A bad week to be 50

While we wish no ill on anyone, the death of Billy Mays reduces the volume of late-night TV and illuminates the simplicity of straight-guy relationships:

Recently, Mr. Mays paired up with Anthony Sullivan, an infomercial veteran, in a reality show called “Pitchmen” on the Discovery Channel that tracks the two as they search for new products and create new ads.

“I’ll always remember his booming voice — him saying ‘Hi, Billy Mays here,’ ” Mr. Sullivan said in an e-mailed statement. “He was the best friend a man could wish for — he was much more than people knew.”