20 from 20/20: Surprising Celebrity Infomercials
Some of your favorite celebs have been infomercial pitchmen and women.
May 18, 2011 — -- Young stars, older stars, movie stars, sports stars -- infomercials have attracted a galaxy of celebrities, notably "Three's Company" alumna Suzanne Somers, now of Thighmaster fame, and George Foreman, the boxing great behind the George Foreman Grill. But some product-pushing celebs have managed to fly a bit more under the radar, whether they meant to or not. Check out 20 of the more surprising famous faces that have appeared in infomercials.
Watch the full story on the latest episode of "20/20."
2. Alex Trebek: Answer: What is WordSmart? (Question: The vocabulary-building product line "Jeopardy" host Alex Trebek signed on to represent in infomercials this year.)
3. Elisabeth Hasselbeck: She's known as the conservative member of a cabal of chatty ladies on "The View," but in her infomercial for the "Ab Glider," Hasselbeck, in a sports bra, lets her physique do the talking.
4. Cheryl Burke: Sweating through vigorous dance numbers apparently isn't enough to help "Dancing With the Stars" pro Cheryl Burke keep off the pounds. Burke endorses Fullfast Appetite Control Spray, a mouth spray designed to ward off hunger.
6. Judith Light, 7. Brooke Shields, 8. Alicia Keys and 9. Vanessa Williams: What do a 1980s sitcom "Boss," a beauty icon, a Grammy-winning singer and one of the "Desperate Housewives" have in common? All have pitched for the anti-acne product Proactiv, a brand known for securing million-dollar deals with celebs.
10. Leeza Gibbons: Given how many hours Leeza Gibbons has sat in front of TV cameras, she should know a thing or two about makeup. She lends her name -- and ageless face -- to Sheer Cover mineral makeup, claiming "Sheer Cover makes you look like you have nothing to hide."
11. Susan Lucci: She may have become famous entertaining couch potatoes, but in her endorsement of Malibu Pilates, Emmy-award winning soaps star Susan Lucci urges you "to get off the couch." Lucci is also the face of her own skin care line, Youthful Essence.
12. Victoria Principal: "Dallas" alumna Victoria Principal hasn't just appeared in infomercials for her skin care line Principal Secret -- she's also produced them, with her work winning her a 1995 award from what was then known as the National Infomercial Marketing Association.
14. Dan Marino: A career in professional football doesn't make you immune to weight gain. Football great Dan Marino, who appears in Nutrisystem infomercials, said the weight loss brand helped him get back to his 1983 weight, when he was a quarterback for the Miami Dolphins.
15. Chuck Norris, 16.Wesley Snipes and 17.Christie Brinkley: The two action stars and the supermodel all endorse Total Gym in infomercials, with Norris and Snipes calling it the only piece of home gym equipment they'll ever use.
18. Vivica Fox: After appearing on Season 3 of "Dancing With the Stars," actress Vivica Fox kept dancing through Zumba Fitness. Thanks to the dance exercise regimen, her "booty rose up a level," she said in a Zumba infomercial.