O'Reilly and the Age of Persuasion
Encyclopedia
The Age of Persuasion is a Canadian
radio program, which has been airing on CBC Radio One
since 2006. A sequel to the earlier O'Reilly on Advertising
, the series is hosted by Terry O'Reilly
and explores the sociological and cultural impact of advertising
on modern life.
Each episode uses humour and numerous excerpts from historical radio broadcasts and commercials to make its point.
As of January 2011, new episodes are broadcast on:
Many episodes are available in streaming mp3 format from the program's CBC website. Some are available in podcast form at the unofficial site CBC Podcasts. On December 24, 2010 the Age of Persuasion blog announced that the CBC would be podcasting the show starting in January 2011.
The show's creators, Terry O'Reilly and Mike Tennant, have released a book: The Age of Persuasion: How Marketing Ate Our Culture, (Knopf Canada & Vintage Paperbacks). The book is published in the United States by Counterpoint Press.
On 10 March 2010, co-writer and producer Mike Tennant announced he is leaving the show after the 4th season.
NOTES: Items in italics are repeated, often from earlier seasons.
.
/ Don't be a square / The only thing we have to fear is... / (clip) / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / Oh, the humanity! / Chops, dices, minces / Yeeeargh!
/ It's that simple.
/ "I wanna bottle of Coca-Cola
!" "Sonny..." / That's a spicy meat-a-ball!
/ Hey, great, a toothpaste should fight cavities / I can't believe I ate that whole... / (clip) / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / Ho,ho,ho / Hoo-hoo!
/ Mamma mia! / There you go again
.
/ "Another cup of Maxwell House
coffee, George
?" "Sure, pour me a cup, Gracie
!" / Hoo-wah! / "Hello, I'm a Mac," "And I'm a PC!"
"Whooooo!" "Whoo!" / The only thing we have to fear is... / (clip) / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / Bromo-Seltzer
, Bromo-Seltzer, Bromo-Seltzer... / Got milk?
/ Don't leave home without it
/ Isn't that amazing?
/ It's the fishing invention of the century
/ This is only a test
/ It's Patrick, he took out life insurance / I'm not only the Hair Club
president, I'm also a client / The only thing we have to fear is... / (clip) / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / Takes a licking and keeps on ticking / He likes it! Hey, Mikey!
/ Yes! We! Can!
/ Tacos... fettuccine, linguine, martini, bikini / Wow, what's that aftershave you're wearing? / Cough suppressant as effective as codeine, but not narcotic
/ It'll keep your kids quiet for hours
/ Tonight's episode brought to you by / (clip) / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / We are not afraid to get mavericky in there
/ Ha-ha-ha-haaa / Thank you for your support
.
(Season 5)
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
radio program, which has been airing on CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
since 2006. A sequel to the earlier O'Reilly on Advertising
O'Reilly on Advertising
O'Reilly on Advertising was a popular show that was broadcast Saturday mornings on CBC Radio One, running from 11:30 - 12:00pm . Its host was Terry O'Reilly, who is a radio/voiceover director with a lengthy career. Its producer and co-creator was fellow adman and broadcaster...
, the series is hosted by Terry O'Reilly
Terry O'Reilly (broadcaster)
Terry O'Reilly is a Canadian broadcast producer and personality, best known as host of the CBC Radio One series O'Reilly on Advertising and The Age of Persuasion...
and explores the sociological and cultural impact of advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
on modern life.
Each episode uses humour and numerous excerpts from historical radio broadcasts and commercials to make its point.
As of January 2011, new episodes are broadcast on:
- CBC Radio 1: Saturday 11:30 am, Thursdays 2:30 pm
- Sirius Satellite 159: Saturdays 10:30 am, 6:30 pm
- Chicago Public Radio WBEZ 91.5FM: Thursdays, 11.30 am; Saturdays, 6:30 am Central Time
Many episodes are available in streaming mp3 format from the program's CBC website. Some are available in podcast form at the unofficial site CBC Podcasts. On December 24, 2010 the Age of Persuasion blog announced that the CBC would be podcasting the show starting in January 2011.
The show's creators, Terry O'Reilly and Mike Tennant, have released a book: The Age of Persuasion: How Marketing Ate Our Culture, (Knopf Canada & Vintage Paperbacks). The book is published in the United States by Counterpoint Press.
On 10 March 2010, co-writer and producer Mike Tennant announced he is leaving the show after the 4th season.
