Billy Mays found dead

[josephga]

TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa police say Billy Mays, the television pitchman known for his boisterous hawking of products such as Orange Glo and OxiClean, has died. He was 50.

 

Authorities say Mays was pronounced dead Sunday morning after being found by his wife at home. There were no signs of a break-in, and investigators do not suspect foul play. The coroner's office expects to have an autopsy done by Monday afternoon.

 

Mays' wife, Deborah Mays, says the family doesn't expect to make any public statements and asked for privacy.

 

Mays was also featured on the reality TV show "Pitchmen" on the Discovery Channel, which followed Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their marketing jobs.

 

Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman released a statement Sunday extending sympathy to the Mays family.

 

"Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth," Hillman's statement said. "Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend."

[jackhammer91406]

The stories I read talked about him being on a plane landing yesterday which blew out the front tire on landing. He is quoted as saying that things stored in the upper compartments started flying everywhere when the plane hit and that he was hit in the head. He joked that he had a hard head.

 

Always thought he was a hot looking man who would be fun to play with.

[+ Charlie]

I fervently hope that they will now pull his commercials, since his hammering delivery always drove me crazy.

[jackhammer91406]

I fervently hope that they will now pull his commercials, since his hammering delivery always drove me crazy.

 

HEAD ON, apply directly to the forehead. HEAD ON, apply directly to the forehead. heheh :cool:

[+ glutes]

Too bad isn't wasn't this a**hole:

 

http://autoanything.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/sham-wow-guy-vince-shlomi.jpg

[JT Brooklyn]

I fervently hope that they will now pull his commercials, since his hammering delivery always drove me crazy.

Sadly... I do agree with Charlie! Between the Black Shoe Polish Hair and Beard and the Grating voice, who the Hell would buy anything from a guy who goes from Orange Cleaner to Insurance

 

At least Sham Wow produces results and also apparently "Contributes" to the Wonderful World of SERVICE Providers! HOOKERS

[Guest Wetnwildbear]

Closed Head Trauma

 

i fervently hope that they will now pull his commercials, since his hammering delivery always drove me crazy.

 

wow closed head trauma - what a bummer!!!!!!

 

Bleeds faster than expected!!! But if you get one now -

 

we'll also include a free coma!!! Seek medical attention by midnight tonight!!!!

[J-Man]

Loud!

 

Given the volume level of the late Mr. Mays's voice on his multiple television commercials, shouldn't everything written about him be in ALL CAPS?

[Guest]

wow closed head trauma - what a bummer!!!!!!

 

Bleeds faster than expected!!! But if you get one now -

 

we'll also include a free coma!!! Seek medical attention by midnight tonight!!!!

Actually, subdural hematomas, which is probably what he had, can be quite slow, which is what makes them tricky to diagnose. Epidural hematomas are much faster, and easier to diagnose, but can be lethal very quickly! It's unusual to get a subdural without getting a concussion, and my understanding was that he didn't get a concussion, so maybe it was something unrelated?

[Guest zipperzone]

I fervently hope that they will now pull his commercials, since his hammering delivery always drove me crazy.

 

His demise means that thousands of eardrums will be spared.

[Guest skrubber]

I fervently hope that they will now pull his commercials, since his hammering delivery always drove me crazy.

 

He's been dead a day now but still yelling at me on the TV. I had hoped to get some relief quickly but apparently not.

[dcguy20]

He's been dead a day now but still yelling at me on the TV. I had hoped to get some relief quickly but apparently not.

 

I was thinking the same thing. He just yelled at me about 5 minutes ago!

[JT Brooklyn]

Enzyte bob!

 

Now IF we can figure a way to get rid of Very Annoying "BOB" and that damn stupid "Christmas" Promo for ENZYTE I would be one Happy Camper!

[Rick Munroe]

Wow, it's a good thing Billy Mays didn't host Meet the Press or some people here would be getting very upset at all of these jokes about a 51-year-old man who just died.

[Luv2play]

Comparing Tim Russert and Billy Mays simply because they were both 50ish and were TV personalities is seriously misleading. Every time Billy came on, I switched channels. With Tim, I eagerly awaited his Sunday morning Meet the Press to listen to him and his interaction with his usually interesting guests. I still miss Tim, Billy not.

[Guest zipperzone]

Too bad isn't wasn't this a**hole:

 

http://autoanything.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/sham-wow-guy-vince-shlomi.jpg

 

I don't know this guy but I sure as hell wouldn't kick him out of bed. If his voice is annoying I could always stuff something in his mouth.....

