InventHelp’s Invention Girl was flipping through the channels this week when I heard a familiar voice. Billy Mays – famous for his booming voice (and Pittsburgh accent) on infomercials for Oxi-Clean, Orange Glo and a slew of other products – has transformed from spokesman to invention hunter on his show Pitchmen, now airing Wednesdays at 10 pm on The Discovery Channel.

Mays, who grew up in the Pittsburgh suburb of McKees Rocks just minutes from InventHelp headquarters, and fellow pitchman Anthony Sullivan scour the world for inventions they believe they can pitch to the masses. The show can be an emotional rollercoaster as Mays and Sullivan make or break the dreams of these dedicated inventors.

I had the pleasure of seeing Mays just recently at the 2009 International Home & Housewares Show at McCormick Place in Chicago. Michael Tsang, the winner of our 2009 Inventors’ Corner Direct Response Panel Review, was thrilled to have his prize presented to him by Mays and Sullivan. His invention, the Plate Topper, is a cover that keeps food fresh by sealing itself over the top of a dinner plate.

Coincidentally, Tsang had met Billy Mays before. As a student at Princeton four years ago, Mays gave Tsang some feedback on an earlier model of the Plate Topper. Tsang incorporated Mays’ suggestions, and today he feels the feedback helped to advance the invention to where it is today.

“I’ve done everything I wanted,” Mays, who today lives in Florida with his wife and children, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Now I want to give back with this new show and help other people take their product to the next level. It’s the American dream, and I’m helping them achieve it. I’m proud of that.”

It seems, at least to those of us here at InventHelp, that Billy Mays was born for the job of helping inventors. Invention Girl is sure to stay glued to The Discovery Channel’s Pitchmen and watch our hometown pitchman in action!

Related InventHelp posts:

1. InventHelp and INPEX Bid Farewell to TV Pitchman Billy Mays
2. Billy Mays, Invention Pitchman and TV Star, Dies at 50
3. InventHelp’s Invention Girl Says: Spend that Stimulus Check!
4. Check out the InventHelp INPEX blog for real-time show updates!
5. InventHelp Holiday Gift Tip #2: Best Invention for Heath Nuts