Episode list
Note: Links in the episode title take you to an online copy of the episode. Links in the date take you to a summary only.Season 1
| Ep # | Episode Title | Broadcast Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1x01 | Clutter | 2006-09-07 |
| 1x02 | The Language of Persuasion | 2006-09-14 |
| 1x03 | Rinse and Repeat | 2006-09-21 |
| 1x04 | Yoots - Youth Marketing | 2006-09-28 |
| 1x05 | The Lesson of Clark Gable's Undershirt | 2006-10-05 |
| 1x06 | The Long and Short of It | 2006-10-12 |
| 1x07 | Breaking the Contract | 2006-10-19 |
| 1x08 | The Rise and Fall and Rise of Branded Entertainment | 2006-10-26 |
| 1x09 | The Human Face of Persuasion | 2006-11-02 |
| 1x10 | All the World's a Marketing Opportunity | 2006-11-09 |
| 1x11 | Walk 1.6 Kilometres in My Shoes | 2006-11-16 |
| 1x12 | Strange But True Tales of Market Research | 2006-11-23 |
| 1x13 | Love, Marriage and Sexual Tension | 2006-11-30 |
| 1x14 | Branding a Nation | 2006-12-07 |
| 1x15 | The Persuasive Power of Storytelling | 2007-01-15 |
| 1x16 | Protecting the Celebrity Brand | 2007-01-25 |
| 1x17 | Goin' to the Show: Super Bowl Ads | 2007-02-01 |
| 1x18 | A Sense of Persuasion | 2007-02-08 |
| 1x19 | Leaving Your Mark | 2007-02-15 |
| 1x20 | The YouTube Revolution The trends in media usage by advertisers are examined, from the rise and fall of radio and television advertising, to viral videos and non-media "idea" advertising. |
2007-03-03 |
| 1x21 | By Any Other Name | 2007-03-08 |
| 1x22 | Guerrillas in Our Midst | 2007-03-29 |
| 1x23 | Frontiers and Boundaries | 2007-04-05 |
| 1x24 | Reviving the Brand | 2007-04-12 |
| 1x25 | It's the Insight, Stupid | 2007-04-19 |
| 1x26 | Award in Edgewise | 2007-04-26 |
| 1x27 | The Wall of Cynicism | 2007-05-31 |
| 1x28 | The Future of Persuasion | 2007-06-14 |
| 1x29 | Do This or Die | 2007-06-21 |
Season 2
| Ep # | Broadcast # | Episode Title | Broadcast Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2x01 | 201 | There’s Never a Marques of Queensbury Around When You Need One | 2008-01-12 |
| 2x02 | 202 | The Sport of Persuasion | 2008-01-19 |
| 2x03 | 203 | Old Media, New Media, Borrowed Media, Blue Media | 2008-01-26 |
| 2x04 | 204 | Branding the News | 2008-02-02 |
| 1x22 | 205 | Guerillas in our Midst | 2008-02-09 |
| 2x05 | 206 | Everything I Need to Know About Life I Learned from Agency Pitches | 2008-02-16 |
| 1x19 | 207 | Leaving Your Mark | 2008-02-23 |
| 2x06 | 208 | 23 things I’d Like to Change About Advertising | 2008-03-01 |
| 1x24 | 209 | Reviving the Brand | 2008-03-08 |
| 2x07 | 210 | The Trouble with Big | 2008-03-15 |
| 2x08 | 211 | Royal Jelly | 2008-03-22 |
| 2x09 | 212 | Advertisers as Censors | 2008-03-29 |
| 1x26 | 213 | Award in Edgewise | 2008-04-05 |
| 2x10 | 214 | Crowd Control | 2008-04-12 |
| 2x11 | 215 | The Strategy of Persuasion The importance of a strategy in advertising. |
2008-04-19 |
| 2x12 | 216 | In Defence of Advertising Terry O'Reilly defends advertising, arguing that an advertisement-free world would not be as nice as some people might think. |
