I'm sure, that if I were not so lazy, I could come up with some really distasteful puns.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529328,00.html
QuoteReport: 'Infomercial King' Billy Mays Found Dead in Home
Sunday, June 28, 2009
DEVELOPING: Television pitchman Billy Mays — who built his fame by appearing on commercials and infomercials promoting household products and gadgets — died Sunday, FOX News confirms.
Mays was found unresponsive by his wife inside his Tampa, Fla., home at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Tampa Police Department.
Police said there were no signs of forced entry to May's residence and foul play is not suspected. Authorities said an autopsy should be complete by Monday afternoon.
Mays, 50, was on board a US Airways flight that blew out its front tires as it landed at a Tampa airport on Saturday, MyFOXTampa.com reported.
US Airways spokesman Jim Olson said that none of the 138 passengers and five crew members were injured in the incident, but several passengers reported having bumps and bruises, according to the station.
Authorities have not said whether Mays' death was related to the incident.
"Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times," Mays wife, Deborah, said in a statement on Sunday.
Never heard of him. :mellow:
Everybody is dropping dead. Must be Captain Trips.
I've seen his infomercials in some supermarkets (both here and in the U.S.) and on tv (also). In fact I asked my sister once who he was and what he did before infomercials, because from the way he introduced himself I thought that he might be a celibrity in some obscure niche that lived out his retirment making embarrassing infomercials.
He's probably best known for Oxiclean:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE_kVeJB4mQ (at 0:20 or so).
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QuoteAfter graduating from Sto-Rox High School
Sto-Rox? Sounds like a styrofoam candy.
Quote from: Syt on June 28, 2009, 11:49:50 AM
QuoteAfter graduating from Sto-Rox High School
Sto-Rox? Sounds like a styrofoam candy.
He probably died from mixing Sto-Rox and warm Dr Pepper...
RIP As Seen on TV guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lftTkFacM3I&feature=player_embedded
and the rest of his ESPN360 commercials:
http://brandmediaweek.typepad.com/brandfreak/espn360com-billy-mays.html
WE LOST A NATIONAL TREASURE. :(
Indeed. :(
But wait! There's more!
I guess the Sham-Wow guy is now the national infomercial pitchman. How far we have fallen. :(
Wow :(
Quote from: alfred russel on June 28, 2009, 01:14:11 PM
I guess the Sham-Wow guy is now the national infomercial pitchman. How far we have fallen. :(
I was just thinking the same thing.
Quote from: alfred russel on June 28, 2009, 01:14:11 PM
I guess the Sham-Wow guy is now the national infomercial pitchman. How far we have fallen. :(
Is he out of jail yet?
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Quote from: alfred russel on June 28, 2009, 01:14:11 PM
the Sham-Wow guy
Quote from: Jimmy OlsenWow :(
:D
Edit: Although...you know...as a Sham Wow user, I do not, in fact, say "Wow" every time.
OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S GONE WHAT A TRAGEDY THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE I GUESS THEY ALWAYS TRULY DO GO IN THREES
Quote from: Caliga on June 28, 2009, 03:23:05 PM
OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S GONE WHAT A TRAGEDY THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE I GUESS THEY ALWAYS TRULY DO GO IN THREES
Yuo: on my shit list. BILLY MAYS IS A GOD.
I thought I was: paying tribute to him. :(
Quote from: Caliga on June 28, 2009, 03:26:34 PM
I thought I was: paying tribute to him. :(
Not respectful enough. More groveling of Mighty Mend It needed.
Quote from: alfred russel on June 28, 2009, 01:14:11 PM
I guess the Sham-Wow guy is now the national infomercial pitchman. How far we have fallen. :(
Nah, there's Mays' partner, Andrew whatever.
Quote from: sbr on June 28, 2009, 02:18:18 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on June 28, 2009, 01:14:11 PM
I guess the Sham-Wow guy is now the national infomercial pitchman. How far we have fallen. :(
Is he out of jail yet?
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Is that him? The Shamwow guy looked a little cleaner.
