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Secrets of TV Pitchmen Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan (cnn.com)
21 points by stevenjames on April 7, 2009 | hide | past | favorite | 3 comments




For some reason, I can actually respect these guys. I would never buy any of the junk they're pushing, but I must admit to enjoying the show. Especially Vince Offer. Normally that nasal 'yankee' voice sickens me, but I guess it's part of the charm in this case.

Ronco is interesting--I'd forgotten that Ron Popeil actually invented a lot of the stuff he sells. (Didn't he have a daughter that sang with Frank Zappa in a concert or two as well?)


I thought it was a joke that these pitchmen would get their own "reality" TV show, but apparently it's true. I can't stand any of their commercials and can't hit the mute button fast enough on my TV, so I can't watch a half-hour of Billy Mays shouting at me. The psychology of selling is interesting, but I'll have to read about it rather than listen to these obnoxious people.




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