LA Trickery

As Public Enemy has warned: 'Don't Believe the Hype.'
   Last night I was watching TV and I saw an ad for Xenadrine, which claims to help people lose weight. They even have before and after pictures showing dramatic weight loss.
   Don't believe it.
   Here in LA they cast commercials constantly, that business is the bread and butter of many casting directors and, of course, ad agencies. In order to recruit actors for these commercials the breakdowns are posted on-line. So if someone is looking for a Caucasian man between the ages of 35 and 45 for an upcoming project, I'd see that in the breakdowns and be able to submit myself for it.
   You've probably heard about dietary supplement companies that pay an athlete to get fat so they can have before and after photos - they just present the photos in the wrong order. But there's an easier way, one I've seen posted many times in breakdowns.
   Dirty little secret: The breakdowns for many (most?) weight loss products specify identical twins, one of whom is fit one of whom is fat, The breakdowns further specify that the fat twin is for the 'before' picture and the thin one is for the 'after.' How cynical and borderline criminal is that?
   So when you see late-night ads for weight loss products you should be skeptical right away - is anything good ever advertised after midnight? - but you should also realize that they're probably lying to you, and not even being particularly slick about it.