It’s the 70th anniversary of TV’s first infomercial. In 1950 the legendary Vitamix blender was promoted in an extended TV ad that became the mockable model for selling Ginsu knives, George Foreman Grills and, it turns out, presidential candidates in 2020. Over four nights last week, Democrats mounted a “virtual convention” that was light on info, but had all the tedium of a commercial. The Republican version starts Monday night.

Source: Wall Street Journal August 23, 2020 20:37 UTC