Stop The Presses: New York Daily News Discovers Celebrities Like Paula Abdul And Tori Spelling Have Lines On Home Shopping Networks Like QVC and HSN

HSN's Bill Brand

The New York Daily News has discovered that a lot of celebrities are selling products on home shopping networks like HSN and QVC. Wow, what a scoop! Who knew?

The Sunday story is headlined “NYC’s Celebrity Fashion Obsession,” and features a photo of one of Susan Lucci’s HSN necklaces.

In the piece, the Daily News says that New York consumers are skeptical of goods that have been given the stamp of a celeb. The story then quotes Bill Brand, HSN vice president of programming, marketing and business development.

“If the celebrity doesn’t have a connection to the to the product they are selling, it won’t translate,” Brand is quoted in the Daily News.

He cited health-conscious actresss Fran Drescher’s new skincare line, which is about to debut. “It was natural for her to be doing a skincare line for us and it sells,” Brand told the Daily News.

The story points out that Lucci, Paula Abdul, Rachel Zoe, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Tori Spelling, Serena Williams, Tina Knowles and Iman all have products on home shopping outlets.

The Daily News does have a tiny scoop: that designer Isaac Mizrahi’s new line for QVC premieres Dec. 4 with “plaid-covered cheesecake,” whatever that means.

By the way, Brand is never asked about the reliability, or lack of it, when dealing with stars. For example, earlier this year Spelling and Abdul were scheduled to make appearances on HSN, but those shows were abruptly cancelled, without explanation.

No-Names Rachael Ray, ‘The View’ Host Elisabeth Hasselbeck Do Their Thing On QVC Friday

When we tell friends we’re doing a blog on home shopping, some stick up their noses and say they wouldn’t be interested, they don’t know anyone on QVC or HSN. Ignorance is bliss.

So they have never heard of Madonna, who has appeared on HSN to promote her children’s book, or Paula Abdul, Ellen DeGeneres, Susan Lucci, Bobbi Brown, Natalie Cole…We don’t have time to go on and list all the celebrities and big names that have home shopping lines.

Today a couple of fan favorites are being featured on QVC. TV food star Rachael Ray, who has been on QVC for a year with a cookware line, has Today’s Special Value, a stoneware set for $47 and change.

And Elisabeth Hasselbeck of “The View” will be on Friday with her apparel for QVC’s Dialogue line.

Ray was just on, and her hair is long. Does she have extensions, or have we not just seen her in awhile? Last time we looked, she had short hair.