The Most Obnoxious TV Pitchman

[BRNout]

Earl Scheib was a golden-tongued devil when compared with the likes of Billy Mays, Mr. Shamwow and (on the radio) Lucinda Bassett!

My vote: Billy Mays! Why all the yelling? Truly obnoxious.

 

[bpatrick]

In Greensboro we have Mike Hogewood, former WFMY
sports director and a sideline announcer on Raycom's
ACC football games; he does commercials for "CARoLIna
KIa." They've driven me up the wall ever since I first
saw them.

And who in Central Florida can forget Art Grindle, and
who in Birmingham can forget Jim Skinner ("oh, it makes
my liver quiver")?

And isn't Mr. Opportunity getting his own game show
on ABC this fall? ;D

 

[WPPCProductions]

I also cannot stand the "Free Credit Report.com" ads and the inane songs played in those commercials (in both radio and TV versions)--particularly once you learn that this offer "requires enrollment in Triple Advantage," leading many to argue that the "free credit report" is actually a ripoff.

Yes I agree ,A catchy jingle,thats what the ad producers want. The retarded band playing them are funny.

 

[gr8oldies]

There was a guy named Tony Hoffman who did one of the early "get rich with real estate" type informercials in the mid 80s with the late Bob Braun of Cincinnati TV fame. About a decade later he's selling some kind of kitchen appliance.

I'll second that emotion about Kevin Trudeau..bam, he's a memory expert! Now he's an organic medicine expert..and..wait..here he comes out of the phone booth and he's a financial expert!!!

I miss Mike Levy , who I understand passed away. No one could torch a car like he could!

 

[dhett]

Maybe it's just me but I think that Gilbert Gottfried as the voice of the stupid AFLAC duck is annoying as heck! AFLAC...AFLAC...Shut the AFLAC up.

I was just reminded this morning while listening to the radio that AFLAC has taken the duck to new depths of irritating. I didn't think it was possible, but it is. The new radio spots end with the duck singing - the Lullabye Song on one, and O Sole Mio on the other. It's worse than listening to Roseanne Barr try to sing the National Anthem. Has anyone seen those spots on TV, or are they just radio?

 

[ejjeff]

"From a long time ago - John Lance Ford in Cleveland had a man who screamed, "and look at this car HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE." Always screaming and extending the word "here" as he pointed to each car." Back in the 80's the same guy was in Pittsburgh and in Harrisburg. Pittsburgh it was Northview AMC and Harrisburg it was Harrisburg Chrysler Plymouth. "How about this care right here! $49 dollars down, $49 dollars a month. We'll see you here."

 

[kms575]

Maybe it's just me but I think that Gilbert Gottfried as the voice of the stupid AFLAC duck is annoying as heck! AFLAC...AFLAC...Shut the AFLAC up.

I was just reminded this morning while listening to the radio that AFLAC has taken the duck to new depths of irritating. I didn't think it was possible, but it is. The new radio spots end with the duck singing - the Lullabye Song on one, and O Sole Mio on the other. It's worse than listening to Roseanne Barr try to sing the National Anthem. Has anyone seen those spots on TV, or are they just radio?

I think they might just be on radio. I've heard them here in NYC.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

This evening on MSN.com I noticed this link to this Seth Stevenson article on Slate.com, "Ads We Hate: The Most Annoying Commercials in the Universe."

http://www.slate.com/id/2197146?GT1=38001

It includes YouTube footage of the commericals mentioned in the article, including the new Billy Mays health insurance spot previously mentioned in this thread. Thought all of you might find it of interest and a potential topic of further discussion.

 

[12 In a Row]

Considering Billy is THE most annoying, and has set the standard,
how bout we hand out the (drum roll please)

ANNUAL BILLY MAYS AWARD!

First year winner could be the guy from Lennox Financial.
I believe he's taken his radio campaign to TV.

