An original idea for show that came just a bit too late. With the recent death of the infomercial king Billy Mays, the future looks uncertain for his new series Pitchmen.
Pitchmen follows Mays and his business partner, Anthony “Sully” Sullivan, as they travel around the country and evaluate products for them to pitch on infomercials. Some unusual products spotlighted on the series include new takes on lawn fertilizer, windshield wipers, odor-removing spray, and shark repellant.
Airing on the Discovery Channel, the show began airing on April 15th. A dozen hour-long episodes have been produced and last one will air today, concluding a day long marathon of the show.
Episode 12 is titled “Revenge of the Pitchmen” and revolves around Mays and Sullivan taking part in a “pitch-off” to determine who’s the best pitchman in the business.
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An on-screen graphic will be been added to the finale to mark Mays’ untimely passing. Discovery is also planning to air a special tribute show in the near future.
Whether the series can or will continue without the energetic Mays is still up in the air. The show has been successful but certainly has not been a huge hit for Discovery. Wednesday’s episode attracted 1.45 million viewers. Not surprisingly that’s a bump over the show’s usual performance.
A spokesperson for Discovery said that, for right now, their focus is to show support the Mays family. A decision about the show’s future will be made at a later date.
Should the show continue, possibly with Sullivan finding a new partner? Or, is the show simply over without Mays?
Image courtesy Discovery Channel.
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I have given this some thought and I think that Sully and Billy Mays III and the leader of Telebrands (sometimes featured) should host a competition similar to The Next Food Network Star not to replace Billy (because he is irreplaceable) but as someone to pick up the torch and carry on his energy and spirit. This person may be something completely new, completely different – but the best way to save the show is to get the audience involved in this sort of way. It could absolutely work if done well.
Billy III is a different personality though. He was the behind the scenes guy, more comfortable with Assisting and Directing. I think he is too reserved to be on camera. Sully could do it without Billy and Billy could still be a player in the show if they go in a direction like…”what would Billy do with this product??” Then, every single new show would be a tribute to Billy. I’m sure Sully talks to Billy now anyway. With their relationship as strong (it seemed to be a true Love/Hate) as it was, it would just be natural for him to talk to Billy. The Telebrand guy could have more of a role too. He could be the villian to Sully’s hero. Are you listening Discovery Channel?
I agree with Jamie…”Give them some time off to cope and regroup then have Little Billy step in.” This would be a great idea if and only if Little Billy likes what his dad did.
KEEP THE SHOW GOING!!
I like the contest idea.
Another, albeit I’m sure very controversial, would be to get Vince Offer, Billy Mays’s arch-nemesis to be on the show with Anthony. On the one hand, it might be viewed by some as disrespectful of Billy, but even Billy and Anthony have a rivalry going. I fully expect that if you asked Offer, he’d have nothing but respect for Mays. He could never replace Mays, of course, but let’s face it, even if the show can never be the same without Mays, the important thing for the show to survive is for it to be interesting enough to attract and keep viewers. He may not be Mays, but Vince Offer *is* a pitchman, and has a fairly well-known and controversial personality. Sorry, Sully, but before the show on the Discovery Channel, I knew who Billy Mays and Vince Offer were (albeit I always thought he was saying “Fitz”
, but not Anthony Sullivan. That said, I’d have to say that Offer is probably the 2nd most recognizable pitchman I can think of behind Mays.
I think that his son, little Billy should take his place
The show is amazingly entertaining! It cant be cancelled, Billy would want the show to go on! As he has stated before in the show, it’s not about Billy or Anthony it’s about the product! Little Bill should take up the mantle, but thats up to him.
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