The McGuiar Car Crazy guy creeps me out

Tommy · #1 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 07:10 AM

When the TV show Car Crazy first appeared on Speed TV several years ago I tried to watch it a few times. But there was something about the host, Barry Mcguiar, that made me uneasy. He seemed too earnest, too enthusiastic and too kind to be true. After a few shows I made it a point to not watch anymore.

Earlier today an episode of Car Crazy slipped on and before I could reach the remote control they announced it would cover car enthusiasts in Central America. As I find that topic interesting, I decided to try and watch it. Barry was his usual fawning, gushing, overly complimentary self. I gritted my teeth and kept watching. About halfway through the program he was interviewing a wealthy car guy in his palatial home when he mentioned how he had met the guy. The car guy had entered into a deal with Mcquiar’s to be their exclusive distributor in his region of Central America. Barry was sucking up to the guy who sells his products in the region.

I’ve tried to figure out what it is about Mcguiar that I find so discomforting. On the surface he is kind, generous with compliments and endlessly enthusiastic about people of all kinds that like cars. But there is something that feels wrong. I have the feeling that he may be a Jeckyll and Hyde type character in the same way that a person with bipolar disorder goes from being hyper energized to being deeply depressed. I can’t imagine that anyone could be as positive as he is without occasionally gutting a subordinate with an expletive filled tirade over some inconsequential matter. The guy just creeps me out.

Excaliber · #2 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 07:32 AM

Strange you should mention this, I thought I was the only one that felt that way.

Can't put my finger on it, but I really don't like to watch his presentations either.

PatBuckley · #3 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 07:36 AM

Totally agree - that phucking smile of his is just plain weird!

(of course we will probably find out that he and Mother Theresa are related and he is actually the most kind and giving person in North America.....but I doubt it)

jolsen42 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 07:43 AM

I totally agree. He's always reminded me of a pedophile. I can't watch more than a few minutes without having a desire to take a shower.

John O

Buzz · #5 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 08:05 AM

That constant fake chuckle in his voice really puts me off. He reminds me of a guy down here with the same speech patterns and mannerisms - seems like he's ribbing or needling you everytime he speaks.

CobraEd · #6 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 08:45 AM

Yeah, I have observed it. He needs more strength of character and should act like a grown man. It is one thing to try to be "nice", but it should be tempered with reality.

.

cdnus · #7 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 09:30 AM

Quite often you will notice his subjects leaning back trying to get some space Barry is so in their face. Whenever I watch him "would you like a piece of candy little girl" comes to mind.

Excaliber · #8 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 10:55 AM

With the some what surprising and yet reasonable review, I wonder how this guy stays on the air? Does he actually have a "fan base"?

Ron61 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 11:13 AM

I doubt if he has much of a fan base but McGuiar has a lot of money to back him. I wouldn't mind having them detail my car if I could stay away from him. And maybe he just isn't comfortable in front of a camera.

Ron

Rick Parker · #10 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 12:20 PM

That's just his style of "Delivery", not everyone is as composed and competent as Jay Leno. That's why your TV has a remote, if you don't like it push the button. Be carefull what you subscribe to on a public forum.

Excaliber · #11 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 12:26 PM

Sheesh Rick, I'm pretty sure he's not comin' over to confiscate his wax or nothin'.

cdnus · #12 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 12:47 PM

1- Fan & counting.

BlueRooster · #13 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 01:03 PM

I cannot believe so many of you feel the same about this guy. I have yet to watch an episode because of him. The only thing wrong with this thread is that now know his name.

Tommy · #14 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 01:16 PM

Rick,
Neither I nor several of the other posters on this thread have said we know what kind of person Barry Mcguiar is in real life. We simply described how we react to him on TV. But the results of this small and imperfect poll indicate that his television personna is not well received by many of the "car guys" he claims to want to reach. It seems to me that if his intent is to help his business, he would benefit from having a more personable person represent it. If that is not his purpose, then what is it? Is this all about satisfying an ego driven need to be seen on TV? .. If he is such a nice guy, why hasn't someone who works for him told him how he is being perceived? If they have, why hasn't he changed?

Larry Spillman · #15 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 02:12 PM

Barry is a rich kid with no limits. He is one of the few people that can figure out where Paris Hilton is comming from.Or where she is going. Wealth molds people in a different way, then up by the boot straps does.Everyone is more than what they seem or less than what they are.

Buzz · #16 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 04:08 PM

This thread got me kinda curious so I did a quick web search. Reactions like the ones here to his TV delivery number in the hundreds; but to a man, everyone who claims to have actually met him says he is a nice, personable and down to earth guy.

I wonder if the producers push him to add a bit of simulated dementia to his act in keeping with the "crazy" part of the show's title?

Excaliber · #17 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 05:23 PM

Oh I suppose he's a heck of a nice guy and if I ran into him at a car show that would be fun. But his TV show thing? Eh, whatever. Actually theres a couple of guys like him on the tube that I just don't seem to "connect with". "Ohana Road" (Hawaii TV borderline informercial for new cars with a local twist). Sometimes the episodes are OK and I watch them IN SPITE of the main host, who just seems way "to pleasant".

I like Bill Maloney on there though (he's like an Andy Rooney character at the end of the show with a "Bunch of Maloney" segment).

HEY, thats IT!!! These kind of shows are "infomercials" cleverly disquised as a "TV program". Like that real estate guy, forget his name, sell's his book, he's just wierd, to "white" maybe.

Ralphy · #18 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 06:51 PM

Maybe he waxes his face, then eats it. He's a bit of a distraction from the cars and the people he interviews.

CobraEd · #19 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 07:23 PM

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/26/m...over-religion/

There is nothing wrong with being a Christian, but if the article is true, he may be over the top. At the bottom of the article, it indicates that this may have been fabricated.

.

Tommy · #20 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 07:38 PM

OK, I can accept religious zealotry as an adequate explanation for fawning creepiness.