The infomercial business is full of contradictions. The business has long been derided as the province of overwrought pitchmen hawking dubious merchandise. On the other hand, infomercial producers ...

Who said the carnival barker was dead? Sure, tents and traveling fairs may be a thing of the past, but pitchmen with overactive lungs are experiencing a renaissance--on television infomercials.

According to the DMA, electronics is one of the best-selling infomercial categories, but cleaning products also do well, along with anything that will make you "rich, thin, or beautiful"--all industry ...