BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009

Subject: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman deceased
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 01:33 PM

It was just on the news...Billy Mays has also died. He was a famous pitchman for informercials, like Oxi-Clean etc. He also was on a reality-type show. Cause unknown, although he bumped his head in an airplane rough landing very recently. mg

Subject: Obit: Billy Mays (Am. loud ad man) age 50
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 01:34 PM

This has been such a really really strange week. Now Billy Mays dies at 50?

From Huffington Post:

TAMPA, Fla. — Billy Mays, the burly, bearded television pitchman known for his boisterous hawking of products such as Orange Glo and OxiClean, has died. He was 50.

Tampa police said Mays was found unresponsive by his wife Sunday morning. A fire rescue crew pronounced him dead at 7:45 a.m.

There were no signs of a break-in, and investigators do not suspect foul play, said Lt. Brian Dugan of the Tampa Police Department, who wouldn't answer any more questions about how Mays' body was found because of the ongoing investigation. The coroner's office expects to have an autopsy done by Monday afternoon.

"Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days," said Mays' wife, Deborah. "Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times."

Tampa area media outlets reported that Mays was a passenger on a U.S. Airways flight that made a rough landing on Saturday afternoon at Tampa International Airport, apparently blowing its front tires in an incident that left debris on the runway.

Tampa Bay's Fox television affiliate interviewed Mays after the incident.

"All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping," MyFox Tampa Bay quoted him as saying. "It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."

U.S. Airways officials said Sunday they could not immediately confirm that Mays was a passenger.

The SC Gov and then Farrah and Michael and now Billy. Is there something in the water? In the air?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman deceased
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 01:34 PM

I just ran one also, but I don't ever call obits "BS", though I did look down here.

Subject: RE: Obit: Billy Mays (Am. loud ad man) age 50
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 01:37 PM

This can go below or be merged, but I don't like to call anyone's obit "BS".

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman deceased
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 01:44 PM

It is a problem...maybe there could be non-music obits. mg

---

Not to worry. We check all Obits, and move non-music obits to the non-music section.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman deceased
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 02:44 PM

WTF!

Didn't like his voice, but this is not good!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman deceased
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 04:21 PM

....someone help me out with the thinking as to why everyone who is even remotely well-known in ANY area needs an OBIT thread on Mudcat within 10 minutes?

And what do you watch/subscribe to to KNOW these things?

***puzzled***

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman deceased
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 04:58 PM

I think it is nice, especially if they are very well known. I wouldn't put them in the music section, but ?? personal preference I guess. I heard it on some news show. I faithfully read National Enquirer etc. inthe grocery store and I read Huffington post and watch Access Hollywood. That's how I know so much. Yourself? mg

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman deceased
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 05:27 PM

*grin*... I see...now that you explain it so clearly.

I watch CNN, MSNBC, PBS and read The Washington Post and several **news** feeds on a couple of special readers, set to selected channels....that's how I'm able to avoid certain items for awhile.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: maire-aine
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 06:17 PM

I just saw the headline (on AOL) as I was signing on to read email, but I didn't read the article. I never liked the man much, but I never wished him ill. I just muted the commercials whenever I noticed them. My sympathy to his family.

RIP

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: heric
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 07:05 PM

Never heard of him, but sorry he had to die!

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: SharonA
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 10:33 PM

I live in the Philadelphia PA area, so the news of the plane's hard landing was on the local news yesterday because US Airways Flight 1241 had originated at Philadelphia International Airport. The reports downplayed the injuries to the passengers, saying they were not serious. It's bizarre to hear, a day later, that anyone on that plane (let alone a celebrity) had been hit on the head by debris within the plane's cabin during the incident.... and it's very sad to hear that pitchman and all-around nice guy Billy Mays was struck by that debris, which most likely caused his death.

In addition to Mays' statement that "things from the ceiling started dropping", I found an article thta quotes another passenger as saying, "It was just a great big thump. It was a surprise and even up above a couple seats the overhead compartment came down... the one that lights up the seat-belt sign and everything." (from this article at abcactionnews.com) Sounds as if it was more than just some stuff IN the overhead compartment that struck Mays; it was the compartment itself!!! How could it have come loose like that? And HOW could the airline have sent passengers on their way after they were hit by this piece of the plane's interior AND claim that no one was hurt??????

And get this -- TMZ.com is reporting that the FAA is already trying to blame Mays for any injuries, claiming that he wasn't wearing his seat belt during the landing. This claim is being made BEFORE the autopsy on Mays hsa been completed -- the medical examiner won't be done before tomorrow afternoon! Sooooooo why is the FAA being so careful to try to cover its ass so precipitously???

