Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends Season 2 Episode 1 Infomercials

Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends is a British documentary show which explores unusual subcultures and communities around the world. In season 2 episode 1, titled "Infomercials," Louis delves into the world of television infomercials and the people behind them.

Louis begins by attending a pitchfest in Las Vegas, where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their product ideas to potential investors. He meets a variety of inventors, ranging from a man who has developed a device that can decode a cat's meows to a woman who has created a self-inflating baby bath. Louis watches as these inventors attempt to convince investors to back their product by performing slick and often cringe-worthy presentations.

Next, Louis visits an infomercial production company in Tampa, Florida, where he meets the people responsible for creating and producing the popular late-night infomercials that flood our television screens. He speaks with the producers, directors, and actors who work tirelessly to sell various products, from exercise equipment to kitchen gadgets. He discovers that the goal is not just to sell a product, but to create a memorable and entertaining advertisement that will stick in viewers' minds. He also observes a live infomercial taping, where he sees the tedious and often repetitive process of filming multiple takes of the same scene, all for the sake of perfecting a 30-second spot.

Throughout the episode, Louis meets a variety of people who have been impacted by infomercials, both positively and negatively. He speaks with a woman who purchased a sketching tutorial infomercial and credits it with turning her into a successful artist. He also speaks with a man who admits to regularly buying products on infomercials, despite never using half of them. Louis also meets a man who used to be an infomercial pitchman and reveals the tactics he used to sell products as well as the downside of the cut-throat industry.

Overall, "Infomercials" takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the world of television infomercials, exploring both the entertaining and often ridiculous ways products are sold to the public. Through his interviews and observations, Louis sheds light on the people behind the infomercials and the impact they have on society. The episode serves as a reminder to be skeptical of the claims made by infomercials, and to always do research before making a purchase.