I'm not saying that I necessarily think Billy Mays should have won a posthumous Emmy, or even that his show Pitchmen should have been included in their "The Year in Reality" segment. But leaving him out of the "In Memoriam" segment? You have people from every facet of the television industry, and you leave out the most famous infomercial personality ever. Infomercials are television programming.Yes, they're annoying at times and yes, they're not as exciting as Lost or The Amazing Race, but it's still television. Billy Mays was famous because of television. And he was famous. Virtually everyone in this country recognizes "Hi, Billy Mays here!" and that almost patented way of
But hell, even if you don't buy any of those arguments, he was one of the stars of Pitchmen, a successful reality show. You honor reality shows, right? I'm just saying, It seems to me that one of the most famous faces of the modern era on television, and one of the most powerful men in the commercial industry, could have maybe earned a quick mention upon his passing.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-21-2009 @ 11:12AM
Christine said...
I was wondering why he wasn't included in the In Memoriam - he's a more recognizable TV face than a number of people that were included, especially for my generation!
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9-21-2009 @ 11:21AM
Pingles said...
Never liked his delivery but grew to really like him on his TV show.
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9-21-2009 @ 11:22AM
Pumapayam said...
It's "In Memoriam".
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9-21-2009 @ 11:42AM
Joel Keller said...
Fixed it, thanks. Feel free to use the "corrections" link at the top of the page if you see a typo or misspelling.
9-21-2009 @ 12:03PM
Pumapayam said...
I went to the Emmy's site, and could not find a video of the tribute?
Anyone have a link to the vid online?
Here's the full list from the segment, in the order they appeared courtesy of Roger Catlin:
Edie Adams
Gale Storm
Van Johnson
Eartha Kitt
Neal Hefti
Patrick McGooghan
Morton Lachman, writer and director
Karl Malden
James Whitmore
Sam Cohn, talent agent
Henry Gibson
Bell Melendez, animator
Pat Hingle
Paul Benedict
Bernie Hamilton
Dom DeLuise
Dominick Dunne
Robert Prosky
Fred Travelena
Irving R. Levine
Ron Silver
Natasha Richardson
David Carradine
Nora O'Brien, producer
Michael Chrichton
Beatrice Arthur
Ricardo Montalbon
Ed McMahon
Army Archerd, columnist
Larry Gelbart , producer and writer
Paul Newman
Pierre Cossette, producer
Michael Jackson
Patrick Swayze
Don Hewitt
Farah Fawcett
Walter Cronkite
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9-21-2009 @ 2:03PM
MJL said...
You forgot Regis.
9-21-2009 @ 11:47AM
Pumapayam said...
Anyone have the link to the tribute video? The Emmy site does not host one.
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9-21-2009 @ 12:04PM
Victoria said...
I was wondering the same thing! I turned to my mom and I was like "Why wouldn't they show Billy Mays?"
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9-21-2009 @ 1:43PM
M-D said...
If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say the Academy overlooked Mays because he wasn't a member of SAG, AFTRA, DGA or WGA.
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9-21-2009 @ 2:04PM
Gordy said...
I'll cosign on this one.
9-21-2009 @ 1:45PM
GL said...
I, for one, don't see any problem with it.
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10-23-2009 @ 11:46AM
Sandy said...
While I wish no one harm . . . more so death, Billy Mays was one of the most annoying people on TV. As soon as a commercial came on with him, screaming in my face, I immediately turned off the channel. He and the Luna carpet people are among the most annoying pitch people on TV -- ever.
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9-21-2009 @ 2:34PM
Mikey Mike said...
I think it is because he was a non-member of all the acting groups and because his death was contributed to by cocaine. That last devastate his image forever. Have you noticed his main endorsement has moved on to voice vers by faceless picthmen and only his recurring infomericals on infomerical sites use him anymore.
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9-21-2009 @ 7:12PM
Marc said...
Sad that you did not add Mary Travers to your "In Memorium" segment, as she was a huge part of the 1960's and a great talent. She had passed, I believe on the same day as Henry Gibson and you added him.
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9-24-2009 @ 4:09PM
horsenbuggy said...
I think that Billy Mays probably should have been included in the tribute.
However, the Academy has to establish a standard for inclusion when it comes to reality TV. The question will begin to matter more and more. You'd think that they would include Heidi Klum or Jeff Probst if they died. But what about Tila Tequila or that "New York" chick? These two women are famous on a national level for appearing on multiple television shows, but did they really "work" in the television industry? I would think that someone like Jonathan Murray would qualify, but not the people who appeared on his shows.
But, again, I don't think Billy Mays should have been excluded.
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10-03-2009 @ 12:17AM
bangkok beel said...
I'd switch channels whenever this obnoxious bastid came on!! Whatever he pitched I'd never buy!
What i'm saying is really serious!!!!! Bangkok beel
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