billy mays here-related stories
Posted Oct 15th 2009 7:35PM by Danny Gallagher
Filed under: Commercials, Celebrities, Reality-Free
The wife of the late Billy Mays once again came to the side of her late husband over allegations that a cocaine overdose killed the pitchman.
This time
Billy's wife, Deborah, claims she has conclusive proof that her late husband was not a habitual drug user.
The family paid for a second review of Billy's autopsy and doesn't deny that he may have used cocaine in the days leading up to his death, but does deny that he was a "chronic" user. The latest release from the family said the independent investigation concludes cocaine use did not contribute to his untimely death.
[via
TVTattle]
Posted Oct 9th 2009 1:02PM by Danny Gallagher
Filed under: Commercials, Celebrities, South Park, Reality-Free
If you're a celebrity and you appear on TV's
South Park, chances are it's not going to end good for you. You're either going to end up dead, in Hell, or dead and in Hell.
So you can probably imagine the reaction from the family of the late TV pitchman Billy Mays: exuberant joy and ecstatic excitement.
Billy's son Billy Mays III said on
his Twitter page that he was "proud" and "honored" his late father was included in their "Dead Celebrities" episode. He's also trying to get a cel of his father's caricature autographed by Matt Stone and Trey Parker.
He hasn't said if he's gotten it yet or not, but he's reportedly sweetening the deal for the
South Park creators by throwing in an extra bottle of Chipotlaway absolutely free. Matt and Trey, call now!
Posted Jul 15th 2009 12:04PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Documentary, Casting
When
Billy Mays died a couple of weeks ago, we were trying to figure out what exactly Discovery was going to do about their show
Pitchmen. Would they cancel the show? Renew it with just Anthony Sullivan as the star? Try to find another pitchman (or woman)? Turns out it's going to be none of those things.
Instead, the show is going to continue
with the addition of Mays' son, Billy Mays III. No word yet if the younger Mays will step into the co-host role with Sullivan or be involved in other ways, but I'm sure he'll have at least some on-screen role.
Posted Jul 6th 2009 5:30PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Commercials, Celebrities, Reality-Free
This isn't usually a blog with photos from funeral services, but I thought this one was appropriate for TV fans to see. Pallbearers at Billy Mays funeral the other day all wore blue shirts in a tribute to the commercial king.
Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:01PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Commercials, Celebrities, Reality-Free
First off, everyone keeps using the word "infomercial" when describing the ads that Billy Mays did, including
this piece at TampaBay.com. Actually, infomercials are longer form ads, usually 30 minutes. What Mays did were commercials (though yes, he did infomercials too). After a meeting between his widow, his son, friend Anthony Sullivan, and marketers, they have decided to resume running all of Mays' ads next week. I'm sure that's going to seem weird to some viewers.
I guess it's not completely odd, because we still watch a TV show that a celebrity has starred in after they die. But commercials are more recent, more "alive," more "of the moment" than some TV show that we all know is a repeat from one, ten, thirty years ago. And that's what's going to be odd about seeing these ads.
Posted Jun 30th 2009 5:40PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Celebrities
The season finale of Discovery Channel's
Pitchmen airs tomorrow night at 10PM (after a day-long marathon of the show). But now that
Billy Mays has passed away suddenly, what should happen to the show?
Discovery hasn't made a decision yet. They could continue the show will just Anthony Sullivan, they could get another commercial/product icon to take Mays' place, or they could simply cancel the show. What do you think they should do?
Posted Jun 29th 2009 9:08AM by Danny Gallagher
Filed under: Commercials, Celebrities, Obituaries, Reality-Free
News of someone's death always implants a little sadness in my brain, whether its the passing of a major celebrity or some innocent bystander who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Part of it is completely selfish. Someone's passing always reminds me of the frailty of human life and lets me know I'm always one less beer away from reaching the end of my time.
The other part is the projection of my own pain. We've all lost someone close to us and know what that pain feels like when our brain is scrambling to catch up with the reality of that loss. There is someone out there who has to deal with that same pain, whether the person who died was worthy of Catholic sainthood or the Bastard of the Year Award.
Continue reading Today is "Wear Blue for Billy" day
Posted Jun 28th 2009 12:50PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Commercials, Celebrities, Obituaries, Reality-Free
Famous (and loud) TV pitchman
Billy Mays was found dead in his Florida home today. He was 50.
There's no cause of death yet (an autopsy will be performed tomorrow), but Mays was one of the passengers on
a US Airways flight that had a bumpy landing in Tampa, FL yesterday.
I think most people would agree that this been a remarkably strange week for celebrity deaths. Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, then Michael Jackson. We thought those three celebs would be enough for one week (and celebrity deaths often come in threes, as the common wisdom goes). And now we have a guy who is still on our TVs
all the time. It's not like he was old or he had retired or he wasn't doing much in public anymore. Commercials with May run all day long, every day. I saw several last night. He also has a weekly show with Anthony Sullivan on Discovery called
Pitchmen. The pair were also on Conan's show last week. Video of that appearance is after the jump.
Continue reading Billy Mays dead at 50
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