RIP Ron Popiel

[George K]

https://nypost.com/2021/07/28/ron-popeil-set-it-and-forget-it-infomercial-star-dead-at-86/

He told you to “Set it and forget it,” but the world will never forget Ron Popeil.

Popeil, an inventor and the face of infomercials for “as-seen-on-TV” products like Showtime Rotisserie and Pocket Fisherman, has died. He was 86.

His family told TMZ that Popeil had a medical emergency on Tuesday and died Wednesday morning surrounded by family at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Popeil was best known for the “Set it and forget it” catchphrase used to sell Showtime Rotisserie in late-night infomercials. Long before air fryers became the kitchen appliance du jour, the countertop rotisserie appliance took the home cooking world by storm, having sold over $1 billion worth, TMZ reported.

The mogul is credited with coining the oft-used infomercial phrase, “But wait, there’s more!” But the same can be said about Popeil, who was more than an infomercial guy.

He created the entire concept.

[George K]

From Wikipedia: "Popeil initially operated as a distributor of his father's kitchen products "

I met his father (Sam, iirc) when I was a medical student on the neurology service.