BCAlum2000 42 Posted June 28, 2009 The popular US TV salesman Billy Mays has been found dead. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/28/28.../news-breaking/ Gonna have to watch some of his infomercial adverts now. There's plenty on YouTube and they're comical in their bombastic over-promotion of simple household products... I mean you've all seen television shopping channels, right? No UK media is going to pick up on this, due to the fact that the only way people in the UK are gonna know about him is through the internet. He's not exactly a celebrity on the level of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, or Michael Jackson. Hell, I never really heard of him. But he's quite popular in the States. He is a fairly notable television personality in America and has actually amassed a small following. I've seen his face numerous times but never really paid attention to his name. A tragic loss nonetheless, but one I honestly couldn't really care about. Honestly, I'm surprised by the amount of coverage in the States that's devoted to his death. Both CNN and Yahoo have frontpage stories about his passing (though it might be b/c of the circumstances of his death and the fact that he was fairly young when he died). Semi or quasi-celebrities who died fairly young tend to receive more extensive media coverage b/c of the fact that they died young. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ageless Immortal Giant 2 Posted June 28, 2009 The popular US TV salesman Billy Mays has been found dead. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/28/28.../news-breaking/ Gonna have to watch some of his infomercial adverts now. There's plenty on YouTube and they're comical in their bombastic over-promotion of simple household products... I mean you've all seen television shopping channels, right? No UK media is going to pick up on this, due to the fact that the only way people in the UK are gonna know about him is through the internet. He's not exactly a celebrity on the level of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, or Michael Jackson. Hell, I never really heard of him. But he's quite popular in the States. He is a fairly notable television personality in America and has actually amassed a small following. I've seen his face numerous times but never really paid attention to his name. A tragic loss nonetheless, but one I honestly couldn't really care about. Honestly, I'm surprised by the amount of coverage in the States that's devoted to his death. Both CNN and Yahoo have frontpage stories about his passing (though it might be b/c of the circumstances of his death and the fact that he was fairly young when he died). Semi or quasi-celebrities who died fairly young tend to receive more extensive media coverage b/c of the fact that they died young. That's something I was saying in the Jacko thread. Mays was the same age as Jacko when he died. Is 50 young these days? We all know that people who die young receive greater tributes, and sometimes better fame (think musicians who died at 27). So is 50 the new 27? People were saying that Jacko's death is gonna top Elvis, and so on, and make him one of these legends who died a tragic death before their time... but was he really young? Young at heart, maybe, but young in age? It's this that I can't seem to fully comprehend so I'd like a second opinion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BCAlum2000 42 Posted June 28, 2009 The popular US TV salesman Billy Mays has been found dead. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/28/28.../news-breaking/ Gonna have to watch some of his infomercial adverts now. There's plenty on YouTube and they're comical in their bombastic over-promotion of simple household products... I mean you've all seen television shopping channels, right? No UK media is going to pick up on this, due to the fact that the only way people in the UK are gonna know about him is through the internet. He's not exactly a celebrity on the level of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, or Michael Jackson. Hell, I never really heard of him. But he's quite popular in the States. He is a fairly notable television personality in America and has actually amassed a small following. I've seen his face numerous times but never really paid attention to his name. A tragic loss nonetheless, but one I honestly couldn't really care about. Honestly, I'm surprised by the amount of coverage in the States that's devoted to his death. Both CNN and Yahoo have frontpage stories about his passing (though it might be b/c of the circumstances of his death and the fact that he was fairly young when he died). Semi or quasi-celebrities who died fairly young tend to receive more extensive media coverage b/c of the fact that they died young. That's something I was saying in the Jacko thread. Mays was the same age as Jacko when he died. Is 50 young these days? We all know that people who die young receive greater tributes, and sometimes better fame (think musicians who died at 27). So is 50 the new 27? People were saying that Jacko's death is gonna top Elvis, and so on, and make him one of these legends who died a tragic death before their time... but was he really young? Young at heart, maybe, but young in age? It's this that I can't seem to fully comprehend so I'd like a second opinion. 