2008-04-26 |
| 1x25 | 217 | It's the Insight, Stupid! The importance of an insight in modern persuasion. |
2008-05-03 |
| 2x13 | 218 | Emotion Why the best advertisers win customers through the heart, not with facts. |
2008-05-10 |
| 2x14 | 219 | The Myth of Mass Marketing An examination of the myth of "mass marketing" and the effectiveness of one-on-one selling. |
2008-05-17 |
| 2x15 | 220 | Selling War How advertising has been used (and is still being used) to recruit soldiers and create support for wars. |
2008-05-24 |
| 1x23 | 221 | Frontiers and Boundaries An examination of how what is acceptable in an advertising has changed over time and how this reflects the change in a society's values. |
2008-05-31 |
| 2x16 | 222 | Advertising as the New Sugar Daddy A short history of sponsorship in advertising. |
2008-06-07 |
| 2x17 | 223 | Persuasion in the Niches How (and why) the one-size-fits-all mass marketing is being replaced with marketing targeted at smaller market niches. |
2008-06-14 |
| 2x18 | 224 | Six Remarkable Brands Examples of six remarkable brands - including a media icon (Oprah Winfrey), a rock and roll band (The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr... ), an athlete (Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist... ), a toy (Lego Lego Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts... ), a city (Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous... ), and a large animal (Polar Bear Polar Bear The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size... ). |
2008-06-21 |
Season 3
| Ep # | Broadcast # | Episode Title | Broadcast Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3x01 | 301 | A Taste for Blood: Direct Marketing | 2009-01-05 |
| 3x02 | 302 | Recession Marketing | 2009-01-12 |
| 3x03 | 303 | Nasty is the New Nice | 2009-01-19 |
| 3x04 | 304 | Rethink the Shark | 2009-01-26 |
| 3x05 | 305 | According to Hoyle | 2009-02-02 |
| 1x09 | 306 | The Human Face of Persuasion | 2009-02-07 |
| 1x07 | 307 | Breaking the Contract | 2009-02-14 |
| 3x06 | 308 | Commandeering Holidays | 2009-02-19 |
| 3x07 | 309 | Great Canadian Campaigns | 2009-03-07 |
| 3x08 | 310 | Repetition Repetition Repetition | 2009-03-09 |
| 3x09 | 311 | Sun Tzu and the Art of... Persuasion | 2009-03-16 |
| 3x01 | 312 | A Taste for Blood: Direct Marketing | 2009-03-23 |
| 3x10 | 313 | Selling God | 2009-03-30 |
| 3x11 | 314 | Brand Loyalty | 2009-04-06 |
| 3x12 | 315 | Big and Small | 2009-04-13 |
| 3x02 | 316 | Recession Marketing | 2009-04-20 |
| 3x13 | 317 | The Real Deal: Authenticity | 2009-04-27 |
| 3x14 | 318 | The Myths of Persuasion | 2009-05-04 |
| 3x15 | 319 | Marketing the Invisible | 2009-05-11 |
| 3x07 | 320 | Great Canadian Campaigns | 2009-05-18 |
| 3x16 | 321 | Entertainment or Nothing | 2009-05-25 |
| 3x17 | 322 | The Museum of Persuasion | 2009-06-01 |
| 3x18 | 323 | Urban Legends | 2009-06-08 |
| 3x19 | 324 | Embracing New Media | 2009-06-15 |
| 3x20 | 325 | Ask Terry | 2009-06-22 |
NOTES: Items in italics are repeated, often from earlier seasons.
