The Age of Persuasion
The Age of Persuasion is a Canadian radio series which aired on CBC Radio One for 107 episodes over five seasons between 2006 and 2011, and also broadcast on Chicago public radio station WBEZ. 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.
Many episodes are available in streaming MP3 format from the program's CBC website. Some are available in podcast form at the unofficial site . 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,. The book is published in the United States by Counterpoint Press.
As late as November 2011, O'Reilly had indicated that a sixth season of AoP would begin that January. However, in December 2011, O'Reilly revealed that AoP would in fact be replaced at that time by a new series, Under the Influence, reflecting the shift of marketing from a "one-way conversation" to a "delicate dialogue".
Episode list
Note: Starting in season 2, episodes in italics are repeat broadcasts. 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 | |
| 1x04 | Yoots - Youth Marketing | |
| 1x05 | The Lesson of Clark Gable's Undershirt | |
| 1x06 | The Long and Short of It | |
| 1x07 | ' | |
| 1x08 | The Rise and Fall and Rise of Branded Entertainment | |
| 1x09 | ' | |
| 1x10 | All the World's a Marketing Opportunity | |
| 1x11 | Walk 1.6 Kilometres in My Shoes | |
| 1x12 | Strange But True Tales of Market Research | |
| 1x13 | Love, Marriage and Sexual Tension | |
| 1x14 | Branding a Nation | |
| 1x15 | The Persuasive Power of Storytelling | |
| 1x16 | Protecting the Celebrity Brand | |
| 1x17 | Goin' to the Show: Super Bowl Ads | |
| 1x18 | ' | 2007-02-08 |
| 1x19 | ' | 2007-02-15 |
| 1x20 | ' 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 | ' | 2007-03-08 |
| 1x22 | ' | 2007-03-29 |
| 1x23 | ' | 2007-04-05 |
| 1x24 | ' | 2007-04-12 |
| 1x25 | ' | 2007-04-19 |
| 1x26 | ' | 2007-04-26 |
| 1x27 | ' | 2007-05-31 |
| 1x28 | ' | 2007-06-14 |
| 1x29 | ' | 2007-06-21 |
Season 2
| Ep # | Broadcast # | Episode Title | Broadcast Date |
| 2x01 | 201 | ' | 2008-01-12 |
| 2x02 | 202 | ' | 2008-01-19 |
| 2x03 | 203 | ' | 2008-01-26 |
| 2x04 | 204 | ' | 2008-02-02 |
| 1x22 | 205 | ' | 2008-02-09 |
| 2x05 | 206 | ' | 2008-02-16 |
| 1x19 | 207 | ' | 2008-02-23 |
| 2x06 | 208 | ' | 2008-03-01 |
| 1x24 | 209 | ' | 2008-03-08 |
| 2x07 | 210 | ' | 2008-03-15 |
| 2x08 | 211 | ' | 2008-03-22 |
| 2x09 | 212 | ' | 2008-03-29 |
| 1x26 | 213 | ' | 2008-04-05 |
| 2x10 | 214 | ' | 2008-04-12 |
| 2x11 | 215 | ' The importance of a strategy in advertising. | 2008-04-19 |
| 2x12 | 216 | ' 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 | ' The importance of an insight in modern persuasion. | 2008-05-03 |
| 2x13 | 218 | ' Why the best advertisers win customers through the heart, not with facts. | 2008-05-10 |
| 2x14 | 219 | ' An examination of the myth of "mass marketing" and the effectiveness of one-on-one selling. | 2008-05-17 |
| 2x15 | 220 | ' How advertising has been used to recruit soldiers and create support for wars. | 2008-05-24 |
| 1x23 | 221 | ' 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 | ' A short history of sponsorship in advertising. | 2008-06-07 |
| 2x17 | 223 | ' How the one-size-fits-all mass marketing is being replaced with marketing targeted at smaller market niches. | 2008-06-14 |
| 2x18 | 224 | ' Examples of six remarkable brands - including a media icon, a rock and roll band, an athlete, a toy, a city, and a large animal. | 2008-06-21 |
Season 3http://www.cbc.ca/ageofpersuasion/ The Age of Persuasion at CBC Radio
| Ep # | Broadcast # | Episode Title | Broadcast Date |
| 3x01 | 301 | ' | 2009-01-05 |
| 3x02 | 302 | ' | 2009-01-12 |
| 3x03 | 303 | ' | 2009-01-19 |
| 3x04 | 304 | ' | 2009-01-26 |
| 3x05 | 305 | ' | 2009-02-02 |
| 1x09 | 306 | ' | 2009-02-07 |
| 1x07 | 307 | ' | 2009-02-14 |
| 3x06 | 308 | ' | 2009-02-19 |
| 3x07 | 309 | ' | 2009-03-07 |
| 3x08 | 310 | ' | 2009-03-09 |
| 3x09 | 311 | ' | 2009-03-16 |
| 3x01 | 312 | ' | 2009-03-23 |
| 3x10 | 313 | ' | 2009-03-30 |
| 3x11 | 314 | ' | 2009-04-06 |
| 3x12 | 315 | ' | 2009-04-13 |
| 3x02 | 316 | ' | 2009-04-20 |
| 3x13 | 317 | ' | 2009-04-27 |
| 3x14 | 318 | ' | 2009-05-04 |
| 3x15 | 319 | ' | 2009-05-11 |
