Sharpware

Description: A knife and sharpening sheath
Main Pitch: "The revolutionary knife that sharpens itself for life"
Main Offer: $14.99 for the Santoku knife, pairing knife & carving knife with sheaths
Bonus: Four steak knives with sheaths (just pay a separate fee)
Marketer: Telebrands
Website: www.SharpwareKnives.com
Prediction: Likely to succeed

The benefits of having a sharp knife are clear, but that hasn't helped the many knife sharpeners that have been tested find success. Among the many failures, one type of sharpener rolled out. It was called Edge of Glory by Telebrands and Samurai Pro by SAS. But my impression is both items were mediocre retail sellers at best, and who knows what the overall CPOs ultimately looked like.

That said, knives have fared much better on DRTV (see AeroKnife and Yoshi Blade), and knife sets have a long and storied history in our industry. As a result, this one has a good shot. It certainly presents an excellent value proposition.

Shogun Steamer

Description: A microwave steamer
Main Pitch: "Enjoy all the flavors and healthy benefits [of steaming] from your microwave in just minutes"
Main Offer: $19.95 for one with recipe guide
Bonus: 2nd one with recipe guide (just pay P&H), Cut N Cup (free)
Marketer: Allstar
Producer: Blue Moon
Website: www.ShogunSteamer.com
Prediction: On the fence

I'm conflicted about this category. Back when I reviewed the first version of this product, Magic Meal, I was convinced the microwave was dead. Since then, two microwave items made my True Top Spenders of 2013: Telebrands' Stone Wave (a name I just learned was 'borrowed' from Emson, which had a hit by the same name in 1998) and Ontel's Potato Express. Suddenly the microwave isn't looking so dead after all.

This is also a better positioning of the product (the "modern version of a timeless classic" angle has worked for Blue Moon before), and the pitch has more credibility. The Magic Meal focused on two-tier cooking, suggesting one could microwave spaghetti sauce and noodles in the same pot and have them both come out perfectly. Anyone who has ever heated spaghetti sauce in a microwave knows this is a ridiculous claim: The noodles would explode and then vaporize before the sauce even broke room temperature.

Also: Unlike the Stone Wave, which was apparently designed by anorexics for sad people who eat alone, this product can prepare enough food to feed a family. (Although the Stone Wave commercial solves that problem by mainly focusing on apps and desserts and also by making a clever pitch for multiple units.)

All of that said, I still have lingering doubts about the microwave I can't shake, so I'm unable to go beyond 50/50 on my prediction for this project.

Liftdini

Description: A lifting tool
Main Pitch: "Takes the bending and straining out of lifting"
Main Offer: $19.99 for one
Bonus: 2nd one (just pay a separate fee)
Marketer: Telebrands
Website: www.Liftdini.com
Prediction: Unlikely to succeed

"End the bend" has never really worked as a DR pitch. Even items in this general category -- such as the late, great Billy Mays' Magic Carry from 2007 (No. 3 in this Weekly Round-Up) -- have failed.

The only item close to this one that had some success was Forearm Forklift, but as far as I can tell there is a key difference between that product and this one: Forearm Forklift helped people lift heavier weight than they normally could. With this item, it seems you'll still have to be able to pick up 50 pounds to lift 50 pounds.

Push 2.0

Description: A hose connector
Main Pitch: "Transforms your old, tired, outdoor faucet into a simple, push-button solution"
Main Offer: $10 for one
Bonus: 2nd one (just pay P&H)
Marketer: Allstar
Producer: Bluewater
Website: www.Push2-0.com
Prediction: On the fence

This is a cool item and a solid commercial. My only concern is seasonality, but that didn't stop Snap-2-O (from which this name was taken) from being a success.

Strapless Secret

Description: A strapless, backless bra
Main Pitch: "Coverage and security without sacrificing style"
Main Offer: $19.99 for one in nude or black
Bonus: 2nd one (just pay P&H)
Marketer: Ontel
Producer: Hutton-Miller
Website: www.StraplessSecret.com
Prediction: On the fence

Telebrands' Natural Bra was a solid hit of the last decade. An attempt to bring the concept back with a new twist in 2010 flopped, but Tristar has apparently acquired the project and is trying again. It's called Beauty Cups. (My original review is here, and the Web site is here.)

Not sure if this should be considered a duel or what, but the Hutton-Miller commercial is definitely the better of the two. In any case, I like both products and think they have a shot at success, but I also have doubts about the viewer's ability to suspend disbelief and wonder about the availability of similar solutions.