50 years old is definitely "young" by today's standards. People are living a lot longer than ever thanks to advances in medicine, science, and geriatrics. No, 50 is not the new 27 though these days, being 50 is probably like being in your mid to late 30s. I personally know quite a few people in their early 50s who don't look a day over 35. Take a look at individuals like Betty White, Christopher Lee, Stan Lee, Leslie Nielsen, Eli Wallach, Ernest Borgnine, Clint Eastwood, et. al. All of them are in their 80s and 90s yet many of them continue to have vibrant careers. I remember stating in an earlier post that even 70 these days is not considered old. I was surprised by the plethora of comments regarding Dom DeLuise and Sydney Pollack's deaths and how they were taken from this earth "far too soon." Both Pollack and DeLuise were already in their mid 70s but I've read many comments stating they were "gone too soon." I do think that living to be in your mid to late 80s (especially if you're a celebrity) might possibly be the norm in a decade or so. And although MJ already reached his career peak in the late 80s and 90s and admittedly was really the shadow of his former glorious self in the last decade or so of his life, he was still a very notable public figure and continued to receive extensive media coverage (even if for the wrong reasons). And now, there was a lot of building of hype over his 50 concert comeback tour in London. Also, when Elvis Presley died, he was in his early 40s so he was not all that much younger than MJ. In my honest opinion, I think 50 years old is too young to pass away. Something I want to add is regarding Jade Goody. She was practically a nobody in the States, but when she became terminally ill w/ cancer, she received a lot of media coverage in the US. If Jade were older (or probably not as infamous in England), I'd doubt that the US media would even bat an eyelash at her. But b/c she was only 27 years old at the time of her cancer and passing (and already gained a lot of "fame" in the UK), the media was all over this story. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ageless Immortal Giant 2 Posted June 28, 2009 The popular US TV salesman Billy Mays has been found dead. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/28/28.../news-breaking/ Gonna have to watch some of his infomercial adverts now. There's plenty on YouTube and they're comical in their bombastic over-promotion of simple household products... I mean you've all seen television shopping channels, right? No UK media is going to pick up on this, due to the fact that the only way people in the UK are gonna know about him is through the internet. He's not exactly a celebrity on the level of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, or Michael Jackson. Hell, I never really heard of him. But he's quite popular in the States. He is a fairly notable television personality in America and has actually amassed a small following. I've seen his face numerous times but never really paid attention to his name. A tragic loss nonetheless, but one I honestly couldn't really care about. Honestly, I'm surprised by the amount of coverage in the States that's devoted to his death. Both CNN and Yahoo have frontpage stories about his passing (though it might be b/c of the circumstances of his death and the fact that he was fairly young when he died). Semi or quasi-celebrities who died fairly young tend to receive more extensive media coverage b/c of the fact that they died young. That's something I was saying in the Jacko thread. Mays was the same age as Jacko when he died. Is 50 young these days? We all know that people who die young receive greater tributes, and sometimes better fame (think musicians who died at 27). So is 50 the new 27? People were saying that Jacko's death is gonna top Elvis, and so on, and make him one of these legends who died a tragic death before their time... but was he really young? Young at heart, maybe, but young in age? It's this that I can't seem to fully comprehend so I'd like a second opinion. 50 years old is definitely "young" by today's standards. People are living a lot longer than ever thanks to advances in medicine, science, and geriatrics. No, 50 is not the new 27 though these days, being 50 is probably like being in your mid to late 30s. I personally know quite a few people in their early 50s who don't look a day over 35. Take a look at individuals like Betty White, Christopher Lee, Stan Lee, Leslie Nielsen, Eli Wallach, Ernest Borgnine, Clint Eastwood, et. al. All of them are in their 80s and 90s yet many of them continue to have vibrant careers. I remember stating in an earlier post that even 70 these days is not considered old. I was surprised by the plethora of comments regarding Dom DeLuise and Sydney Pollack's deaths and how they were taken from this earth "far too soon." Both Pollack and DeLuise were already in their mid 70s but I've read many comments stating they were "gone too soon." I do think that living to be in your mid to late 80s (especially if you're a celebrity) might possibly be the norm in a decade or so. And although MJ already reached his career peak in the late 80s and 90s and admittedly was really the shadow of his former glorious self in the last decade or so of his life, he was still a very notable public figure and continued to receive extensive media coverage (even if for the wrong reasons). And now, there was a lot of building of hype over his 50 concert comeback tour in London. Also, when Elvis Presley died, he was in his early 40s so he was not all that much younger than MJ. In my honest opinion, I think 50 years old is too young to pass away. Something I want to add is regarding Jade Goody. She was practically a nobody in the States, but when she became terminally ill w/ cancer, she received a lot of media coverage in the US. If Jade were older (or probably not as infamous in England), I'd doubt that the US media would even bat an eyelash at her. But b/c she was only 27 years old at the time of her cancer and passing (and already gained a lot of "fame" in the UK), the media was all over this story. Didn't know Jade Goody was covered in the US media when she died. The thing with her is that although it's tragic that she died young and all that, she did not deserve fame because she did nothing of value in particular... I will always hold this opinion about her. There's no good reason for her to have been a celebrity - that's just the excesses of reality TV, Big Brother and Britain's Got Talent type of crap. Producing new celebrities, then shunning them a month down the line, to make way for the next one. Sure, 50 is too young to die. I'd agree. But it's not quite young and it's not quite old... Billy Mays, it seems, died of a head injury following being on a flight the previous night with turbulence in which overhead luggage was falling on people's heads, or something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toast 16,144 Posted June 28, 2009 Jade Goody. She was practically a nobody in the States She was a nobody in the UK. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Unknown Man 585 Posted June 29, 2009 Singer Gale Storm has died aged 87. Picked by one team on the DDP as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark McQ 0 Posted June 29, 2009 Billy Mays his latest thing is Mighty Putty. I guess thats what there going to seal his coffin with. I guess thats some relief from Michael Jackson. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themaninblack 2,112 Posted June 29, 2009 The popular US TV salesman Billy Mays has been found dead. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/28/28.../news-breaking/ Gonna have to watch some of his infomercial adverts now. There's plenty on YouTube and they're comical in their bombastic over-promotion of simple household products... I mean you've all seen television shopping channels, right? No UK media is going to pick up on this, due to the fact that the only way people in the UK are gonna know about him is through the internet. Ahem.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ageless Immortal Giant 2 Posted June 30, 2009 The popular US TV salesman Billy Mays has been found dead. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/28/28.../news-breaking/ Gonna have to watch some of his infomercial adverts now. There's plenty on YouTube and they're comical in their bombastic over-promotion of simple household products... I mean you've all seen television shopping channels, right? No UK media is going to pick up on this, due to the fact that the only way people in the UK are gonna know about him is through the internet. Ahem.. If any UK news source was going to pick up on his death... trust The Guardian to do it. Like, I wouldn't expect BBC or The Sun to publish anything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DevonDeathTrip 2,358 Posted June 30, 2009 Fayette Pinkney, original member of The Three Degrees, died on Saturday night. We Won't See You Again Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VSBfromH 74 Posted June 30, 2009 German choreographer and dancer Pina Bausch has died from cancer aged 68 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anubis the Jackal 77 Posted June 30, 2009 Probably mentioned before, but Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, celebrated Indian classical musician and ex-brother-in-law of Ravi Shankar has om'ed his last. As he once said: "If you practise for 10 years, you may begin to please yourself. After 20 years you may become a performer and please the audience. After 30 years you may please even your guru. But you must practise for many more years before you finally become a true artist – then you may please even God." His father was 100 years old before he felt ready to bestow on his son the title of Swara Samrat ("Emperor of Melody") Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VSBfromH 74 Posted June 30, 2009 Jan Rubes The veteran Czech-born Canadian actor who played the grandfather Eli Lapp in "Witness" has died aged 89. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VSBfromH 74 Posted July 1, 2009 Alexis Arguello 3 times world lightweight boxing champion and more recently mayor of Managua, Nicaragua, has committed suicide at the age of 57. He was know as "the explosive thin man" which is a bit cumbersome for a nickname! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
time 8,617 Posted July 1, 2009 Another singer has died of a heart attack, this time an 80 year old Russian folk singer. Probably won't get a British obit, but the news has reached Pakistan so who knows. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Hackenslash 25 Posted July 1, 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8129617.stm Actress Mollie Sugden has died at the age of 86, her agent has said. She died at the Royal Surrey Hospital after a long illness. The actress was best known for playing Mrs Slocombe in the long-running British sitcom Are You Being Served? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheProfessor 0 Posted July 1, 2009 http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/01/k...obit/index.html Oscar Winner Karl Malden, best known for his appearance in A Streetcar Named Desire, died today at age 97. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guest Posted July 1, 2009 http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/01/k...obit/index.html Oscar Winner Karl Malden, best known for his appearance in A Streetcar Named Desire, died today at age 97. You are a plank. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Bearer 6,102 Posted July 1, 2009 http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/01/k...obit/index.html Oscar Winner Karl Malden, best known for his appearance in A Streetcar Named Desire, died today at age 97. He has his own thread here Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BCAlum2000 42 Posted July 2, 2009 Another Hollywood related death to report... Character actor Harve Presnell has died at the age of 75. He's had supporting roles in tons of movies, including Fargo, Saving Private Ryan, and most recently, Evan Almighty. http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/07/fargo-ac...dead-at-75.html Obviously, his death was overshadowed by the far more well known actor Karl Malden who died the same day... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,647 Posted July 2, 2009 Viscount Bledisloe, another of those eccentric English sorts who'll doubtless prompt a few, 'We'll never see his like again,' type comments. But then we see his like at least once a month in the Telegraph at the moment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,647 Posted July 2, 2009 Re Goldblum et al, AOL asks the crucial question, Celebrity death hoaxes, are they funny? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BCAlum2000 42 Posted July 2, 2009 Re Goldblum et al, AOL asks the crucial question, Celebrity death hoaxes, are they funny? Yeah, celebrity death hoaxes are such a TEASE. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canadian Paul 97 Posted July 4, 2009 Béla Király, "a key figure in Hungary's ill-fated anti-Soviet revolution in 1956" died today - key enough to be a unique pick on the DDP, but not key enough to have garnered an appropriate obit (yet). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
