Elizabeth Schreckenberg

Everyone I know has a Snuggie.

My dad bought one for my mom. My friend bought one for his dog. My editor bought one for herself. I was intrigued to know what's so special about the body blanket with sleeves, so I tried it on. And then I went into my closet and put on my robe - backward, and sat on the couch. It felt just like a Snuggie.

So what made all these people go out and spend $20 on something they could find hanging on a hook in their bathroom? I pulled up the infomercial for the Snuggie on the As Seen On TV web site, and got it. A woman is all cozy on the couch, covered from chin to toe in a cozy blanket. Then, the phone rings. The poor woman has to exert SO much effort to pull her arms ALL the way out of the blanket to answer the phone - what a pain! There MUST be some way that she could stay completely covered while sticking her arms out to answer the phone, change the channel on the remote or read a book. Alas, in the next scene she has the Snuggie, and her life has been made SO much easier because it allows her to use her hands while staying covered. And of course, everyone else watching HAS to have it!

Jeff Reitz, Store Manager of Walgreens in Columbia, said people are constantly coming in to find something they saw on T.V.

"Most people believe what they see," said Reitz. "Even before we get a new 'As Seen on TV' product on the shelf, they come in and say they have to have it, either for themselves or as a gift for someone who has everything else."

Reitz said all the A.S.O.T.V. products are popular each Christmas season. Let's take a look at some of these items (not all available in stores) to see if they'd make a good gift for you or someone you know.

THE CLASSICS

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia. Remember how popular Chia Pets were 20 years ago? Well they're still out there, but now they're available in even more varieties. Chia Scooby Doo, Chia Garfield, and even, that's right ...Chia Obama. You can grow his hair right before your very eyes. Imagine the excitement when an aspiring politician gets his hands on this.

The Clapper is an invention that screams convenience - and laziness. When you're laying in bed reading a book and you get so sleepy that you can't possibly turn to your bedside lamp to turn it off, all you have to do is clap and you're instantly in total darkness. It sounds silly, but Reitz said each holiday season, the Clappers fly off the shelves, and don't often get returned.

I had never heard of the Flowbee, but apparently it was a popular infomercial item back in the '80s and is still being sold today. My friend Krista said her mom purchased this contraption years ago that hooked up to a vacuum cleaner to - um - cut hair. The result was a uniform bowl-type cut, which Krista referred to as the "Dumb and Dumber" look. As Seen On TV has stopped selling the product, but someone out there is keeping them in business. (Look around and see if you can figure it out!)

The NEW STUFF

On the infomercial, a girl is standing in front of her mirror, screaming at the sight of boring, flat hair (which was very popular a few months ago, as I recall). She puts a Bumpits in and suddenly her hair is full of body - and she's happy! Bumpits is a plastic comb -available in brown, black, or blonde - that is tucked in under the hair at the scalp to make it look more volumized. Many ladies have bought them and love them, claiming they are great for formal do's or just for going out at night. But one friend told me hers "looked like a tumor" on the back of her head. Try it and see which result you get.

Strap Perfect is a tiny little invention that's making big sales. The "Ultimate Bra Strap Solution" is a small plastic clasp that pins bra straps together to allow you to wear racer- back and other non-bra-friendly tops. It also claims to give you an instant lift and at least one cup-size upgrade. May sound too good to be true, but for some of us, it's worth a shot.

Remember the Epilady? Guaranteed to give you smooth legs for weeks, but only because it ripped each hair, agonizingly, from the root. Well for all you brave girls out there, Tweeze claims to do the same for your face. Just roll it over your upper lip, chin or eyebrows and you don't have to deal with waxing for weeks.

Reitz said other popular A.S.O.T.V. sellers are the PedEgg, which gently shaves dead skin off your feet and saves the shavings in a convenient egg; the Draft Guard, which prevents cold air from coming under your door; and the One Touch Can Opener, great for those with arthritic hands. He also said PediPaws, a painless nail trimmer for pets, is a big hit.

ARE YOUR SERIOUS?

I hate to be skeptical, but the one product I can't bring myself to believe in is the Neckline Slimmer. In just two minutes a day, this neck exerciser claims to reduce a double chin and redefine your profile. A "doctor" on T.V. says by giving the neck muscles a resistance workout, it's possible to tone them up and get rid of that saggy look. If you want to try it, go ahead. Just steer clear of wrapping it up as a gift to your mother-in-law.

To find unique gift ideas or just to watch tons of comical infomercials, visit AsSeenonTV.com