He sounds like some Jersey punk looking for the "shakedown."
(No offense to Jersey-ites)

 

[Morgan Wick]

This evening on MSN.com I noticed this link to this Seth Stevenson article on Slate.com, "Ads We Hate: The Most Annoying Commercials in the Universe."

http://www.slate.com/id/2197146?GT1=38001

It includes YouTube footage of the commericals mentioned in the article, including the new Billy Mays health insurance spot previously mentioned in this thread. Thought all of you might find it of interest and a potential topic of further discussion.

Stevenson also did a profile of the Shamwow guy a while back:
http://www.slate.com/id/2190658/

 

[Skynet74]

I hate the new asian Six Flags Guy. Damn... he's annoying. Please bring back Mr. Six! At least he was fun and made me want to visit the theme park. The new guy just makes me want to stay away.

 

[BrigThomson]

I was thinking about the difference between the guy who does Free Credit Report & Billy Mays. The agency who created Free Credit wrote up a specific theme and then I assume auditioned several people for the part. But Mr. Free Credit is only hawking that particular product. With Billy Mays, he is doing his yelling for about a half dozen different products. So the question becomes, why do these different product companies and their agencies come to the conclusion that loud & obnoxious Billy is the one for them??

 

[WPPCProductions]

Will on here I see people are annoyed by Billy Mays,But how about the most annoying woman voice overs on tv and radio, as I mentioned earlier on a topic on Radio-Info board,about those raspy,gravelly,sandpapered unpleasent voice over on dept chain store ad's and other products,when I hear this voice the mute button on the remote will be used.

 

[Joe_Capitano]

I'm surprised nobody remembered his name (unless I missed something in this long thread)...

...John Lance Ford in Cleveland had a man who screamed, "and look at this car HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE." Always screaming and extending the word "here" as he pointed to each car.

And his name was Dave Campo. Master of the green screen, too. Click "HERE!" for proof.


...and don't get me started about that dope "Chef Tony".

 

[dhett]

Or Tony Little...

 

[WPPCProductions]

Did anyone remember Crazy Eddie ad's with Jerry Carroll. on late night tv at 2:00am on ch2,4,5,7,9,11 in New York back in the 1980's.one night as I was looking as some old video tapes and came across these ad's.plus other classic's like Wendy's 'wheres the beaf" sandwiched with a couple shouting car ad's and K-Tel , Ronco, Album collections,Yes they said the songs are available on 8 track for $6.99.

 

[radiofreqk1]

I vote for the new ads for Milk. The guy is dressed up like a rock star -- all in a gold outfit with long hair. Liquid Gold. Yeach -- just what it costs for a QT of milk.

 

[KML0224]

I'm surprised nobody remembered his name (unless I missed something in this long thread)...

...John Lance Ford in Cleveland had a man who screamed, "and look at this car HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE." Always screaming and extending the word "here" as he pointed to each car.

And his name was Dave Campo. Master of the green screen, too. Click "HERE!" for proof.

Pause that clip at the 1:31 clip and you'll see why he's all excited!
Seriously, now that I see his face, I remember him doing a few ads for Litchfield BMW here in Connecticut some years back. Me and my brother used to say "LITCH-field B-M-double-YUH"!

 

[KML0224]

Did anyone remember Crazy Eddie ad's withJerry Carroll. on late night TV at 2:00am on channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11 in New York back in the 1980's. One night,as I was looking at some old video tapes, I came across these ads, plus other classics like Wendy's "Where's The Beef?"sandwiched with a couple shouting car ads, along with K-Tel,Ronco and album collections. Yes, they said the songs were available on 8-track for $6.99.

Crazy Eddie was the s***!! Over the top? You bet. But that character was AWESOME! He had a few Connecticut stores until the summer of 1989. I also seem to remember that character reappearing in either the mid- or late-1990s for a time, but limited to New York City only.

 

[failsafe]

Vince from ShamWow is my hero.