Really Bad Weight Loss Ads called Ayds

I know what you are saying - Oh no, they didn't! Remember that South Park episode, Jarred Has Aides? This is the one where the creators indulge in a humor via wordplay. So everyone thinks Jarred has HIV-related illness whereas what he actually means that he uses supplements to lose weight? Oh boy. It was one of those cringe-worthy ones and I didn't think I would come across something worse than that. And what do you know, I did! That's where this weight loss product called Ayds comes in. I bet the South Park guys were inspired by this ad when they wrote that episode. If not, am guessing they will get a kick out of this one.

South Park

I found another infomercial about Ayds and …. it just got worse. In this one you have a man who looks suspiciously like Gordon Brown listing the merits of this product. To top it off, his dialogue befits some of Brown's goof ups. The worst line of the lot? “Why take diet pills when you can enjoy Ayds”. Alright, that's it, South Park guys must have seen this ad. Seriously guys, surely Aids was a big issue then, when this infomercial was released? It was in the 80s when it was getting coverage, right? Not quite so. According to their Wiki page, it was a popular product before AIDS received major coverage.

I am guessing this is when there was more awareness about the illness. Notice how the folks refer to the products as Ayds cubes and Ayds pills? Well, they do mess up and call it an Ayds plan right at the end. By the way, after going through 3 versions of this ad, I must say that they scare me quite a bit. Not the shoddily done ads themselves (you know, typical wooden acting etc.). But rather, it worries me that a lot of folks were buying diet pills, ones that are spelled in a dodgy manner no less. How cheesy can it get?

When I said wooden acting earlier, I didn't realise that I would be taking back my harsh statement. Oh no, those guys weren't so bad. They weren't that wooden. Rather, this woman is. She takes the cake (hah, or Ayds pill) where bad acting is concerned. Care to put in a little bit more effort into reading your lines? Oh my word, or is that what happens when you take too much diet pills? You lose the will to speak enthusiastically?

Oh man. Here's another gem. Watch out for 'Ayds helps put me in control'. Another facepalm moment there. You know, have you noticed the number of times the presenter has commented on how safe the product is? How it contains nothing that can 'make you nervous'? Wait, what? Should folks be worried about that? By the way, Mr Don't Worry Guy, it doesn't help your case that the female presenter sounds a bit like a caffeinated squirrel. You know the type that runs about frantically and looking ... for ... nuts. Not the best analogy but you know what I mean … I hope.