Yesterday, after receiving Trickey’s challenge to tie-in the fetus-eating abortionist with Christopher Reeve, I decided I had to break out some South Park episodes I have on VHS (Yes, I mean video cassette tapes. No I still don’t have TiVo or anything similar) from last year. Every single commercial break (because they aren’t automatically deleted) had ads with Smiling Bob hawking Enzyte.
Out of curiosity, I asked The Lounge yesterday around 1 PM.
Until last weekend, the last I heard about the company was that they were being sued by most of the states for misleading advertising. Last weekend, when I was driving in either Kentucky or West Virginia, I heard commercials on the radio.
Anybody know what’s up with this?
Of course I followed up the query with the obligatory joke about the Penis Mightier.
Anyway, in a fit a perfect timing, I found the answer.
States hope to put frown on ‘Smiling Bob’s’ face
The Associated Press
Updated: 6:04 p.m. ET June 15, 2005DALLAS - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott joined five other states Wednesday filing suit against an Ohio businessman known for his “Smiling Bob” television advertisements that tout supplements for “natural male enhancement.”
The Texas lawsuit, filed in Dallas County district court, accuses Cincinnati-based businessman Steve Warshak of deceiving consumers with supplements that haven’t been tested or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. They include Enzyte, Warshak’s original product for “natural male enhancement.”
[...]
His five companies sell 15 products for ailments such as insomnia, fatigue, memory loss and failing vision. TV ads for Enzyte feature a grinning everyman, “Smiling Bob,” who sails through life, presumably because of the product.Abbott alleged that free trial offers of the drugs are a ruse to obtain credit card information. He said the company never tells consumers that they will continue to be billed after a 30-day free trial unless they cancel future orders first. The company also made it difficult for consumers to stop the billings, Abbott said.
The radio commercial touts the success of the supplement, in part, based on its high rate of reorder. Apparently we now know why repeat sales are so high.
“We believe this businessman is duping consumers on two fronts,” Abbott said.
The lawsuit seeks $25,000 per violation of the Texas Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, $20,000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act as well as an injunction to stop Warshak’s practices.
The Texas case was filed concurrently with similar lawsuits in Arkansas, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina and Oregon.
There it is, folks. Ask and ye shall receive… Unless you are trying to mighty your penis. Then you’re SOL.
Glass raised to Coalition of the Swilling, once again.
Dammit, I was thinking of going to the doctor and checking this stuff out. Guess have to remain loyal to the alcohol methods rather than relying on my own attributes.