The Most Obnoxious TV Pitchman

[LKellerIII]

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.

The Crazy Eddie "concept" (if I can call it that) was borrowed from Earl "Mad Man" Muntz, a Southern California entepreneur who sold cars and stereo equipment in the 1950s and 60s on early Los Angeles television.

Muntz's last big invention in the late 60s was the first viable car tape player - the Muntz "Stereo-Pak" - a 4 track unit. They were sold in Muntz stores all over LA. Their signage included their logo - a cartoon cross-eyed Napoleon type character. The 4 track players sold well until William Lear (of Learjet fame) invented the superior 8 track player.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madman_Muntz

 

[BrigThomson]

Vince from ShamWow is my hero.

I have absolutely no idea why I noticed this, but if you watch the Sham-Wow spots, you will notice that when Vivacious Vince sticks his hands into the bowl with the Sham-Wow you'll see that the fingers on his left hand are oddly shaped, almost like he had a very bad case of arthritis.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

I also cannot stand the Bud Light "Real Men of Genius" radio and television ads--need I say more.

 

[JeeperOne]

Car dealership owners who appear in their own ads often are the most obnoxious. It seems like car dealerships are the only people who can afford local broadcast TV ad rates (in Atlanta at least).

Here in Denver, that would be Dealin' Doug. He owns a bunch of dealerships and is almost always seen in THE CRAZIEST get-ups. He's been pimping his dealerships for well over a generation now.

Another dealership that's worth watching, but isn't really negatively obnoxious is the trio pitching for Rocky's Autos, which is a USED car dealership. They're can be A TRIP to watch sometimes.

Just my $.02 worth....

Cheers

 

[mimo]

I also cannot stand the Bud Light "Real Men of Genius" radio and television ads--need I say more.

While they're not as go0d as they were, I'd have to disagree, I still laugh everytime.

 

[gr8oldies]

In Dayton it's Dave Hidym who's always dressed up as something. Trying to take Hidy's crown is a guy named Jeff Schmitt, who has a series of commercials where he's popping up in places like a hospital delivery room shouting "did someone say something about buying a new car"? Makes me think...when I'm thinking of a multi-thousand dollar purchase, possibly making payments for years on end, why do I want to do that with a clown?

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Bumped to add a new annoying candidate after hearing the ad 3 times in the past TWENTY MINUTES during NBC's Sunday Night Football (although I don't know the identity of the pitchman):

The Toyota "Saved by Zero" ads. Ugh.

 

[mimo]

Bumped to add a new annoying candidate after hearing the ad 3 times in the past TWENTY MINUTES during NBC's Sunday Night Football (although I don't know the identity of the pitchman):

The Toyota "Saved by Zero" ads. Ugh.

I was about to throw something at the tv! I actually like the original song, but THIS ... low budget version...3 times in 20 minutes (what felt like 5 minutes to me) was beyond overkill.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Bumped to add a new annoying candidate after hearing the ad 3 times in the past TWENTY MINUTES during NBC's Sunday Night Football (although I don't know the identity of the pitchman):

The Toyota "Saved by Zero" ads. Ugh.

I was about to throw something at the tv! I actually like the original song, but THIS ... low budget version...3 times in 20 minutes (what felt like 5 minutes to me) was beyond overkill.

Here we go again tonight on ESPN's MNF--I've just seen the "Saved By Zero" ad twice in less than FIVE minutes during the halftime show.

 

[quadraphonic]

At least Toyota is still buying ad time... :-\

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Re: The Most Obnoxious TV Pitchman--Billy Mays now hawking ESPN360

This thread is now bumped after nearly a three-month hiatus after seeing the latest works of art by Billy Mays--this time now hawking ESPN360.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vUxHZ5EoPg (ESPN360.com intro by Billy Mays)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lftTkFacM3I&feature=related (Billy Mays watching ESPN360.com in what appears to be a cheap motel room)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWPwrIVk6v4&feature=related (Billy Mays showing office workers how to connect to ESPN360.com on work computers)

My next question is: How much longer before Billy Mays gets his first starring role in a feature film?

 

[WPPCProductions]

Will as I mention on other threads here, who is That Most Obnoxious TV Pitchwoman with the gravely,raspy annoying V/O woman on all the tv and radio ad's. I rather deal with Billy Mays and others then this woman and her sound alike sisters.every time this voice come on, the tv,radio gets muted.

 

[LKellerIII]

Re: The Most Obnoxious TV Pitchman--Billy Mays now hawking ESPN360

This thread is now bumped after nearly a three-month hiatus after seeing the latest works of art by Billy Mays--this time now hawking ESPN360.com:

My next question is: How much longer before Billy Mays gets his first starring role in a feature film?

I can see it now - one of those high blood and gore horror films. Billy will play the "monster" - when his innocent victims hear his voice, they start to scream and writhe in agony - then blood and brains squirt out their ears.

 

[Grindlfan]

My vote goes to Billy Mays. I have to laugh at his latest commercial which is a device that allows gardeners to plant flowers and scrubs easier than using a shovel or pick by tilling the soil.
If you notice on the commercial the ground has already been rotor-tilled so that a person could use their hands to plant anything. And everything costs $19.95. (of course by the time you add in the S&H that price is more like $40.00. Anyways this guy, who should also be a pitchman for Grecian Formula, since its obvious he uses it on his beard, has a $1.8 million dollar house in Florida; so apparently the guy is making some big bucks.
Then we have this local car salesman. He's this overweight guy with some blond dolly on his arm and his pitch line is "Huge." While I personally wouldn't buy a bicycle from the guy, he has dealerships all over New York State; which goes to prove that P.T. Barnum was right about a sucker being born every minute.

Hands down BILLY MAYS! I would never buy any product that that obnoxious boob is selling.

 

[Markxxx]

The Sham-Wow guy is Vince Offer

The FreeCreditReport.Com guy is Eric Violette

www.ericviolette.com

He is French Canadian, and he sings in real life but not on the commericals. He only lip synchs because his English isn't good enough.

I can't stand all the infomericals for Obama coins, especiall Montel Williams hawking them

 

[Braves2005]

How about the new and stupid Subway commercial where everyone is trying to sing very off-key and loud "5, 5 dollar, 5 dollar foot LONG-G-G-G-G!!!!!" Very grating and gets on my nerves each and every time that commercial comes on.

Oh yeah, Billy Mays still gets on my nerves too plus the Sham-Wow guy and the new infomercials for the state quarters (pay $99.95 plus shipping and handling for 50 quarters plus its own case to place them in) and the Obama Messiah plates and coins and Kevin Trudeau.

 

[KML0224]

Need to hire Dave Campo, the car sales evangelist, and have him tell Billy Mays to get the heck outta heeeeerrrrrreeeee!

 

[WPPCProductions]

The Sham-Wow guy is Vince Offer

The FreeCreditReport.Com guy is Eric Violette

www.ericviolette.com

He is French Canadian, and he sings in real life but not on the commericals. He only lip synchs because his English isn't good enough.

I can't stand all the infomericals for Obama coins, especiall Montel Williams hawking them

Will Eric Violette have a tv series like the dancing stone aged man did.
this guy is funny.

 

[quadraphonic]

ShamWow Vince is branching out now with the Slap Chop "food processor."
He's going to eventually top Billy Mays for good, just you wait and seeeeeee!

 

[Grindlfan]

I actually enjoy those Free Credit Report dot com commercials.