Quote from: DGuller on June 28, 2009, 04:40:46 PM
Quote from: sbr on June 28, 2009, 02:18:18 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on June 28, 2009, 01:14:11 PM
I guess the Sham-Wow guy is now the national infomercial pitchman. How far we have fallen. :(
Is he out of jail yet?
Is that him? The Shamwow guy looked a little cleaner.
No one is going to look very clean after a weekend of smoking meth and beating up hookers.
Quote from: Ed Anger on June 28, 2009, 03:24:58 PM
Quote from: Caliga on June 28, 2009, 03:23:05 PM
OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S GONE WHAT A TRAGEDY THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE I GUESS THEY ALWAYS TRULY DO GO IN THREES
Yuo: on my shit list. BILLY MAYS IS A GOD.
Long live our laundry.
The coroner's report is out and apparently he didn't have head trauma, but rather just hypertensive heart disease. I am shocked, SHOCKED Billy Mays had high blood pressure. :o
Quote from: Caliga on June 29, 2009, 02:59:09 PM
The coroner's report is out and apparently he didn't have head trauma, but rather just hypertensive heart disease. I am shocked, SHOCKED Billy Mays had high blood pressure. :o
Really? Why?
He's the Slap-Chop guy!
Quote from: Caliga on June 29, 2009, 02:59:09 PM
The coroner's report is out and apparently he didn't have head trauma, but rather just hypertensive heart disease. I am shocked, SHOCKED Billy Mays had high blood pressure. :o
I guess when God wants you gone, you'll be gone one way or another. God must not have been very happy with his OxiClean purchase.
RIP. I guess I can finally forgive him for Oxi-clean not working worth a damn.
Quote from: DGuller on June 29, 2009, 03:09:01 PM
I guess when God wants you gone, you'll be gone one way or another. God must not have been very happy with his OxiClean purchase.
Given the fact that the shit doesn't work as advertised, I can't blame God for his vengeful wrath. :ph34r:
:nelson at all the hillbillies who actually bought the shit.
Quote from: Jaron on June 29, 2009, 03:15:05 PM
:nelson at all the hillbillies who actually bought the shit.
I've never bought it, but my mom's gullible QVC-addict friend bought it once.
Quote from: Jaron on June 29, 2009, 03:15:05 PM
:nelson at all the hillbillies who actually bought the shit.
:blush: I didn't just buy a small bottle of cleaner to test out-- I bought a whole set of crap at Bed Bath & Beyond (though we did use a coupon).
Has there ever been an infomercial product that was worth a damn? It seems like without fail those products are both far less practical than advertised, and very shoddily made. I guess one exception would be 50 quarters for $29.95, you can't really go wrong with that.
Well, everyone's declared since Billy Mays's death that he's the second coming of Christ (as is always the case when someone dies), so clearly it's not his fault for overpromising and underdelivering. :)
You remember those things that you strapped onto your abs and they were supposed to electrocute you to a six pack? :P
Quote from: Jaron on June 29, 2009, 03:22:28 PM
You remember those things that you strapped onto your abs and they were supposed to electrocute you to a six pack? :P
I don't, amnesia was one of the side effects.
Quote from: DGuller on June 29, 2009, 03:19:57 PM
Has there ever been an infomercial product that was worth a damn? It seems like without fail those products are both far less practical than advertised, and very shoddily made. I guess one exception would be 50 quarters for $29.95, you can't really go wrong with that.
I've known people who swore by that pimple cream they're always selling on infomercials.
Yeah, motherfucker. "you've known people"
Quote from: DGuller on June 29, 2009, 03:19:57 PM
Has there ever been an infomercial product that was worth a damn?
I bet The Clapper was a solid product, and I'm holding out hope that the Snuggie is all it claims to be.
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FAIL. "Billy Mays here!" should have been in that pic someplace. :)
Actually, regular Oxi-Clean works pretty well, in my personal experience. I never tried any of the related products, though.
Quote from: Scipio on June 30, 2009, 09:20:24 AM
Actually, regular Oxi-Clean works pretty well, in my personal experience. I never tried any of the related products, though.
Explain how it has worked for you. I tried just about everything it advertised and it pretty much always fell short of how it was advertised. It never seemed to clean any better than standard soap/detergent/stain remover, etc.
