1 | [[quoteright:307:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/headon_6492.jpg]] |
2 | [[caption-width-right:307:[[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment HeadOn, apply directly to the forehead.]]]] |
3 | |
4 | A "medical" product known for its [[{{Straightforward}} annoyingly simple commercial]]. Literally, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_SwD7RveNE entire commercial]] was as follows: |
5 | |
6 | -->''[=HeadOn=], apply directly to the forehead.\ |
7 | [=HeadOn=], apply directly to the forehead.\ |
8 | [=HeadOn=], apply directly to the forehead.\ |
9 | [=HeadOn=] is available without a prescription at retailers nationwide.'' |
10 | |
11 | The notorious advertisement, which first aired in June 2006, stemmed from Better Business Bureau objections to the earlier ads' claims of "fast, safe, effective" headache relief. |
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13 | Sold as a "homeopathic remedy", the product is actually a wax stick that (obviously) does absolutely nothing when applied to the forehead. In other words, it's a scam, or as the late skeptic and illusionist James Randi puts it, "a major medical swindle"! The "active" ingredients are two types of poisonous flowers and a carcinogen, but don't be concerned; as per norm with homeopathy, they are diluted to ''parts per trillion''. You probably encounter higher doses of things sitting on your couch breathing. |
14 | |
15 | Basically, when you tell people that you use [=HeadOn=], you're telling them that you're just rubbing wax with dangerous stuff in it on your head, making yourself look silly in the process (because when viewed from a distance, it looks like you're intentionally rubbing a gluestick on your forehead). |
16 | |
17 | The product was eventually discontinued during the early-2010s for reasons unknown. |
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19 | ---- |
20 | !!Tropes, apply directly to the forehead. |
21 | * AsbestosFreeCereal: “Available without a prescription!” This is true of many effective over-the-counter medications… it’s also true of most other things that aren’t medicine, like candles. |
22 | * BeigeProse: What does this product actually ''do?'' It's an EnforcedTrope: Since it's just a stick of wax that has absolutely nothing clinically proven to cure anything, they are not legally allowed to say that ''it does anything at all.'' |
23 | * BrokenRecord: [=HeadOn=], apply directly to the forehead. |
24 | * DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: [=HeadOn=], apply directly to the forehead. |
25 | * ExactWords: You'll notice that they don't actually specify in the commercials that the product is intended as a headache cure. [[EnforcedTrope This is because the FCC forbids them from making a claim like that]] without proof it works -- so instead they tell you to "apply directly to the forehead" and hope you'll come up with your own reasons as to why you should do that. |
26 | * OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope: The unusual format of the ad was caused by obligations not to claim that [=HeadOn=] actually worked. |
27 | * OurSloganIsTerrible: Later iterations of the commercial, probably aware of its MemeticMutation status, had it humorously interrupted by a spokesperson who complained about how annoying the commercial was-- but they still loved the product! |
28 | * RuleOfThree: The announcer says "[=HeadOn=], apply directly to the forehead" three times, since repeating things that many times helps audiences remember something. |
29 | * SelfDeprecation: Eventually they wised up to the mass's opinions about the commercial and had it get cut off for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRb3w6e0W9I someone to come in]] and [[LampshadeHanging point out how annoying they are]], but still commending the product. |
30 | * {{Straightforward}}: Its ads merely repeat the phrase "[=HeadOn=]! Apply directly to the forehead" over and over. For those wondering, the reason it's advertised this way is that it's mostly a placebo, so truth in advertising laws prevent them from saying anything that would make you want to buy it. |
31 | * ViewersAreGoldfish: The ad repeats to apply the product directly to the forehead without taking into consideration that perhaps just saying it once might work just as well. |
32 | * WhatWereTheySellingAgain: The ad mentions that [=HeadOn=] is applied directly to the forehead, but it doesn't explain ''what'' it is, or ''why'' you'd want to do it. It's actually intended as a headache relief medicine, but due to the lack of actual medicine, giving more details about the product would go against [[EnforcedTrope the FCC's rules against making unproven medical claims]]. |
33 | |
34 | ---- |
35 | ->[[SpeechBubblesInterruption HeadOn, I HATE your commercial! But I LOVE your product.]] |
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