| 3x07 | 320 | ' | 2009-05-18 |
| 3x16 | 321 | ' | 2009-05-25 |
| 3x17 | 322 | ' | 2009-06-01 |
| 3x18 | 323 | ' | 2009-06-08 |
| 3x19 | 324 | ' | 2009-06-15 |
| 3x20''' | 325 | ' | 2009-06-22 |
Season 4
| Ep # | Broadcast # | Episode Title | Broadcast Date |
| 4x01 | 401 | ' | 2010-01-02 |
| 4x02 | 402 | ' | 2010-01-09 |
| 4x03 | 403 | ' | 2010-01-16 |
| 4x04 | 404 | ' | 2010-01-23 |
| 4x05 | 405 | ' | 2010-01-30 |
| 4x06 | 406 | ' | 2010-02-06 |
| 4x07 | 407 | ' | 2010-02-13 |
| 4x08 | 408 | ' | 2010-02-20 |
| 4x09 | 409 | ' | 2010-02-27 |
| 4x01 | 410 | ' | 2010-03-06 |
| 4x10 | 411 | ' | 2010-03-13 |
| 4x11 | 412 | ' | 2010-03-20 |
| 4x02 | 413 | ' | 2010-03-27 |
| 4x12 | 414 | ' | 2010-04-03 |
| 4x13 | 415 | ' | 2010-04-10 |
| 4x03 | 416 | ' | 2010-04-17 |
| 4x14 | 417 | ' | 2010-04-24 |
| 4x15 | 418 | ' | 2010-05-01 |
| 4x16 | 419 | ' | 2010-05-08 |
| 4x17 | 420 | ' | 2010-05-15 |
| 4x18 | 421 | ' | 2010-05-22 |
| 4x19 | 422 | ' | 2010-05-29 |
| 4x20''' | 423 | ' | 2010-06-05 |
Season 5
| Ep # | Broadcast # | Episode Title | Broadcast Date |
| 5x01 | 501 | ' | 2011-01-08 |
| 5x02 | 502 | ' | 2011-01-15 |
| 5x03 | 503 | ' | 2011-01-22 |
| 5x04 | 504 | ' | 2011-01-29 |
| 5x05 | 505 | ' | 2011-02-05 |
| 5x06 | 506 | ' | 2011-02-12 |
| 4x01 | 507 | ' | 2011-02-19 |
| 5x07 | 508 | ' | 2011-02-26 |
| 5x08 | 509 | ' | 2011-02-02 |
| 5x09 | 510 | ' | 2011-03-12 |
| 4x03 | 511 | ' | 2011-03-19 |
| 5x10 | 512 | ' | 2011-03-26 |
| 5x11 | 513 | ' | 2011-04-02 |
| 5x12 | 514 | ' | 2011-04-09 |
| 4x10 | 515 | ' | 2011-04-15 |
| 5x13 | 516 | ' | 2011-04-22 |
| 5x14 | 517 | ' | 2011-04-30 |
| 5x15 | 518 | ' | 2011-05-06 |
| 4x17 | 519 | ' | 2011-05-13 |
| 5x16 | 520 | ' | 2011-05-21 |
| 5x17 | 521 | ' | 2011-05-28 |
| 4x06 | 522 | ' | 2011-06-05 |
| 5x18 | 523 | ' | 2011-06-11 |
| 5x19 | 524 | ' | 2011-06-18 |
| 5x20''' | 525 | ' | 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 Simpsons.Theme lyrics
Season 1
Read. My. Lips. / This is the CBS News / I've fallen and I can't get up! / Don't be a square / The only thing we have to fear is... / / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / Oh, the humanity! / Chops, dices, minces / Yeeeargh! / It's that simple.Season 2
I want chicken, I want liver / "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... / / And now, Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion / Ho,ho,ho / Hoo-hoo! / Mamma mia! / There you go again.Season 3
I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message / "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... / / 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?Season 4
I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV / 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... / / 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!Season 5
Hello, ladies / 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 / / 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.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. Roosevelt's "The only thing we have to fear is...", a man saying, "I can't believe I ate that whole...", or an announcer saying "Tonight's episode brought to you by...".
- 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'Reilly, who played as a right-winger for the Boston Bruins.
- Terry directly interacts with "Keith", 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 pun, 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 Taser 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."
- Throughout season 4, co-creator Mike Tennant appears on location in various settings, such as in the audience of a medicine show or as a shill 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 who began the credits by saying, "Say, folks..."
End Credits
- 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
- 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
Awards
AOP Goes to the Movies
- Business/Consumer Issues: Gold
- Best Writing: Silver
- Best Writing: Silver
- Business/Consumer Issues: Bronze
New York Festivals, World's Best Radio Programs & Promotions
The Happy Homemaker: How Advertising Invented the Housewife
- Business/Consumer Issues: Gold
- Best Writing: Silver