My mom bought some Orange stuff and was very happy with it.
Quote from: derspiess on June 30, 2009, 09:37:00 AM
Quote from: Scipio on June 30, 2009, 09:20:24 AM
Actually, regular Oxi-Clean works pretty well, in my personal experience. I never tried any of the related products, though.
Explain how it has worked for you. I tried just about everything it advertised and it pretty much always fell short of how it was advertised. It never seemed to clean any better than standard soap/detergent/stain remover, etc.
Maybe you are just filthier than the average American.
Quote from: Scipio on June 30, 2009, 09:20:24 AMActually, regular Oxi-Clean works pretty well, in my personal experience.
I use it for whites in the laundry.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 30, 2009, 06:43:02 PM
Quote from: Scipio on June 30, 2009, 09:20:24 AMActually, regular Oxi-Clean works pretty well, in my personal experience.
I use it for whites in the laundry.
With every passing comment like this I think more and more of you as Mr French from Family Affair.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 30, 2009, 06:43:02 PM
Quote from: Scipio on June 30, 2009, 09:20:24 AMActually, regular Oxi-Clean works pretty well, in my personal experience.
I use it for whites in the laundry.
Word.
Sounds like an odd funeral. :huh:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31724651/ns/us_news-life/
QuoteMays remembered as ultimate TV pitchman
Cousin: 'He sold more OxiClean than Andy Warhol sold Campbell's Soup'
AP
updated 9 minutes ago
MCKEES ROCKS, Pa. - References to television pitchman Bill Mays' trademark image were everywhere at his funeral Friday near Pittsburgh.
Most mourners wore stickers showing a cartoon image of his distinctive bearded face. The six pallbearers eschewed suits and instead wore bright blue button-down shirts like the ones Mays wore on TV. At the conclusion of the ceremony, they gave a "thumbs up," just as Mays did at the end of one of his commercials.
Mays, whose high-energy hawking turned products like OxiClean from infomercial curiosities into mainstream successes, was remembered as a pop culture icon who never forgot his hometown or spiritual roots.
"He sold more OxiClean than Andy Warhol sold Campbell's Soup," cousin Dean Panizzi said in eulogizing Mays and comparing him to the Pittsburgh-born pop artist who turned soup cans into works of art.
Panizzi's 20-minute eulogy evoked everything from memories of their childhood together — complete with a Christmas Eve remembrance of their parents ringing sleigh bells outside — to Mays' devout Christian faith. Panizzi recited various lines Mays made famous, including "Life's a pitch, and then you buy" and drew a standing ovation parroting Mays' signature introduction, "Hi, Billy Mays here."
Hundreds of mourners packed the black brick, gothic Catholic church in the suburb of McKees Rocks, where Mays was raised, to remember the popular pitchman. Mays developed his style demonstrating knives, mops and other "As Seen on TV" gadgets on Atlantic City's boardwalk and worked for years as a hired gun on the state fair and home show circuits, attracting crowds with his booming voice and genial manner.
Power of persuasion
Mays got his start on TV on the Home Shopping Network and then branched out into commercials and infomercials. He developed such a strong following that he became the subject of a reality TV series, Discovery Channel's "Pitchmen."
"Pitchmen" creator and executive producer Chris Wilson said the outsized personality that earned Mays a place in the pop culture lexicon was paired with an innate ability to reach viewers.
"Billy had an amazing way of just making you believe that everything he said was true," Wilson said Friday. "He didn't sell you, he told you."
The likable personality Mays presented on TV viewers existed in real life, too, Wilson said.
"As great as a pitch man Billy was, he was an even better man and an even better individual," he said.
Master hawker
Outside the funeral, a company owned by fellow "Pitchmen" star Anthony Sullivan handed out the shiny stickers bearing a caricature of Mays' face.
Mays hawked everything from the Wash-matik, a device for pumping water from a bucket to wash cars, to Orange Glo, an environmentally friendly cleaner. Sporting a jet-black beard and coupling high-energy demonstrations with booming pitches, Mays always seemed ready to jump off the screen.
