# Enzyte Commercials - why are they still being aired?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [September 13, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116 "2011-09-13T00:19:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/1 "2011-09-13T00:19:03Z")
Even though Steve Warshak has admitted (in vague terms) that enzyte is a scam, and [has been sentenced to prison,](http://consumerist.com/2008/08/whos-smiling-now-enzyte-scammer-gets-25-years-in-prison.html) this useless product is still advertised on later-night TV. Granted that most shows I watch are DVRed so that I skip most commercials, there are still times I’m watching something live at night and can’t skip over Enzyte Bob.
So, why the @!#?@! is it still being hawked?
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### Author:  [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/2 "2011-09-13T02:27:04Z")
Wow, I had no idea. Is the CEO the same guy as in the commercials?
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### Author:  [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/3 "2011-09-13T03:07:30Z")
Wikipedia has the [story](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyte). Warshak was convicted of credit card fraud for improperly billing his customers, and the company went into bankruptcy. Someone bought the rights and is now selling it with slightly different advertising.
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### Author:  [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/4 "2011-09-13T03:42:59Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#):
>
> Wikipedia has the [story](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyte). Warshak was convicted of credit card fraud for improperly billing his customers, and the company went into bankruptcy.
I guess he’s not sporting that famous shit-eating grin these days, then.
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/5 "2011-09-13T06:31:08Z")
In prison, _he’s_ the Enzyte.
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### Author:  [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/6 "2011-09-13T06:59:09Z")
From the wiki:
> [@](#):
>
> His company, Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, along with other defendants, **was ordered to forfeit $500 million.**
Holy crap, that’s a lot of suckers!
To answer the OP, I haven’t seen the commercials recently, but I imagine the new owners aren’t making any claims, but are instead relying on all the previous marketing claims still ingrained in people’s memories from the formerly incessant advertisements. Pretty devious, but hey…$500million - you can’t argue with the results!
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### Author:  [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/7 "2011-09-13T11:19:23Z")
They _are_ still using the phrase “male enhancement”, which legally doesn’t mean anything. :dubious:
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### Author:  [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/8 "2011-09-13T13:19:57Z")
I’ve seen them aired recently. I kind of like the commercials; Smilin’ Bob’s smugness is so over-the-top it’s hysterical.
If you read the link in the OP, apparently the main reason the scam made money was by requiring users to admit they were “underenhanced”:
> [@](#):
>
> According to federal prosecutors the scam involved preying on customer’s reluctance to admit that they had ordered the “male enhancement” pills. Customers ordered the pills, but were unable to cancel or get a refund. A former VP of the company testified that Warshak required customers to provide notarized documents from a doctor proving that they had small genitals in order to get a refund.
_“That’s gold, Jerry! Gold!”_
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/9 "2011-09-13T13:58:38Z")
> [@Sailboat](#):
>
> I’ve seen them aired recently. I kind of like the commercials; Smilin’ Bob’s smugness is so over-the-top it’s hysterical.
What’s semi-hysterical is the Google ad at the bottom of the page for Axe deodorant.
Guess we know who’s buying _that_ stuff.
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### Author:  [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/10 "2011-09-13T14:16:04Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> What’s semi-hysterical is the Google ad at the bottom of the page for Axe deodorant.
>
> Guess we know who’s buying _that_ stuff.
Minor hijack: I have gotten the impression on this board that there is something amusing about Axe products. Can you explain that to me? I don’t think I have seen any of their marketing.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/11 "2011-09-13T14:40:18Z")
> [@Crotalus](#):
>
> Minor hijack: I have gotten the impression on this board that there is something amusing about Axe products. Can you explain that to me? I don’t think I have seen any of their marketing.
Axe is a line of scented body care products - body wash, deodorant, body spray (a dilute cologne), etc. They have very over-the-top ads aimed at young men, showing women figuratively and literally throwing themselves at men who use the Axe products. There also seems to be a correlation between how much of the product is used and how many women grab the guy. Encouraging stinky teen guys to use lots of body wash, a scrubber, and deodorant is good. Encouraging them to spray body spray all over after engaging in sports/BMX biking/etc.? Not so much.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/12 "2011-09-13T14:44:14Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#):
>
> Encouraging them to spray body spray all over after engaging in sports/BMX biking/etc.? Not so much.
I coach high school track/cross country. You should smell the bus after a meet. :eek: I’d rather be on a bus full of old women than smell that Axe crap.
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### Author:  [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/13 "2011-09-13T14:45:46Z")
People are suckers, what’s new? I can easily believe it that people still buy this cap. It’s sad but it will never change.
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### Author:  [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/14 "2011-09-13T14:51:08Z")
> [@Crotalus](#):
>
> Minor hijack: I have gotten the impression on this board that there is something amusing about Axe products. Can you explain that to me? I don’t think I have seen any of their marketing.
Axe commercials are based on a ridiculously over-the-top portrayal of their product as a magic potion that will instantly turn women into rutting beasts.
Edit: Darn ninjas…
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/15 "2011-09-13T15:03:31Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#):
>
> People are suckers, what’s new? I can easily believe it that people still buy this cap.
Well, putting a hat on it may make it _look_ taller.
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### Author:  [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/16 "2011-09-13T15:22:36Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> Well, putting a hat on it may make it _look_ taller.
My dear god! I think you just stumbled upon a whole new market of male enhancement thanks to my spelling error! Think of how many guys would pay for penis caps!
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### Author:  [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/17 "2011-09-13T15:58:03Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#):
>
> My dear god! I think you just stumbled upon a whole new market of male enhancement thanks to my spelling error! Think of how many guys would pay for penis caps!
You want I should pay you to bust a cap in my penis ?! Nuh-huh ! :eek:
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/18 "2011-09-13T16:33:52Z")
I dunno. Same reason some men in this world, who can choose between laboratory-tested Viagra and powdered rhinoceros horn – which has no lab-proven effectiveness, AFAIK, but does derive from something shaped more or less like an erect penis – will buy the latter.
I mean, if you’re gonna take that approach, eat a banana. It’s cheaper, it’s easier to get, it has potassium in it, and no endangered animal has to die.
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/19 "2011-09-13T18:15:15Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> I dunno. Same reason some men in this world, who can choose between laboratory-tested Viagra and powdered rhinoceros horn – which has no lab-proven effectiveness, AFAIK, but does derive from something shaped more or less like an erect penis – will buy the latter.
When I’m CEO of Big Pharma, all the erectile dysfunction pills will be shaped like cocks. Maybe then we’ll _finally_ start seeing a little profit.
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### Author:  [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyte-commercials-why-are-they-still-being-aired/596116/20 "2011-09-13T18:21:27Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#):
>
> When I’m CEO of Big Pharma, all the erectile dysfunction pills will be shaped like cocks. Maybe then we’ll _finally_ start seeing a little profit.
Good luck getting a bunch of men to swollow your cocks!
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