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I agree, sam
His approach was loud, strident, and pushy.  I regret his passing,  But that regret does not improve my opinion of his commercials, or keep me from feeling creeped out that most of his spots are back on the airwaves.

posted by notapoet on July 13, 2009 at 11:26 PM | link to this | reply

Guy
I agree with you on both counts.  Mays might have been one of the top pitchmen, but the characteristics you cited were also a big turn off for me and did not leave me favorably disposed toward the products he pitched.  I think you're dead on about the production costs of commercial spots.  It only makes sense that in a tight economy advertisers will try to avoid the extra costs of new spots whenever possible.

posted by notapoet on July 13, 2009 at 11:22 PM | link to this | reply

Troosha
I felt the same way when I saw one of his commercials the evening of the day I learned he had died.  I still felt a little creeped out when I caught part of one earlier today.  But I also think it's something we are going to have to get used to.  It is likely that more and more companies will not be willing to bite the bullet and pay for new ads when a spokes person dies.

posted by notapoet on July 13, 2009 at 11:14 PM | link to this | reply

I don't know if I could handle a Mays commercial now! It was so difficult before because he was so damn loud! sam

posted by sam444 on July 13, 2009 at 6:04 AM | link to this | reply

Billy Mays reincarnated

  Notapoet,

      To be honest, I could never get past Billy's grating, strident delivery and his Mickey Mouse voice, to take the products that he pitched seriously. I have noticed MANY old commercials being dusted off and being given a second life lately, not just his. I guess that many commercial ads are nearly as expensive to produce as a full length movie, and with the state of the economy, it pays to recycle even for millionaire Madison Avenue types.

          Guy

posted by northsage_45 on July 12, 2009 at 7:47 PM | link to this | reply

notapoet
I thought it was creepy when I saw a Mays commercial after having heard he had died.  Actually, I thought it was in bad taste. 

posted by Troosha on July 12, 2009 at 8:53 AM | link to this | reply