Tribute to the Oxi Clean Guy

It was a year ago today that informercial pitchman Billy Mays died,  just three days after the unexpected death of Michael Jackson. The two very different celebrities were the same age. The anniversary of Michael Jackson's death  has of course  been celebrated over the last three days. But let's look at Billy Mays now.  Billy Mays was known best for his Oxi Clean, Orange Glow and Kaboom adverts.  He was always speaking in a loud voice that made people think he was yelling.  

Over the last few days I have been watching several of his ads on You Tube including the following ad for Oxi Clean:

And this Kaboom ad (Kaboom was part of the Oxi Clean line):



I, too, had to laugh at the "ring around the toilet" line. I must confess I get that a lot and could use some Kaboom right now!

And Orange Glo, another of his other most famous products (also part of the Oxi Clean line):



One product I never knew about that was pitched by Billy Mays:

Do a You Tube search for other products pitched by Billy Mays. He did many, but the Oxi Clean, Kaboom and Orange Glo ads were the ones for which he was best known.

"Toy Story 3," now waiting for "Grown Ups"

Finally saw "Toy Story 3" on Tuesday night and thought it was good.  If only I'd been able to rewatch the first two, but that would have necessitated re-ordering my Netflix queue or shelling out for DVDs, something I can't afford right now.  If could I surely would get all the DVDs eventually.   And I saw the 3D version, as I'd done with "Shrek Forever After" last month.

Tomorrow is another summer film I have been waiting to see since I learned about it two months ago:  "Grown Ups," starring  Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider and David Spade.   After seeing the tailer on You Tube, I knew this was one I would be seeing.   Been excited for it and tomorrow it's finally here!  I'm hoping to get a showing tomorrow afternoon.  I rarely got to a movie on opening day, as I almost always work on Fridays, but I managed to see "Get Him to the Greek" on its opening day three weeks ago.   I loved that one and am hoping to get the DVD when it arrives, though  that is still months away.  And I know that if I love "Grown Ups" as much as I am sure I will, I will be after the DVD on that one when it comes out.  Even though that will be months away.  I'm hoping I can afford all these DVDs eventually.

Meanwhile, I am excited to see "Grown Ups" tomorrow and am also looking forward to the next "Twilight" movie next Wednesday.  Probably will not go on day one, though, since it's likely going to be crowded, something I don't expect for "Grown Ups," which I will make an effort to get to after work sometime tomorrow. 

Such irony!!!

You are a PC

You're practical, thrifty, and able to do almost anything. Appearances and trends aren't important to you. You just like to get the job done. You pride yourself on being very flexible and adaptable. You do well in many different environments, and you can get along with just about anyone. You aren't stuck up. If anything, you are quite humble and down to earth. You accept your flaws and deal with them. You don't cover up your problems with pretty packaging.

Are You a Mac or a PC?

Blogthings: Waste Time at Work!

The irony here is that I am a Mac user. But as I have said previously, I rarely agree with the results of these quizzes and this as you can see is one I don't agree with.

Remember MTV--and music videos?

So asks this blogger.   Yes, for those of us who grew up in the 80s like myself, the old days of MTV are a distant memory.  The video music rotations began to dwindle by the beginning of the 1990s.  I sadly did not have cable until 1989 when MTV was still showing videos regularly, but by then they had begun showing shows such as "House of Style"  and some movie review I can't remember the name of.   Yet, I was into watching MTV and saw a great deal of videos in that time.  

Before having cable, I got my videos fix by staying up late to watch NBC's "Friday Night Videos."  This show was created in the wake of MTV's popularity after MTV's launch in August 1981 and was a way for people without cable to watch music videos.  But as MTV scaled back on videos, so did "Friday Night Videos," changing the name to "Friday Night," moving away from an all-video format.  In early 2001, the music and video segments were discontinued and the show now titled "Late Friday," focused on stand-up comedy. This lasted until the summer of 2002, when the show was canceled for good, allowing "Last Call with Carson Daly" to expand to five nights a week.  

Below is the intro to "Friday Night Videos" from 1985:

I don't have cable now, but I have noticed that many cable channels have strayed away from their original formats.   TV Land, for instance, now has original programming and shows movies, straying away from the "classic TV" moniker they began with almost 15 years ago. MTV's sister stations MTV2  and VH1 (the adult contemporary counterpart launched in 1985) have similarly strayed away from showing music videos.   

I still have the TV Guide from August 4, 2001, which covered MTV's first 20 years.  Next year will be MTV's 30th anniversary--how will it be reflected?  And why was there no 20-year celebration for VH1 in 2005 or a 25-year celebration this year?  MTV2 will be 15 next year; originally called M2, it was launched on August 1, 1996, on MTV's 15th anniversary.  

While MTV may have popularized music videos in the 1980s, the history of music videos goes back to the 1960s.  The Beatles' films "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help" are often considered precursors to music videos.   A device called a  Scopitone was a music video forerunner, filming various performing acts in the 1960s.   A promotional clip for Bob Dylan's '60s hit "Subterranean Homesick Blues" is also considered a  precursor to modern music videos. 

It seems that only place to see music videos today is on You Tube or on DVD compilations by artists. 

Toy Story 3 coming!

Been waiting for this one.  And I will be seeing it in 3D.  All the movies I've seen in 3D so far have been fun, so should this one too.  I hope to get to it this weekend, though I'm not sure exactly when.  I suspect it will have a long line.   I was one of those who avoided "The Karate Kid" last weekend (Not interested, and never saw the old one). I ddi go to the movies just the same and noticed a line.  I asked someone what the line was for and it was "The Karate Kid." I'm now wondering f I should wait to see "Toy Story."   I waited five days to see "Shrek" last month,  trying to fight the crowds of kids on the weekend.  But I'll get to this one when I can and soon.  

5 Most Disgusting Toys Of The '80s - Entertainment News Story - KCRA Sacramento

5 Most Disgusting Toys Of The '80s - Entertainment News Story - KCRA Sacramento

These were definitely not the kinds of toys I'd have wanted.  Most of them seemed to have come out when I was past my toy phase.  I gave up toys once I reached age 12.  

FYI, I never had  an Easy Bake Oven either, but that must have been because I never (to the best of my knowledge) asked for one.  I can see how disappointed I might have been if my cake didn't turn out right and that I might have resorted to eating the uncooked batter.  Making a "Friends" reference here from this episode from Season Seven.   (can't find this on You Tube).

The Coffee Craving Test

You Are Unique

You are vibrant and excited for each day. You like to mix things up a lot. You get bored easily, and you're always on the hunt for new experiences. Your friends would describe you as playful and full of zest. You look forward to every event and occasion. You are restless sometimes. You need a little adventure to satisfy your wanderlust.

The Coffee Craving Test

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

The Lollipop Test

You Are Colorful

You have a vivid, magical view of the world, and you are easily entertained. You notice the brilliant little details that other people forget. You experience your emotions very fully, so much so that they often take on a life of their own. You've got an amazing life going on. If only everyone else had your bright point of view!

The Lollipop Test

Blogthings: A Fine Line Between Insight and Stupidity

Finally, one with which I agree with the results, well most of them :-)

Your Unique American Name

Your Unique Name is Shana Leandra

One of a kind!

What's Your Unique American Name?