Okay, this is weird, but I feel sadder about Billy Mays' unfortunate death than about any of the other recent celebrity passings. Billy Mays was an institution, and someone who was in our homes just about -- oh -- every ten minutes. Wherever I was in my house, as soon as I heard Billy Mays' voice on the TV, I ran for the remote and muted it. A friend of mine once said, "Can you imagine living with that voice?""Honey, where's my shirt...!!??"
Billy Mays was in a plane that had a rough landing and something fell on his head. So, it looks as if he might have suffered the same type of hematoma that Natasha Richardson had. I never thought I would say this, but I am going to miss him. I may even go out today and buy some OxiClean.
32 comments:
People die everyday...but when it's a household name - it just feels weird.
My goodness! I did the same thing - I couldn't stand his yelling at me through the TV. But, may he rest in peace - he won't need that cleaner anymore now.
My husband & I were pretty shocked ourselves - you know, except for Ed McMahon, these folks were YOUNG to be dying now... Definitely makes you think...
Okay, I'm sticking my furry neck out here but WHO is Billy Mays?
The first few sentences of your post scared me a little. Then I was laughing at "mute"! That is just what I did, why did he have to YELL everything he said? I am saddened by all of these deaths, they just seem so young.
I"m sorry for your loss.
I feel the same way as you about Billy Mays. When his commercial came on, I would say "Oh, Billy" and mute the sound. Sorry he passed and I'm sure he was a fine individual, but I will not miss his yelling at me!
My father brought up Billy Mays last night because the man who had driven him home from the airport had said something about him, and I had to ask who he was. My father described him as The King of Infomercials, not quite the same thing as being The King of Pop. Obviously I am hopelessly out of touch when it comes to television and pop culture.
He was an icon, in his own way.
I know what you mean! My husband and I would often imitate him when trying to make a point. I saw him on a talk show once and he was loud when simply talking. Maybe he had a lot of siblings growing up and had to shout to be noticed and later in life used it to his advantage.... just the way my mind works.
Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Gale Storm, Fred Travalena, and now, Billy Mays. I say enough already! This month is ending on such a sad, sad note...
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The autopsy said Heart Disease. He was hypertensive. No blunt head trauma occurred. Which makes it more interesting considering how young he was.
I'll search the weirdo on youtube...may he rest in peace btw :-)
It always made me wonder how someone with the most irritating voice in the world could make a living selling things on TV.
hi Jo, thanks for visiting my blog the other day. it's been a stressful year for me, and i've been trying to blog once a week, to no avail.
i felt sad about Ed McMahon's death, then Farrah Fawcett, and i'm having a real hard time with Michael Jackson's death. i think that's because i really grew up with him, singing and dancing to his songs, and even went to one of his concerts. also, the other two had been sick, but he died so suddenly. then i heard about Billy Mays death yesterday, and he was only 50 yrs old also. i just saw him on the Tyra Banks Show a few weeks ago. it's just too much.
I'm with you, the commercials were annoying, but still it's tragic how he died. From an article I read yesterday, he loved doing these commercials. But he always seemed so loud and annoying. I wonder how he did sound at home? And I'm sure they'll still run his commercials, after a few days.
I'm more upset about Billy Mays passing than I am about MJ passing. He really was a household icon!
Oh, I was so surprised to hear of this and yes it sounds like the same thing that happened.
His voice drove me crazy but darn, that OxyClean works like magic.
The power of Tivo means that I haven't seen a commercial in years, but I know who Billy Mays was.
Farrah had been so incredibly ill, MJ's life had long been a cautionary tale about the peril's of super stardom and being denied a childhood. It was easy to hope that they were both simply, and finally at peace.
But Billy Mays seemed so incredibly vital, his death was a shock. Also, aside from the pitchman voice, he seems to have been a very well-liked man.
I was honestly saddened by his death in a way I wasn't with any of the other recent passings.
People in heaven may need earplugs, though.
@Lone Grey Squirrel: Billy Mays was an infomercial salesman, with a distinctive, booming (some might say grating) voice. He was very successful with the likes of OxyClean, Kaboom, a few others.
Not to be confused with the ShamWow guy, who is even more annoying, and far less endearing.
Yes Jo, there are 6 siblings now. One brother died after living a week.
BUT WAIT!....heart disease
My 19 year old son and his friends got such a kick out of him. The two of us watched him on the tonight show a few nights before his passing... quite possibly the same night they did a tribute to Ed MacMahon. I'm not sure what it is that appealed specifically to teens, but my son was very upset to hear he had died, as was Frank's son. He seemed like a genuinely nice man. It's been such a sad week for celebrity news.
For some reason, I did like him. In spite of the yelling, he DID seem like a nice guy. Sad to see people dying so young!
I am right there with you. I have never bought one of Billy's products, but I have always liked him.
And his new show, Pitchmen, has been the only reality show I have ever really watched. A reality show where you see a group of people working together that actually respect each other. People who can disagree at times without cussing each other out and sprewing hatered everywhere. Honest, real people. He was truely refreshing and will be missed.
@Russell:
I am really sorry that you were hurt by my comments. I honestly didn't know him when I posted the comment, and was guided by what I read about him in this post...
I honestly say that no malice/sarcasm/smart-assed-ness was meant....I apologize to all who found it in poor taste...
Sorry :-)
Hello, everyone, and thanks for your comments. Once again, time has gotten away from me, and I have not had the chance to respond to each of you personally, as I wish I could...
"People in heaven may need earplugs..." Love it!
Have a wonderful day, everyone!
What scares me is that he and jacko were my age.
Divyendu,
I appreciate your response. I can be a bit of a curmudgeon at times -- okay, a lot of the time!
Your remark just hit me wrong and I am not shy about telling people what I like about them and what I don't like.
I am sure you are a very decent person and I have respect for you because you were big enough to reach down and consider the feelings of others. Not all people are that big. But you are.
Take care and thank you for your kind remarks.
Land of Shrimp,
Thanks for the info but I'm really none the wiser and from your description, i do not think I would have missed his absence from the TV. And, welcome to blogging.
He certainly was the ultimate pitchman. He reminded of me of a younger version of Ron Popeil who was quite famous for selling "slicers" and "dicers" on TV during the late 50's and 60's.
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