Season 4
| Ep # | Broadcast # | Episode Title | Broadcast Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x01 | 401 | Marketing the Unpleasant | 2010-01-02 |
| 4x02 | 402 | Buzz | 2010-01-09 |
| 4x03 | 403 | Pitchmen | 2010-01-16 |
| 4x04 | 404 | Heroes & Villains | 2010-01-23 |
| 4x05 | 405 | Persuasion Fail | 2010-01-30 |
| 4x06 | 406 | Slogans | 2010-02-06 |
| 4x07 | 407 | Categories | 2010-02-13 |
| 4x08 | 408 | Are People Idiots? | 2010-02-20 |
| 4x09 | 409 | Being There: Selling Experiences | 2010-02-27 |
| 4x01 | 410 | Marketing the Unpleasant | 2010-03-06 |
| 4x10 | 411 | All Things Being Equal: Parity Products | 2010-03-13 |
| 4x11 | 412 | Context | 2010-03-20 |
| 4x02 | 413 | Buzz | 2010-03-27 |
| 4x12 | 414 | Oddballs: Singular Campaigns | 2010-04-03 |
| 4x13 | 415 | Privacy | 2010-04-10 |
| 4x03 | 416 | Pitchmen | 2010-04-17 |
| 4x14 | 417 | Where Power Resides | 2010-04-24 |
| 4x15 | 418 | Profiles in (Marketing) Courage | 2010-05-01 |
| 4x16 | 419 | Negative Advertising | 2010-05-08 |
| 4x17 | 420 | Opportunism | 2010-05-15 |
| 4x18 | 421 | A Few More Remarkable Brands | 2010-05-22 |
| 4x19 | 422 | Ask Terry Some More | 2010-05-29 |
| 4x20 | 423 | Mad Men | 2010-06-05 |
Season 5
| Ep # | Broadcast # | Episode Title | Broadcast Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5x01 | 501 | Green Marketing | 2011-01-08 |
| 5x02 | 502 | Luxury Marketing | 2011-01-15 |
| 5x03 | 503 | Candid Commercials | 2011-01-22 |
| 5x04 | 504 | Speed Bumps | 2011-01-29 |
| 5x05 | 505 | Marketing Pioneers | 2011-02-05 |
| 5x06 | 506 | Even More Remarkable Brands | 2011-02-12 |
| 4x01 | 507 | Marketing the Unpleasant | 2011-02-19 |
| 5x07 | 508 | AOP Goes to the Movies | 2011-02-26 |
| 5x08 | 509 | The Commercials You Grew Up With | 2011-02-02 |
| 5x09 | 510 | Burn the Boats | 2011-03-12 |
| 4x03 | 511 | Pitchmen | 2011-03-19 |
| 5x10 | 512 | Mad Women | 2011-03-26 |
| 5x11 | 513 | Dynamic Duos: The Famous Partnerships in Advertising | 2011-04-02 |
| 5x12 | 514 | Three Foot Marketing | 2011-04-09 |
| 4x10 | 515 | All Things Being Equal: The Fascinating World of Parity Products | 2011-04-15 |
| 5x13 | 516 | The Happy Homemaker: How Advertising Invented the Housewife (Part One) | 2011-04-22 |
| 5x14 | 517 | The Happy Homemaker: How Advertising Invented the Housewife (Part Two) | 2011-04-30 |
| 5x15 | 518 | Genericide: When a Brand Becomes Generic | 2011-05-06 |
| 4x17 | 519 | Opportunism | 2011-05-13 |
| 5x16 | 520 | The Sound of Persuasion | 2011-05-21 |
| 5x17 | 521 | Ageism in Advertising | 2011-05-28 |
| 4x06 | 522 | Slogans | 2011-06-05 |
| 5x18 | 523 | Terry's Book Club | 2011-06-11 |
| 5x19 | 524 | Diversity in Advertising | 2011-06-18 |
| 5x20 | 525 | Ask Terry Again | 2011-06-25 |
Opening theme
The title theme, composed by Ari Posner and Ian Lefeuvre, consists of a series of ten sound clips from ads and speeches, played over the theme music. Static is heard between each clip, giving the impression of changing between stations on a radio. The title is announced in the middle of the clips. In each episode, one clip is different, similar to the couch gag in the opening to The SimpsonsThe Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
.
Season 1
Read. My. Lips. / This is the CBS News / I've fallen and I can't get up!I've fallen and I can't get up!
"I've fallen… and I can't get up!" was a catchphrase of the late 1980s and early 1990s popular culture based upon a line from a United States-based television commercial.-The source of the line:...
/ Don't be a square / The only thing we have to fear is... / (clip) / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / Oh, the humanity! / Chops, dices, minces / Yeeeargh!
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
/ It's that simple.
Season 2
I want chicken, I want liverMeow Mix
Meow Mix is a variety of dry and wet cat food known for its advertising jingle. It is a product of Del Monte Foods.-Company background:The Meow Mix Company operates from a facility in Decatur, Alabama, and also produces Alley Cat brand cat food products. Originally a product of Ralston Purina,...
/ "I wanna bottle of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
!" "Sonny..." / That's a spicy meat-a-ball!
Alka-Seltzer
Alka-Seltzer is an effervescent antacid and pain reliever first marketed by the Dr. Miles Medicine Company. It was developed by Treneer in Elkhart Indiana. Alka-Seltzer is marketed for relief of minor aches, pains, inflammation, fever, headache, heartburn, sour stomach, indigestion, and hangovers,...
/ Hey, great, a toothpaste should fight cavities / I can't believe I ate that whole... / (clip) / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / Ho,ho,ho / Hoo-hoo!
