People need to stop dying!

I need to say that I'm genuinely sad with the death of Billy Mays today. I've thought of this in the context of two dynamics.


1. He was on the cusp of being a real pop culture icon (and at 50?)

Billy Mays has been busting his ass for over a decade now and seemed to be taking on a role often played by Chuck Norris, Adam West, or William Shatner. To make it sadder, it wasn't like he hated this role, often embracing it and parodying himself (I saw a Leno once when he was using his selling voice and reciting Hamlet)

2. He (to me) legitimized a really stupid business.

Within the last two months I started watching "Pitchmen" which happens to be great television. It really demonstrates how dedicated he and Anthony Sullivan are to really trying to show how serious they take their work. It's not a game, it's an actual process that requires a borderline Ph.D. in marketing, and they fucking know how to do it.

But it all is just kinda gone, leaving so much potential, and I think it makes this death more sad than any other as of recent.


So what are you saying, Mark? Are you saying that his death is sadder than most occurring now?

Yes, that is EXACTLY what I'm fucking saying. Billy Mays is the Jeff Buckley of recent celebrity deaths.


Rest in peace, Billy Mays. I certainly will miss you.