The Bert Show – Vault: Are These TV Items Worth Purchasing?

Date: March 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this engaging and humorous episode, The Bert Show hosts dive into the world of "As Seen on TV" products, infomercial inventions, and TV-touted gadgets. They ask listeners to call in and share their successes and disappointments: Did these infomercial buys live up to the commercial hype or end up gathering dust in a closet? The cast and callers trade anecdotes and honest product reviews, sparking laughter and nostalgia over gadgets like the Snuggie, Ped Egg, Aqua Globes, and many more.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Irresistible Lure of Infomercials

• Snuggie Commercial Recap (00:17)
  • The show opens by playing the famous Snuggie ad, setting the tone for a discussion on the persuasive power of infomercials.
• “As Seen on TV” Store Experiences (01:48)
  • Multiple hosts and callers admit to being drawn in by the aisles of unique gadgets at “As Seen on TV” stores, sometimes to their delight, other times with regret.

Product Reviews: Hits and Misses

Laundry Gadgets

• Shirt-Folding Board (01:54)
  • One caller admits buying the folding board but finds it cumbersome:

    "After a while you're like, I'd rather just have the wrinkled shirt than deal with this." – Caller (02:25)

• Retail Skill vs. Gadgets
  • The group jokes that those who worked retail have no need for such products.

Language Learning Promises

• One-Hour Spanish Infomercial (02:39)
  • Co-host Melissa is skeptical but tempted by a commercial promising to teach Spanish in one hour.
    • "How the hell is that possible? But they're selling it so well that I'm like, maybe I should get my hands on this thing." – Melissa (03:12)
  • Discussion ensues on Rosetta Stone’s higher cost and required commitment.

Kitchen & Food Gadgets

• Slider Maker (04:02)
  • The hosts express suspicion, joking about infomercial tricks:

    "What you don't see is the intern going to Ted's Montana Grill... then they sliding them in... It's a secret oven." – Host Birch (04:11)

  • Later, a review:

    "The slider maker people were calling saying, absolutely sucks." – Co-host Melissa (11:09)

Classic Gags and Gifts

• Snuggie (00:22 and throughout)
  • Universally recognized, the Snuggie inspires both teasing and genuine praise.
    • "They're actually sold out everywhere." – Caller (04:40)
• Chia Pet (04:58)
  • The classic is recalled fondly but with a healthy dose of skepticism.

    "Every year, I almost get it, and then I don't. I'm like, I don't want to be the dork." – Caller (05:07)

• Pet-Grass Cat Chia
  • Birch jokes about buying one for his cat to encourage indoor vomiting. (05:14)

Foot Care & Home Utility

• Ped Egg
  • Multiple listeners love it; one hilariously recounts a bad etiquette moment at a white elephant gift exchange:

    "Another woman at the party opened up the ped egg and began using it. So you're scraping it on your foot...and then announced that it works really well and gave it back to the rightful owner." – Host Birch (06:38)

• Ove Glove
  • Widely praised as a genuinely handy product:

    "The Ove Glove is great." – Host Birch (06:26)
    "It's an oven mitt with fingers." – Host Birch (06:33)

Cleaning Gadgets

• Shark Super Steamer
  • One caller vents disappointment:

    "That thing sucks. You have to get so up on it to do it. And it's more time trying to get, like, one spot than it would take you to clean it with, like, a toothbrush." – Caller Kai (07:32)

• Aqua Globes
  • Mixed reviews, but a store employee/tester shares:

    "They're like the cool thing. We could not keep them in stock at my work." – Caller Chris (09:16)

Fitness Fads

• Vibrating Ab Belt (07:56)
  • Both hosts and listeners call it a waste of money:

    "Pretty much getting yourself hot for no reason." – Caller (08:18)

Beauty Products

• Miracle Tanning Cream
  • Turns one caller's dad purple:

    "He applies the tanning cream all over his body, and instead, it turned him purple." – Caller Lee (10:26)

  • The group jokes about needing an antidote product.

Miscellaneous

• Smooth Away Hair Remover
  • Mixed at best:

    "Basically sand away your hair and it kind of sucks." – Caller Chris (09:28)

• Oreck Vacuum
  • Dismissed as ineffective:

    "The Oreck vacuum sucks." – Co-host Melissa (11:04)

  • Birch jokes, asking if it can pick up a bowling ball like the ad shows. (11:04)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On gift etiquette:

  "Another woman at the party opened up the Ped Egg and began using it... and then announced that it works really well and gave it back to the rightful owner." – Host Birch (06:38)

• On infomercial translation programs:

  "How the hell is that possible? But they're selling it so well that I'm like, maybe I should get my hands on this thing. One hour, you can learn Spanish?" – Melissa (03:12)

• On cleaning gadget disappointment:

  "That thing sucks. You have to get so up on it to do it. And it's more time trying to get, like, one spot than it would take you to clean it with, like, a toothbrush." – Caller Kai (07:32)

• On miracle tanning mishap:

  "He applies the tanning cream all over his body, and instead, it turned him purple." – Caller Lee (10:26)

Notable Products Mentioned & Reviews

| Product | Verdict / Comments | Timestamp | |-------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Snuggie | Popular, hard to find, often gifted, fun commercial | 00:22–04:46| | Shirt Folding Board | Works, but too much hassle | 01:54 | | Rosetta Stone | Legit but expensive; unused by hosts | 03:22 | | Slider Maker | Looks cool, but not worth it | 04:02, 11:09| | Ped Egg | Works well, but sanitation issues at parties | 05:32, 06:38| | Ove Glove | Highly recommended for all-purpose kitchen use | 06:25 | | Shark Super Steamer | Disappointing; ineffective for deep cleaning | 07:19 | | Ab Vibrating Belt | Doesn’t work, just heats you | 07:56, 08:18| | Aqua Globes | Good for plants, but mixed reviews | 08:30–09:16| | Smooth Away Hair Remover| Doesn’t work well; “sands” skin | 09:28 | | Miracle Tanning Cream | Disaster—turned user purple | 09:54–10:36| | Oreck Vacuum | Dismissed as ineffective | 11:04 |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:17–01:11: Snuggie commercial aired and discussion
• 01:48–02:39: Anecdotes about laundry gadgets
• 02:39–03:44: Language learning products (infomercial Spanish, Rosetta Stone)
• 04:02–04:27: Kitchen gadgets (slider maker)
• 04:28–05:16: Chia Pet, pet grass, Snuggie demand
• 05:32–06:33: Ped Egg, Ove Glove gifting story
• 07:19–07:49: Shark Super Steamer review
• 07:56–08:28: Ab Belt stories
• 08:30–09:42: Aqua Globes, Smooth Away, bulk shopping
• 09:54–10:42: Tanning cream gone wrong
• 11:04–11:16: Quick fire reviews: Total Gym, Oreck Vacuum, Slider Maker

Tone & Style

The conversation is authentic, quick-witted, and playfully self-deprecating—true to The Bert Show's morning radio vibe. Hosts and callers bond over the shared follies and small victories of buying “too good to be true” products, adding sincere and outrageous anecdotes that keep the tone light and relatable.

Bottom Line

If you’ve ever wondered about the real stories behind those late-night TV pitch products, this episode of The Bert Show delivers with laughter, honesty, and a little collective commiseration. Whether you’re a gadget enthusiast or an infomercial skeptic, you'll relate to the wins, fails, and memorable moments brought to the air by both hosts and listeners.