Herb Denenberg, 81, long-time TV consumer advocate
Rob Cibik
March 19, 2010
philly.com
Herb Denenberg - the maverick television consumer advocate, newspaper
columnist, and former Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner - died last
night at his home in Wayne of an apparant heart attack.
Mr. Denenberg, 81, was probably best known for his 24-year run on WCAU-
TV (Channel 10) where he served as an investigative consumer reporter
from 1975 to 1998. As host of "Denenberg's Dump," he skewered the
makers of hundreds of products.
"The consumer has been screwed long enough," was his battle cry and
Denenberg speared his foes with an in-your-face approach and nasal
whine.
After he was let go by WCAU, he continued to advocate for consumers
with a vitriolic column online and in a weekly newspaper. He testified
regularly in lawsuits against insurance companies, telling an Inquirer
reporter in 2003 that he "found that to be a lot of fun."
His relationship with the insurance companies began in the 1960s when,
as the University of Pennsylvania's first Wharton School professor of
property and liability insurance, he began appearing on and before
federal panels.
As state insurance commissioner, Mr. Denenberg received national
attention for the first major initiative to end sex discrimination in
insurance. He also published consumer guides that attacked the
companies for selling what he called overpriced, confusing, and
sometimes deceptive policies.
Mr. Denenberg's 1983 reports on widespread asbestos contamination in
Philadelphia public schools led to a massive cleanup effort. His
investigation of deceptive sales of diamonds and gold in the jewelry
industry in 1985 and '86 resulted in prosecutions and legislation.
For his media work, Mr. Denenberg won 40 Emmys.
He is survived by his wife Naomi.
Funeral arrangements will be private.
Turban Joe Balasootoe
IMSC, Herbie was also a weatherman on Channel 10. He was
the King of TV Nice Guys, had a genuine smile.
Henry Maurer
>
> March 19, 2010
> philly.com
>
> Herb Denenberg - the maverick television consumer advocate, newspaper
> columnist, and former Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner - died last
> night at his home in Wayne of an apparant heart attack.
He may have been diminutive in physical stature, but he was a titan
and a champion to millions of ordinary consumers in the Philadelphia
area.
Joe Pucillo
> IMSC, Herbie was also a weatherman on Channel 10. He was
> the King of TV Nice Guys, had a genuine smile.
You might be thinking of Herb Clark, who always seemed to be
incredibly affably and a very nice guy - and why not? Like me,
he lived in Havertown.
Herb Denenberg, on the other hand, always seemed mean and
curmudgeonly. If he was a nice guy, it wasn't part of his
television persona.
But, I can say without hesitation that Denenberg had a profound
effect on me. I loved his spots on WCAU, his stint as
Insurance Commissioner was legendary because he actually
advocated for the people of the Commonwealth, rather than cow-
tow to the interests of the insurance industry. He didn't last
long in the position because of it.
He also a big influence on a book called "What's Wrong with
your Life Insurance" by Norman Dacey, which should be required
reading in high school. Much of the bullshit products sold by
insurance companies were laid bare in that book, and it made a
big difference in how I invested my money.
RIP Herb.
JP
Diner
> But, I can say without hesitation that Denenberg had a profound
> effect on me. I loved his spots on WCAU, his stint as
> Insurance Commissioner was legendary because he actually
> advocated for the people of the Commonwealth, rather than cow-
> tow to the interests of the insurance industry. He didn't last
> long in the position because of it.
In the late 70s, the NBC series "Real People" did a story on Denenberg
and aired clips from his WCAU "Denenberg's Dump" reports (even though
WCAU was then a CBS affiliate). Only problem is, NBC's lawyers made
them bleep out all the brand names of the products he blasted. I
always admired Denenberg - and WCAU - for having the courage to tell
it like it was.
I especially loved when, in the mid-1980s, he almost singlehandedly
destroyed the career of Ron Perlstein, a Philly diamond dealer who had
become famous for his radio commercials. After some of Perlstein's
customers complained, Denenberg proved that Perlstein had been
misrepresenting the quality (i.e., the number of carats) of his
diamonds - that's how he'd been able to sell them so cheaply.
Perlstein ended up serving probation and had to pay restitution to
over 600 customers.
We need more reporters like Herb Denenberg.
-Tim
Charlene
>
> I especially loved when, in the mid-1980s, he almost singlehandedly
> destroyed the career of Ron Perlstein, a Philly diamond dealer who had
> become famous for his radio commercials. After some of Perlstein's
> customers complained, Denenberg proved that Perlstein had been
> misrepresenting the quality (i.e., the number of carats) of his
> diamonds - that's how he'd been able to sell them so cheaply.
He lied about both weight (measured in carats) and quality (measured
in colour and clarity). More info here:
wd45