[J-Man]

Vince

 

And you're going to love his nuts!

[josephga]

I don't know this guy but I sure as hell wouldn't kick him out of bed. If his voice is annoying I could always stuff something in his mouth.....

 

Vince Shlomi, familiar to most as the TV pitchman for the handy household dodads the ShamWow and Slap Chop, got himself into a very messy situation with a hooker at a hotel, according to a police report located by TheSmokingGun.com.

 

As detailed in the police affidavit, on February 7th Shlomi punched a prostitute several times in the face after she chomped down on his tongue and refused to let go.

 

The 44-year-old towel and food chopper salesman claimed he met Sasha Harris, 26, at a Miami nightclub, according to the police report. He then took her back to his hotel room at the ritzy Setai hotel, where he claims to have paid her $1,000 after she "propositioned him for straight sex."

 

But apparently the business transaction wasn't as neat and tidy as the products he promotes. When Shlomi went to kiss Harris, she "bit his tongue and would not let go," according to the affidavit.

 

The Slap Chop pitchman then proceeded to punch Harris in the face until she finally released his tongue, the police report states.

 

He ran, bleeding, to the hotel lobby where security summoned police and both Shlomi and Harris were arrested. Police found $930 in Harris' purse, and reported both Shlomi and Harris smelled of alcohol, according to the affidavit.

 

When asked if she did, in fact, work as a prostitute, Harris declined to comment to TheSmokingGun.com.

 

Although prosecutors decided against formally charging either party, Harris told TheSmokingGun.com she is considering a lawsuit against Shlomi.

[Rick Munroe]

Comparing Tim Russert and Billy Mays simply because they were both 50ish and were TV personalities is seriously misleading.

 

No, I wasn't comparing them for that reason. I was comparing them because right after Tim Russert died, some on here were critical of Russert, and others, such as jackhammer, berated them for not showing sufficient respect for the dead. Isn't Billy Mays also very recently dead?

 

(Btw, I don't watch TV so I'm not totally sure who Billy Mays is, and I never watched Meet the Press except for a few YouTube clips.)

[jackhammer91406]

Rick,I can see how you would want to take the easy shot although I don't consider the remarks at all comparable. Just a different point of view which you made very clear when the thread about Russert appeared. Maybe it's time for some new material?

[Rick Munroe]

Rick,I can see how you would want to take the easy shot

 

How was it an "easy shot"? Who was attacking you? I was merely making an observation about hypocrisy.

[+ purplekow]

"apart from that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?"

 

Still too soon for a Lincoln joke? If one has any civility at all but also enjoys the occasional "bad taste" joke, there is difficulty in knowing when is it too early to make a joke after the passing of a public figure. It seems the more beloved and the higher the level of integrity in the person's life, the longer the time between death and the first joke. Still don't hear too many John Lennon jokes or John Kennedy jokes. Micheal Jackson, well he was beloved by some, reviled by others and the jokes are already flying. So Tim Russert probably gets a bigger period of respect than Billy Mays. This does not speak to the qualities of the inner, private man but rather the quality of his public persona. I am not a fan of these jokes, so I would always err on the side of waiting a bit longer. That reminds me Farrah Fawcett Michael Jackson, Billy Mays and a rabbi walk into a bar....

[Luv2play]

Frankly, if I had never watched Meet the Press and, in fact, didn't watch TV at all, I wouldn't be making comments on an Internet site about the TV personalities involved since I wouldn't know what I was talking about. As far as I am concerned, Billy Mays was just a shrill shill and I think television will be better off without him. Russert was one of the classiest and best informed US political talking heads of his generation. I don't recall the negative comments by Jackhammer about Russert but he was entitled toi his opinion.

[jackhammer91406]

. Russert was one of the classiest and best informed US political talking heads of his generation. I don't recall the negative comments by Jackhammer about Russert but he was entitled toi his opinion.

My comments regarding Tim Russert were exactly the opposite of negative. I had nothing but good things to say about Tim. As for Billy, I made no negative reference to him. In fact I remarked how I always thought he was sort of hot.. My other comments in this thread were in response to Charlie and referenced an example of what drives me nuts when it comes to commercials. HEAD ON

[Luv2play]

Let's just blame Rick for stirring things up. I can't be bothered to look up who said what about whom.