Chef Tony

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Anthony "Chef Tony" Notaro
Chef Tony
Occupation	infomercial pitchman

Anthony "Chef Tony" Notaro is a successful infomercial pitchman. Notaro is not a chef as his nickname would suggest. Since his beginnings in the 1970s he has risen to become one of the most successful infomercial hosts in history.

1 Career
2 Products
3 Ultimate Chopper recall
4 Notes

[edit] Career

Notaro began his career in 1971 as a professional demonstrator on the streets of New York City. In 1982, Tony wrote and appeared in the Mouli Slicer commercial, one of the early short-form direct-response spots. He subsequently pioneered marketing and demonstration techniques for many more short form products. In 1994, one of the industry’s first infomercials, The Kitchen Wizard, was scripted and demonstrated by Notaro. "Brown and Crisp Microwave bags" won him a nomination for "Best Infomercial" in the Houseware category from the Electronic Retailers Association^{[citation needed]}. In 1996, Notaro was voted one of the top ten male presenters in the world by Electronic Retailers Association members (the industry trade association)^{[citation needed]}. In 2002, he was awarded his industry’s highest honor, the E.R.A. "TV Host of the Year Award" for his Miracle Blade 3 infomercial^{[citation needed]}. He has grossed multi millions for the companies that have sponsored him. ^[1]

[edit] Products

He is most noted for selling the patented Miracle Blades. "Over 12 million Miracle Blade knives have been sold since 1989" claims the website, but relevant statistical evidence is not given that supports this claim as versions of the Miracle Blade have been around since the 1970s. These are stamped-blade knives with curved handles designed to allow greater clearance for the fingers beneath the handle. They are sold in sets only, with the main culinary blades being the Rock and Chop (resembles a santoku with a highly curved edge) and the Chop and Scoop (resembles a Chinese cleaver). Reports vary on the quality of the knives; common complaints are that they rust easily and dull quickly, though reviewers have praised the Rock and Chop in particular. During some ads for the Miracle Blade set, he is shown throwing a pineapple in the air and cutting it in two with a Miracle Blade knife.^[2].

Tony also endorses the Ultimate Chopper (in an infomercial co-hosted by Jenilee Harrison) with 750 watts of "mega-power" that, on TV, has the power to powderize concrete. He also endorses Smartware bakeware, which is made of non-stick "Temperflex" silicone.

Tony has sold the following products, with claimed sales in excess of $450 million dollars worldwide:

Short Form:

Mouli Slicer
Multi Disc
Speed Bits
Easy Iron
Du Amici Pasta Light
Pasta Express
MicroSmart
Rotato Express

Long Form:

Kitchen Wizard Slicer
Brown & Crisp Bags
Mighty Pro Grill
Miracle Blade 3
Ultimate Chopper
Smartware
My Rotisserie
Smart Lidz

[edit] Ultimate Chopper recall

In 2005, a recall was announced for the Ultimate Chopper due to a malfunction in the interlocking lid assembly, which would allow the machine to run without having the lid properly in place, putting users of the product at risk of lacerations and/or fingertip amputation if consumers insert their hands into the food processor. Allegedly, 17 consumers issued safety complaints with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Five of the complainants required stitches or surgery, and the other 12 received cuts or scratches. ^[3]