Ha -- and Zap2it.com is saying that "FAA spokesperson Laura Brown, who initially talked to TMZ about the seatbelt issue is now claiming she never said that. She now states, 'At this point in time, we cannot have any idea who was or wasn't wearing their seat belt on the plane.' " (from this article at Zap2it.com) Curiouser and curiouser -- the FAA is covering the covering of its ass -- keep a close eye on this story, folks.

We'll know soon enough, when the autopsy report is made public, whether that hard blow to his head caused an epidural hemorrhage akin to the one that killed Natasha Richardson in March. It probably did; the "talk and die" symptoms are remarkably similar.

Rest in peace, Billy Mays. Those left behind will make sure that the airline industry will be brought to account for its shameful negligence. And when it's my time to go, however I go, I hope you'll be kind enough to make a pitch for me to the powers that be.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: Amergin
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 10:59 PM

great....one less person to yell at me....

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 11:41 PM

Bill, I know the feeling...it seems to be proliferating, lately.

Head injuries are tricky. Remember the actress who was skiing in Canada and thought she was okay after a small bump? She also died shortly after.

I really don't see why we have a thread about Mays, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: jeffp
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 03:38 PM

Initial reports from the Medical Examiner suggest heart disease and no sign of head injury.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: SharonA
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 03:46 AM

Thanks, Jeff. Reports continue to say that the doctor who performed the autopsy claims that he found "no signs of internal or external head trauma." I find it hard to believe that a heavy blow to the head from a falling overhead compartment would not leave any sign of external trauma. No bruise? Is this possible??? ...or could it be that the doctor was pressured by the FAA to overlook any signs of trauma? Hmmm... Anyway, the final decision on cause of death is pending some test results.

The Monday-morning quarterback in me says that Mays should have gone to the emergency room when he felt ill that evening, rather than going to bed, just to be on the safe side. All too often, though, people ignore symptoms of heart failure (and concussion, for that matter), to their peril.

- - - - - - - - - -

Some here are wondering why this particular Obit thread exists. I think that there are several reasons:

Personality: Mays was an often-seen presence on TV who had risen above mere pitchman status because of his infectious smile and cheerful style and exuberance. Also, by all accounts he was a genuinely nice guy who worked as hard to help others as he did to advance his own career. He made it clear through his appearances on talk shows and elsewhere that he had a great sense of fun and was more than willing to parody himself. His was the type of personality that drew others to him and induced them to wish they could know him better. Strong spirits like his leave large gaps in the world when they pass on, and we acknowledge this phenomenon by noting Mays' passing in a thread.

Shared experience: Because television viewing is so ubiquitous, many of us are used to seeing Mays in commercials, so we collectively feel the gap that he has left behind, as we feel the gap when famous TV actors pass on. Discussing these feelings in a thread helps us to deal with the sudden change in our routine and with our feelings of sympathy for his family and friends.

Cautionary tale: The story of a man of such vitality and zest for life, passing at such a high point in his career (he had completed the first season of a successful cable TV show and was to begin an advertising campaign for fast-food giant Taco Bell in August) makes us all question the reason for his unexpected death in order to prevent the same thing from happening to us or to our loved ones, if we can possibly take steps to avoid such a tragedy. By sharing information about this occurrence in a thread, we can learn from Mays' unfortunate experience.

Admiration: Billy Mays' showmanship displayed a lot of the same qualities and tricks-of-the-trade that we admire in folk musicians who take the stage and put on an entertaining act. We learn to improve our own stage shows by watcbing what successful people do. Even though some people objected to the loudness of his voice, no one can deny that his performance was memorable and that he conveyed his message successfully. There are lessons to be learned from his technique, so posting a thread about Mays on a site where performers and aspiring performers chat is quite appropriate.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: Becca72
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 07:32 AM

Very well said, Sharon

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: robomatic
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 01:46 PM

An old boss of mine, who liked to tell a lot of stories, claimed he'd been on an aircraft where a laptop fell out of an overhead compartment onto a passenger and killed him.

Without necessarily believing him, I think it's credible that someone can be hurt this way.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 01:56 PM

It appears he had untreated heart and artery disease and died of a Pulmonary Embolism which could easily have been triggered by the pressure changes on his flight. He was a time bomb waiting to happen.

Condolences to his friends and family


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 03:49 PM

The pulmonary embolism can also be a result of sitting still for a long time, and one of the reasons they tell you to get up and walk around on long flights. Deep vein thrombosis. Remember when David Bloom of NBC died in Iraq after being in the cramped quarters of the tank or crew carrier for several hours?

A laptop falling on someone could kill them--especially one of the old ones. They were heavy and solid as bricks. Despite the relative delicacy of the internal parts to keep them working, all together, those were heavy plastic ingots.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 10:56 PM

Thanks, Becca!

- - - - - - - - - - -

The pulmonary embolism can also be a result of sitting still for a long time, and one of the reasons they tell you to get up and walk around on long flights.