Pillsbury Doughboy
Poppin' Fresh, more widely known as the Pillsbury Doughboy, is an advertising icon and mascot of The Pillsbury Company, appearing in many of their commercials. Many commercials from 1965 until 2004 conclude with a human finger poking the Doughboy's stomach...
/ Mamma mia! / There you go again
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
Season 3
I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this messageI approve this message
In American politics, "I approve this message" is a phrase said by candidates for federal office in political advertisements on television and radio in order to comply with the so-called Stand By Your Ad provision of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act , enacted in 2002, that...
/ "Another cup of Maxwell House
Maxwell House
Maxwell House is a brand of coffee manufactured by a like-named division of Kraft Foods. Introduced in 1892, it is named in honor of the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. For many years until the late 1980s it was the largest-selling coffee in the U.S. and is currently second behind...
coffee, George
George Burns
George Burns , born Nathan Birnbaum, was an American comedian, actor, and writer.He was one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, film, radio, television and movies, with and without his wife, Gracie Allen. His arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation became...
?" "Sure, pour me a cup, Gracie
Gracie Allen
Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen , known as Gracie Allen, was an American comedian who became internationally famous as the zany partner and comic foil of husband George Burns...
!" / Hoo-wah! / "Hello, I'm a Mac," "And I'm a PC!"
Get a Mac
The Get a Mac campaign is a television advertising campaign created for Apple Inc. by TBWA\Media Arts Lab, the company's advertising agency, that ran from 2006 to 2009...
"Whooooo!" "Whoo!" / The only thing we have to fear is... / (clip) / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / Bromo-Seltzer
Bromo-Seltzer
Bromo-Seltzer , is an antacid used to relieve pain occurring together with heartburn, upset stomach, or acid indigestion. Originally produced by inventor Isaac E...
, Bromo-Seltzer, Bromo-Seltzer... / Got milk?
Got Milk?
Got Milk? is an American advertising campaign encouraging the consumption of cow's milk, which was created by the advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners for the California Milk Processor Board in 1993 and later licensed for use by milk processors and dairy farmers. It has been running...
/ Don't leave home without it
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
/ Isn't that amazing?
Season 4
I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TVVicks
Vicks is a line of over-the-counter medications owned by the American company Procter & Gamble. Vicks manufactures NyQuil and its sister medication, DayQuil. The Vicks brand also produces Formula 44 cough medicines, cough drops, VapoRub, and a number of inhaled breathing treatments...
/ It's the fishing invention of the century
Ronco
Ronco is an American company that manufactures and sells a variety of items and devices, most commonly those used in the kitchen. Ron Popeil founded the company in 1964, and commercials for the company's products soon became pervasive and memorable, in part thanks to Popeil's personal sales pitches...
/ This is only a test
Emergency Broadcast System
The Emergency Broadcast System was an emergency warning system in the United States, used from 1963 to 1997, when it was replaced by the Emergency Alert System.-Purpose:...
/ It's Patrick, he took out life insurance / I'm not only the Hair Club
Hair Club
Hair Club is one of the largest companies in the hair restoration and hair replacement industry, with more than 95 locations throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico...
president, I'm also a client / The only thing we have to fear is... / (clip) / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / Takes a licking and keeps on ticking / He likes it! Hey, Mikey!
Life (cereal)
Life is a breakfast cereal made of whole grain oats, distributed by the Quaker Oats Company. It was introduced in 1961. The cereal's advertisements currently sport the slogan "Life is full of surprises".- History :...
/ Yes! We! Can!
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
Season 5
Hello, ladiesOld Spice
Old Spice is a prominent American brand of male grooming products. It is manufactured by Procter & Gamble, which acquired the brand in 1990 from the Shulton Company.-History:...
/ Tacos... fettuccine, linguine, martini, bikini / Wow, what's that aftershave you're wearing? / Cough suppressant as effective as codeine, but not narcotic
Vicks
Vicks is a line of over-the-counter medications owned by the American company Procter & Gamble. Vicks manufactures NyQuil and its sister medication, DayQuil. The Vicks brand also produces Formula 44 cough medicines, cough drops, VapoRub, and a number of inhaled breathing treatments...
/ It'll keep your kids quiet for hours
View-Master
View-Master is a device for viewing seven 3-D images on a paper disk. Although the View-Master is now considered a children's toy, it was originally marketed as a way for viewers to enjoy stereograms of colorful and picturesque tourist attractions.-1939–66: stereoscopic sightseeing:In 1911,...