Joanne Barthurst's son graduated from high school with Mays and she watched the funeral procession from her porch across the street. She said Mays' strong ties to his hometown are what made him great. He remained Everyman, even though he was one of the most visible people in the country.
"Watching him on TV and everything like that, his infomercials and stuff, even though he wasn't around you still felt like you had some ties because he was a McKees Rocks boy," she said.
Mays is believed to have died of a heart attack in his sleep June 28 at his home in Tampa, Fla., but further tests are needed to be sure of the cause of death.
So, it turns out he was a coke junkie.
Any sympathy = gone.
QuoteAutopsy Shows Cocaine Contributed to Billy Mays' Death
Friday , August 07, 2009
TAMPA, Fla. —
An autopsy shows that cocaine use contributed to the death of boisterous TV pitchman Billy Mays, officials announced Friday.
The 50-year-old info-mercial king died of a heart attack in his sleep after going to bed at his Tampa condo the night of June 27. His wife found him unresponsive the next morning.
The Hillsborough County medical examiner's office Friday said although Mays died from heart disease, cocaine use was a contributing cause of death. Mays had last used cocaine days before his death, the report said.
The Mays family issued a statement Friday saying, "We are extremely disappointed by the press release released by the Hillsborough County medical examiner's office. We believe it contains speculative conclusions that are frankly unnecessary and tend to obscure the conclusion that Billy suffered from chronic, untreated hypertension, which only demonstrates how important it is to regularly monitor one's health."
According to the family's statement, Mays used prescription pain medication for a severe hip condition but always at recommended levels and under the guidance of his physician.
"We were totally unaware of any non prescription drug usage and are actively considering an independent evaluation of the autopsy results," the family said.
Mays was a pop-culture fixture with his energetic commercials pitching gadgets and cleaning products like Orange Glo and OxiClean.
He developed his style demonstrating knives, mops and other "As Seen on TV" gadgets on Atlantic City's boardwalk. For years he worked on commission on the state fair and home show circuits, attracting crowds with his booming voice and genial manner.
He got his start on TV on the Home Shopping Network and then branched out into commercials and infomercials. He developed such a strong following that he became the subject of a reality TV series, Discovery Channel's "Pitchmen."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Coke use = junkie? :unsure:
I'm shocked. Wait. No I'm not.
Damn.
And you know he sold that shit too.
BUT WAIT!
THERES MORE!
:lmfao: :lmfao:
Quote from: Jaron on August 07, 2009, 05:13:11 PM
Damn.
And you know he sold that shit too.
BUT WAIT!
THERES MORE!
:lmfao: Brilliant!
Damn, who could've guessed that he could be on something?
So I just read that the following was also found in his system: hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (painkiller), alprazolam (Xanax), nordiazepam (Valium), benzoylecgonine (byproduct of cocaine) and temazepam (anti-anxiety). Ethanol — alcohol
Oh my.
Quote from: garbon on August 10, 2009, 12:37:24 PM
So I just read that the following was also found in his system: hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (painkiller), alprazolam (Xanax), nordiazepam (Valium), benzoylecgonine (byproduct of cocaine) and temazepam (anti-anxiety). Ethanol — alcohol
Oh my.
Wow, he sure left nothing to chance. I wonder how he managed to look normal on TV, given that he probably had several serious addictions.
Quote from: DGuller on August 10, 2009, 09:29:12 PM
Wow, he sure left nothing to chance. I wonder how he managed to look normal on TV, given that he probably had several serious addictions.
He didn't look normal on TV. He looked coked up.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 10, 2009, 10:00:08 PM
He didn't look normal on TV. He looked coked up.
But did he look like a walking pharmaceutical catalog?
Quote from: garbon on August 10, 2009, 10:03:50 PM
But did he look like a walking pharmaceutical catalog?
No. Just coked up. I guess he needed a way to come down after the shoot. :P
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 10, 2009, 10:15:16 PM
Quote from: garbon on August 10, 2009, 10:03:50 PM
But did he look like a walking pharmaceutical catalog?
No. Just coked up. I guess he needed a way to come down after the shoot. :P
Yeah, just the typical melange of uppers, downers, and pain meds in his system.