Mays' flight from Philadelphia PA to Tampa FL wasn't all that long a time. Spaw's theory about air-pressure changes makes more sense. Then there's the stress of the hard landing, the stress of being struck by debris, the stress of having to exit the plane via inflatable sliding board, and the stress of being peppered with questions by the media... none of which helped, I would imagine.

Also, Mays had had two hip-replacement surgeries, and pulmonary embolism is a known complication, and it can occur several years after the surgery.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 11:54 PM

I thought he was due for the hip surgery on Monday after his flight.

I haven't looked, but the family released a statement that they wouldn't be saying much until there was something to say.

My son has posted about this on his Facebook page. Of the notable deaths last week, this is the one he is most saddened by. He's 17. There must be a program or a cult following he's responding to.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jul 09 - 12:23 AM

Gee, he seems young for hip replacements. I did catch his show a couple of times where new inventors pitched their products to him. It was interesting to see his reaction to their presentations.

Sharon, you've given me something to think about. Thanks.

Also, I don't think bruising would show up so quickly and may not at all with death so close to the possible injury. I hit my head and back two nights ago, am on coumadin and still have no evidence of bruising even though I can *feel* them. (Caution: be careful when sitting back in a reclining, rocking, swivelling outdoor lounge chair. My center of gravity was off!)

COndolences to his family and fans.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: M.Ted
Date: 02 Jul 09 - 12:30 AM

For today's kids, Billy Mays was a much more familiar figure than Michael Jackson or Farah Fawcett, or Ed McMahon, let alone Gale Storm or Karl Malden.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Jul 09 - 09:41 PM

He filled a much-needed void in TV programming

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: SharonA
Date: 03 Jul 09 - 03:55 PM

SRS: He was due for his third hip surgery the Monday after the flight! As kat says, he seemed awfully young for that, but who knows the reason -- perhaps he had an old sports injury or something.

Kat: You're welcome! I am nothing if not over-analytical. :-)

Dick Greenhaus: You are so right. When I read your post, I immediately thought of the great children's-program hosts of the '50s and '60s. They had the ability to "reach" through the camera and the television screen with their warmth, and make viewers think that the hosts were talking just to them. Those hosts also made personal appearances (and sometimes had live audiences in-studio) that verified viewers' perception of the hosts' genuinely-caring personalities. Billy Mays had that gift and that quality.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Jul 09 - 04:57 PM

'When I read your post, I immediately thought of the great children's-program hosts of the '50s and '60s. They had the ability to "reach" through the camera and the television screen...."

Good point! I remember one time watching "Howdy Doody," Buffalo Bob reached through the screen and gave me a hand job!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: SharonA
Date: 03 Jul 09 - 05:08 PM

Thanks SOOOOO much for THAT bit of input, Spaw! Have a happy Independence Day... assuming you CAN do it independently now. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 12:12 PM

I can do it independently now but I don't HAVE TO do it independently now!

Life is good. And Buffalo Bob wasn't bad..........


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 06:49 PM

Good grief. When the only good thing about his death was that I wouldn't have to hear him any more.

He Ain't Gone

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 07:24 PM

The void still is missing, apparently.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit - Billy Mays, Pitchman 28 June 2009
From: SharonA
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 04:43 AM

I guess we know now why ol' Billy was always so hyperactive, so restless, and so euphoric about all those as-seen-on-TV products....


From Examiner.com on August 9th

BILLY MAYS FAMILY CHALLENGES COCAINE CLAIM
August 9, 10:53 PM Pittsburgh City Buzz Examiner Barb Hickey

Evidence has emerged that cocaine was involved in the death of Billy Mays, the popular television pitchman from McKees Rocks, PA. Mays' family is disputing these claims and is requesting a closer examination of the evidence.

Mays became popular for promoting products like OxyClean and Orange Glo. His wife found him dead in their home in Tampa, FL the morning after Mays returned from a business trip. Family and friends said that Mays never appeared to be using illegal drugs.

On Friday, the medical examiner in Hillsborough County, FL released a report that included cocaine as a factor in the heart disease that contributed to the death of the 50-year-old Mays. The initial toxicology report indicated that Mays did not have cocaine in his body at the time of his death.

The toxicology reports also indicated medical amounts of the painkillers hydrocodone, tramadol and oxycodone. Also, the anti-anxiety drugs diazepam and alprazolam were found in his body.

Family members believe the medical examiner's report and the toxicology reports are conflicting and the information contained in the medical examiner's report is speculative.

The medical examiner listed heart disease as the main cause of death and also listed cocaine as contributing factor.

Mays' relatives believe that Billy suffered from chronic and untreated high blood pressure. Many of Mays' relatives still live in the Pittsburgh [Pennsylvania] area. Mays' family members are looking into an independent review of his autopsy by a third party.