Just when I thought we had reached our capacity for celebrity death this week (Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon), I was saddened to learn about the passing of another pop culture fixture: Billy Mays, TV pitchman extraordinaire. The man jumped off the screen and right onto my living room couch for several reasons: He had his volume knob cranked up; he wore a blue button-down shirt, emblazoned with the logo of the product he was selling; he boasted an industrial-strength beard; and he introduced his lively game with a simple ‘Hi, Billy Mays here for [insert product]….” The list of amusingly titled products that he peddled was long—OxiClean, Orange Glo, Kaboom, Zorbeez, to name a few—and he did his job well enough to earn a starring role in the Discovery Channel reality series Pitchmen. Not afraid to sell himself silly on occasion (see the tongue-in-cheek ESPN360 spot below), he earned a cult following, as evidenced by sites like this.
So, PopWatchers, have you ever purchased a product pitched by Billy? And which one of his commercials/informercials was your favorite?
Here is Billy selling Mighty Mendit:
Billy kept a low profile in this ESPN360 spot:
More infomercial coverage on EW:
Infomercial king Billy Mays dies at 50
34 ‘I Can’t Look Away!’ Infomercials
The Snuggie: Comfy blanket thing or Garment of Satan?
Snuggie warning: One size does not fit all
Wearable towels: The new Snuggie?
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I’ll miss his energy on tv for certain but he was also a very attractive man, too.
no effin way, i jsut saw on late night television this week. this has not been a good week at all. first Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett die on my birthday, ed McMahon a couple of days before and now Billy Mays. i think something is nto right with the gods or something.
I loved his energy.He should of been a sportscaster. Can you imagine him calling a hockey or football.
awwww i just saw a commercial now
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/06/28/tv-pitchman-billy-mays-found-dead-in-his-home/
He could shout about his products without being annoying- he just seemed like a nice guy all around and I agree with the others who said he would have been a fantastic sports caster of even commentator. He would have been great on Around the Horn or PTI. TV product promotion will NEVER be the same without Billy.
I think the sham wow guy did it in the kitchen with a Snuggie
The booming loud voice made me change the channel on more than a number of occasions. The beard aroused me if I muted the TV. Rest in peace Billy Mays. May calm, peaceful, bearded pitchmen rule, henceforth.
I always get a kick out his commercials and haven’t missed an episode of “Pitchmen.” The big appeal of Billy Mays is that he didn’t seem like he was just living, he seemed to be thriving. What a sad, shocking loss. I’ll miss his booming voice and big smile.
I’m not glad he’s dead, but I am glad I won’t have to listen to him yell any more.
This is so sad. I just saw him on Conan this past week. They did a great segment on some of the products pitched. He looked so young and vibrant. Rough week for us pop culture lovers. Wow.
His energy was infectious, but his yelling annoying. Can’t lie, I’m still gonna miss the guy. RIP Billy.
I thought he was great and honest. He blazed a new trail with pitchmen. I will really miss him..my heart goes out to his family..He was way too young.
His screaming hurt my ears and gave me a headache. I won’t miss that.
I just saw Billy Mays on Conan the other night he was funny and just and down home great guy. Sad for his family. Just a sudden tragedy.
I genuinely am sad about this death, he’s one of the few people who seemed like a genuine nice guy.
That man was highly annoying. While I certainly wouldn’t wish ill will upon him, I can’t say that I’m not happy that his voice won’t be blaring from my television anymore.
Such a sad, weird week for “celebrity” deaths: Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays? I hope late night infomercials will be quieter. Obnoxious yelling, senseless shouting…who needs it?(Ssshh! Do you hear that? Silence, Billy Mays hardly knew ye.]
Here’s the link from the Tonight show appearance. They don’t seem to like the Sham Wow guy:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/video/
In business, they say “nothing happens until somebody sells something.” He knew how to sell,and enjoyed what he did. What a great guy.
Strangely enough Billy’s death was more sad to me than Michael Jackson’s or Farrah Fawcett’s. I guess years of watching that alleged child molester deteriorate really took away a lot of the good memories, and Farrah was a bit before my time. Billy seemed like a genuinely nice guy that had a shtick (YELLING!) and went with it. My kids loved his commercials and imitate him all the time. He will be missed.
I always muted his commercials. Could not stand the yelling (or as he called it, projecting) Still I am sorry he died so YOUNG.
I always muted his ads. I am sorry that he dieso young.
It seems strange that a voice we all loved and a voice we all abhored died within days of each other. Ying and Yang of the Universe.
Such a sad and sudden tragedy! Praying for his family… Am I the only one who finds it weird that this is the fourth celebrity we’ve lost within ONE week? >_<
He always reminded me of Hank Scorpio from the Simpsons and that is a compliment in the highest regard.