I wonder how the Mays family is going to deal with this one, after all the "righteous indignation" of the initial toxicology report. :menace:
DEFINITELY not a case of a poppy seed bagel three days before death. ;)
Hee hee. I wonder how all the tards who went on and on right after his death about he was some paragon of humanity feel now.
I always thought he was just a sleazy salesman. :huh:
Quote from: Caliga on August 11, 2009, 10:46:38 AM
Hee hee. I wonder how all the tards who went on and on right after his death about he was some paragon of humanity feel now.
I always thought he was just a sleazy salesman. :huh:
He started on the Atlantic City boardwalk. That's never a good sign. :contract:
Quote from: Caliga on August 11, 2009, 10:46:38 AM
Hee hee. I wonder how all the tards who went on and on right after his death about he was some paragon of humanity feel now.
I always thought he was just a sleazy salesman. :huh:
My golden statue of Bill Mays will remain standing.
Quote from: Caliga on August 11, 2009, 10:46:38 AM
Hee hee. I wonder how all the tards who went on and on right after his death about he was some paragon of humanity feel now.
You know, a lot of people don't really have a problem with heavy drug use. Even I think that there's worse things you could be than a drug user. Gay, for example.
Quote from: Neil on August 11, 2009, 05:36:35 PM
You know, a lot of people don't really have a problem with heavy drug use.
:yes:
Quote from: Neil on August 11, 2009, 05:36:35 PM
You know, a lot of people don't really have a problem with heavy drug use.
Obvioulsy Billy Mays wasn't one of those people.
Quote from: Neil on August 11, 2009, 05:36:35 PMYou know, a lot of people don't really have a problem with heavy drug use. Even I think that there's worse things you could be than a drug user. Gay, for example.
Well, I don't have any moral issues with it (I think all drugs should be legal). I just don't know that I would walk around declaring some coke fiend a phenomal exemplar of anything, other than coke fiendom maybe. I mean, if they guy was also a war hero or something, maybe, but... he was a sleazy salesman who did incredibly annoying commercials. :mellow:
Quote from: Caliga on August 12, 2009, 07:48:29 AM
Quote from: Neil on August 11, 2009, 05:36:35 PMYou know, a lot of people don't really have a problem with heavy drug use. Even I think that there's worse things you could be than a drug user. Gay, for example.
Well, I don't have any moral issues with it (I think all drugs should be legal). I just don't know that I would walk around declaring some coke fiend a phenomal exemplar of anything, other than coke fiendom maybe. I mean, if they guy was also a war hero or something, maybe, but... he was a sleazy salesman who did incredibly annoying commercials. :mellow:
OXY CLEAN WORKS.
Did I say it didn't work? :huh:
Never tried the stuff myself.
Quote from: Caliga on August 12, 2009, 07:53:33 AM
Did I say it didn't work? :huh:
Never tried the stuff myself.
I'm defending Billy Mays from your spurious allegations. Vince from the ShamWow commercials planted that evidence. IF IT DOESN'T FIT, YOU MUST ACQUIT.
I'm bored. :blush:
Go buy a private jet for your goddaughter or something.
Quote from: Caliga on August 12, 2009, 07:59:18 AM
Go buy a private jet for your goddaughter or something.
I think I'm going to bug you this morning. :)
Sorry but I have a secret weapon: I can log off Languish. Hitler wishes he had this Wunderwaffe at his disposal. :blush:
Quote from: Caliga on August 12, 2009, 08:09:31 AM
Sorry but I have a secret weapon: I can log off Languish. Hitler wishes he had this Wunderwaffe at his disposal. :blush:
:lol: Damn your Carpetbagging ways!
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That bill probably has cocaine residue on it.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 24, 2010, 11:53:59 PM
:pinch:
Your new avatar is perfect in its sublime perfection. Tard.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on January 24, 2010, 11:57:57 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 24, 2010, 11:53:59 PM
:pinch:
Your new avatar is perfect in its sublime perfection. Tard.
Disagree. The phrase "Timmay" is redundant with the handicapped sign (which some would argue is redundant with the "Virginia" on the plate).