come in fun shapes and sizes. This particular dishwand system comes complete with a self-soaping wand as well as a daisy head for glasses, a hyacinth to clean bottles and the sunflower head for flat surfaces.
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Buy: Scrub Daddy Dishwand Kit $24.99
8. The Clapper
BEST HOME HACK
Clap on! Clap off! You know the commercial, but have you ever had the pleasure of using The Clapper in your own home? If you don’t have smart plugs attached to all your lamps, The Clapper offers an easy, hands-free way to turn the electricity on and off. Simply clap your hands to turn the plug off, then clap them again to turn it back on. This home hack works especially well with lamps of all types. It’s the original smart home device.
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9. Miracle Blade World Class Knife Set
BEST KITCHENWARE
Unless you watch a lot of late-night infomercials, you might not have heard of the Miracle Blade World Class Knife Set, but you’ll quickly wonder why after reading all the glowing reviews. This 13-piece set is made from sharp and strong stainless steel, and each piece boasts a safe, ergonomic handle. In addition to the fact that the set includes pretty much every cutting tool you’ll ever need in the kitchen, the major selling point for this product is its price. It’s rare to find such a quality and wide-ranging set of kitchen knives at this low price point.
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Buy: Miracle Blade World Class Knife Set $35.50
10. Ontel Swivel Sweeper Max
BEST FOR CLEANING
Powered by rechargeable batteries, this cordless sweeper aims to clean corners and hard-to-reach areas. It can even slide under furniture (unlike other similar models on the market) to get your floors as clean as possible. Plus, there are no messy inserts or bags to replace, either.
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Buy: Ontel Swivel Sweeper Max $33.17
11. NutriBullet Nutrient Extractor
BEST APPLIANCE
If you’ve ever fallen asleep with the TV on, you’ve likely woken up with the feeling that you should really buy a blender. Nutribullet commercials seemingly play on repeat in the wee hours of the morning, but this is one As Seen on TV product you need in your life. The NutriBullet Nutrient Extractor allows users to whip up dips, sauces and smoothies with ease. The stainless steel blades can cut through nuts, seeds and the toughest of skins. Plus, the 24-ounce cup allows you to enjoy your creations on the go.
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Buy: NutriBullet Nutrient Extractor $49.88
12. Tipsy Elves Men’s Christmas Sweater
BEST CLOTHING
A slight departure from most As Seen on TV products, Tipsy Elves is one of the most successful companies to come out of Shark Tank. This company specializes in creating ugly Christmas sweaters in designs you actually want to wear. For example, the “Ask Your Mom If I’m Real” men’s sweater puts a sexy twist on the classic Christmas character in a well-fitting design. Get one for yourself, and a different design for every person on your shopping list.
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Buy: Tipsy Elves Men’s Christmas Sweater $39.95
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