It is at this juncture that me and all my fellow close-to-50 year old colleagues are nervously adjusting our collars.
Question: Of all the recent celebrity deaths – Carradine, McMahon, Fawcett, Jackson, and now Mays – who are you going to miss the most? My money says the vast majority of Americans would say Mays.
Whats next ? The ShamWow guy ? Being a 50 year old I’m getting nervous.
G, yeah, I know what you are talking about. Keep your ticker in shape..
Joe – I just posted about this as well! I can’t believe this, and this one absolutely hits me the hardest. I loved Billy Mays, even though I never met him, and in a purely non-homosexual way, of course.
This has not even come close to sinking in with me yet. Commercial time will never be the same!
Yeah, and I was planning to start watching his new show on cable and have not seen an episode yet. Real bummer. I used to instinctively hate TV pitchmen, but recently developed respect for the one who do it well. There is definitely an art to it. (I think your post about Mays last year was what started my change in attitude.)
Wow this is too sad. I love watching Billy work his magic on the screen. Guess Pitchmen is canceled now?
Ah yes, the Billy Mays for President post! I think we would both like him more than Obama! And with Sham Wow guy as VP, we would definitely be getting a colorful character as Prez right now.
Actually, the ShamWow guy is the same as the Slap Chop guy.
And I’d like to use a Slap Chop on him.
No – “Slap Chop” is vintage Sham Wow guy! I think once you get the Sham Wow vibe you will have a greater appreciation for his work.
But it is good to know I am not the only one with a tendency to be watching cable TV at 3 in the morning.
On 17 June 2009, First Sergeant Kevin A. Dupont, age 52, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, died of his wounds at Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife by his side. He was wounded while leading a combat patrol in the Eastern Afghanistan Khowst-Gardez Pass while serving with 1st Brigade, 203rd Corps, Afghan National Army Embedded Training Team. An IED struck the vehicle in which he was riding. He was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in August 2008 as part of a two-member unit to support the Afghanistan Regional Security Integration Command Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix-Afghanistan.
His military career started off in 1976, when he joined the U.S. Marines right out of high school and served for six years as a rifleman and sniper, including two years on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). In 1984, he joined the Massachusetts National Guard as an infantryman. He also served on an anti-crime task force for the Templeton, Massachusetts, Police Department, while working fulltime for the National Guard. He had been recently promoted to First Sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 182nd Cavalry Regiment.
His medals and decorations include: The Bronze Star; Combat Infantryman Badge; Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal; three Army Commendation medals; five Army Achievement medals; two Marine Corps Good Conduct medals; seven Army Reserve Components Achievement medals, two National Defense Service medals; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Afghanistan Campaign Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Armed Forces Service Medal; the Armed Forces Reserve Medal; and the NATO Medal.
His funeral was held in Chicopee on Friday, 26 June 2009. He now lies buried in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA.
Michael Jackson. Farah Fawcett. Ed McMahon. Billy Mays. Personally, I will miss Kevin Dupont far more than all the others combined. And I didn’t even know the man.
On 17 June 2009, First Sergeant Kevin A. Dupont, age 52, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, died of his wounds at Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife by his side. He was wounded while leading a combat patrol in the Eastern Afghanistan Khowst-Gardez Pass while serving with 1st Brigade, 203rd Corps, Afghan National Army Embedded Training Team. An IED struck the vehicle in which he was riding. He was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in August 2008 as part of a two-member unit to support the Afghanistan Regional Security Integration Command Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix-Afghanistan.
His military career started off in 1976, when he joined the U.S. Marines right out of high school and served for six years as a rifleman and sniper, including two years on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). In 1984, he joined the Massachusetts National Guard as an infantryman. He also served on an anti-crime task force for the Templeton, Massachusetts, Police Department, while working fulltime for the National Guard. He had been recently promoted to First Sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 182nd Cavalry Regiment.
His medals and decorations include: The Bronze Star; Combat Infantryman Badge; Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal; three Army Commendation medals; five Army Achievement medals; two Marine Corps Good Conduct medals; seven Army Reserve Components Achievement medals, two National Defense Service medals; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Afghanistan Campaign Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Armed Forces Service Medal; the Armed Forces Reserve Medal; and the NATO Medal.
His funeral was held in Chicopee on Friday, 26 June 2009. He now lies buried in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA.
Michael Jackson. Farah Fawcett. Ed McMahon. Billy Mays. Personally, I will miss Kevin Dupont far more than all the others combined. And I didn’t even know the man.
Sorry, forgot to add great post! Can’t wait to see your next post!
If they remove all of the Billy Mays spots on cable due to his passing, there will be nothing left. He was every other commercials.
Wolverine
Thanks for tossing in a bit of perspective. We should all have a good thought for Sgt Dupont and his family. An impressive man.
Wolverine
A touch of sanity. Thank you!
Bob Shiefer’s “last words” yesterday were expressing the same kind of feeling.
As for Billy Mays, I had never knew his name until now, although I realize that I’ve seen his face and heard his annoying hype-voice on TV.
It would be well for us all to consider who are worthy of our adoration.
Agreed Wolv.
Sadly, I did read that the Sham-wow guy was arrested for biting a prostitute:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0327092sham1.html
Not saying she didn’t deserve it, since it sounds like she was causing him some pain, but this may effect his VP considerations. Who knows though – it could help!
No amount of Zorbies can contain my tears.
I mourn the loss of every US military person in action (or otherwise). That doesn’t mean I can’t express remorse for a unique character like Billy Mays.
LI
I find it a bit difficult to mourn the death of a guy whose “fame” comes from pushing unnecessary stuff at exorbitant prices on television. Had I known him, it would be a different thing, of course.
(I believe “remorse” menans regretting having done or said something.)
I think I could care less about this whole conversation. But that would require effort. Wolv’s excellent comment not withstanding.
“I’ve seen his face and heard his annoying hype-voice on TV”
“a guy whose “fame” comes from pushing unnecessary stuff at exorbitant prices on television.”
Did not realize that Obama and Billy Mays had so much in common Lovisa, thanks for pointing this out.
“It would be well for us all to consider who are worthy of our adoration.”
I will take your advice. When informed it is your turn to take the dirt nap, I will be sure my response is, who cares. It’s only Lovisa the lefty blogger.
ha! dans.