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Fore Inventors Only Surprise TwistPosted on 08/22/2007
By Jeremy Friedman - August 22, 2007
Fore Inventors OnlyDuring the first five weeks of Fore Inventors Only , the field has been trimmed from 103 to 10 semifinalists. On the Tuesday's episode, however, none of the 10 semifinalists were eliminated from the competition. In a surprise twist, Gary Sherrell's Club Glider invention received immunity from Jim Thompson, chief executive officer for Golfsmith, after overseeing consumer product pitches at a local Golfsmith store. As a result of the immunity, Club Glider will be one of the five finalists, while the remaining nine inventions wait their fate.
On Tuesday, Aug. 28, the five finalists will be revealed at the beginning of the episode. Immediately following the show voting will begin via text messaging and online voting through the Fore Inventors Only Web site, www.GolfChannel.com/foreinventors, at 11:01 p.m. ET. Voting will continue for one week, leading up to the live season finale from the GOLF CHANNEL studios in Orlando on Sept. 4 at 10 p.m. ET. Voting will close after the third segment of the finale, with the winner announced at the end of the show. The winner will receive shelf space at golf retailer, Golfsmith, for one year; a fully-developed infomercial and $50,000 worth of commercial and promotional air time on the GOLF CHANNEL.
Thompson's decision for immunity did not come quickly or easily. He and the show's expert panel of judges – PGA TOUR Professional Fulton Allem, renowned golf instructor Bill Harmon and Golf for Women Senior Editor Stina Sternberg – oversaw consumer pitches at a Golfsmith store in Orlando , Fla. , where the inventors presented their products to Golfsmith customers.
Prior to the consumer pitches, the 10 inventors received expert sales and pitch advice from two of the best in the industry: Bob Circosta, original television host for the Home Shopping Network, and celebrity sales trainer Chelsea Scott.
“Great products really don't mean anything unless the individuals are able to communicate the message,” said Circosta before meeting with the inventors.
Circosta and Scott met each of the inventors and listened to their presentations, providing instant feedback to make their pitches to the public stronger and more concise.
At the Golfsmith store, the inventors did not know immunity was at stake. They did know that the pressure to deliver effective pitches to the customers was high, with Thompson on-hand. During the pitches, Sherrell's presentation impressed not only the judges and the audience, but also Circosta and Scott as well, which convinced Thompson to grant Sherrell immunity to the finale.
“Look at him, he wants to buy this right now and wheel it out of the store,” commented Scott while a customer was trying out Sherrell's Club Glider .
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