/ Tonight's episode brought to you by / (clip) / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / We are not afraid to get mavericky in there
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
/ Ha-ha-ha-haaa / Thank you for your support
Bartles & Jaymes
Bartles & Jaymes is a flavored wine cooler and malt beverage line produced by the E & J Gallo Winery in the United States, and introduced in 1981. Flavors include Strawberry Daiquiri, Fuzzy Navel, Exotic Berry, Margarita, Piña Colada, Classic Original, Tropical Mango, Blue Hawaiian, Strawberry...
.
Running gags
- In the opening theme, one sound clip is changed in each episode which, when following the previous clip, makes up a nonsense sentence. Depending on the season, the preceding clip is either Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's "The only thing we have to fear is..." (from his famous inauguration speechFranklin D. Roosevelt 1933 presidential inaugurationThe first inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt as the 32nd President of the United States was held on Saturday, March 4, 1933. The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of Franklin D. Roosevelt as President and John Nance Garner as Vice President...
)(seasons 1, 3 & 4), a man saying, "I can't believe I ate that whole..." (from a commercial for Alka-SeltzerAlka-SeltzerAlka-Seltzer is an effervescent antacid and pain reliever first marketed by the Dr. Miles Medicine Company. It was developed by Treneer in Elkhart Indiana. Alka-Seltzer is marketed for relief of minor aches, pains, inflammation, fever, headache, heartburn, sour stomach, indigestion, and hangovers,...
)(season 2), or an announcer saying "Tonight's episode brought to you by..." (season 5).
- When Terry sets up the premise for an episode in the form of a letter from a listener, there is usually a postscript confusing Terry with retired ice hockey player Joseph James Terrence "Terry" O'ReillyTerry O'ReillyTerence Joseph James O'Reilly is a retired ice hockey right winger, who played for the NHL's Boston Bruins, and one of the most effective enforcers in NHL history....
, who played as a right-winger for the Boston Bruins.
- Terry directly interacts with "Keith" (Ohman, the engineer), usually to get him to play a recording clip. On more than one occasion, Keith has been asked for a hammer, which is then used to destroy a piece of electronic equipment playing something especially irksome.
- When it is necessary to define a phrase or concept, the definition is usually delivered by Steve Gardner, over a clip of upbeat 1950s-style educational film music.
- After Terry O'Reilly makes a punPunThe pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
, he "puts a dollar in the Age of Persuasion pun jar", accompanied by the sound of change being dropped into a glass jar. Examples include Home Depot having "nailed down" its emotional hook and Beethoven being able to reject "overtures" from nobles.
- When Terry mentions an object with potentially injurious consequences, such as a TaserTaserA Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...
or a pneumatic nail gun, a sound effect of the device in action is played, followed by a man with a low-pitched voice quietly saying, "Ow."
- Starting in Season 4, co-creator Mike Tennant appears on location in various settings, such as in the audience of a medicine show or as a shillShillA shill, plant or stooge is a person who helps a person or organization without disclosing that he or she has a close relationship with that person or organization...
in an auction.
- During the end credits, the announcer makes commentary on the people mentioned, the comments invariably being linked to the episode's theme. The announcer is the same woman for all seasons except Season 3, when she was replaced by a man (Mike Tennant) who began the credits by saying, "Say, folks..."
End Credits
(Seasons 1-4)- Created and written by Terry O'Reilly and Mike Tennant
- Engineer, Keith Ohman
- Title music by Ari Posner and Ian Lefeuvre
- The Age of Persuasion is produced for CBC Radio by Pirate Radio & Television, Toronto
(Season 5)
- Written by Terry O'Reilly
- Engineer, Keith Ohman
- Title music by Ari Posner and Ian Lefeuvre
- Created by Terry O'Reilly and Mike Tennant
- The Age of Persuasion is produced by Pirate Toronto & New York
External links
- Official Age of Persuasion podcast at the CBC, starting January 2011.
- Official CBC website for the show As of 28 July 2008 this contained streaming content of all the episodes in the series 3, as well as some earlier episodes.
- iTunes Podcast link
- Unofficial Age of Persuasion podcast at feedburner.com
- Unofficial Age of Persuasion podcast at castroller.com
- Terry O'Reilly's Webpage
- Mike Tennant's Webpage