Wake up in the morning feelin’ like P-Diddy? That’s gotta be better than Charlie Sheen, Joe Halderman, or Richard Heene this week. They’ve been brushing their teeth with controversy and, potentially, lots of legal bills.
[Bauer Griffin Online]
Surprise, surprise — Charlie Sheen was unable to convince a Colorado court to withdraw a restraining order preventing him from seeing his wife after an alleged Christmas Day domestic violence incident involving a knife.
David Letterman’s alleged sextortionist, Joe Halderman, is raising the Tiger Woods defense, arguing if Rachel Uchitel can make bank for staying silent, then the judge should dismiss all counts of extortion against him. It’s the same thing, he claims. Yup, just like Lady Gaga and Susan Boyle.
And, Richard Heene — the infamous Balloon Boy dad — tells Larry King and Matt Lauer that it was not a hoax. As for the truth…it went up, up, and away, apparently.
Have a great weekend. Remember, please don’t drink and drive.
Richard Heene got aggressive with Matt Lauer this morning, insisting that: (1) he pleaded guilty only to protect his wife from deportation; and (2) the Larimer County Sheriff is “lying.” If Heene were telling the truth, then this might expose a major flaw in our criminal justice system — innocent people pleading guilty to avoid the risk of bigger consequences. Sadly, Heene is no poster boy for this cause. Watch!
As part of an interview set to air on Friday, Richard Heene tells Larry King that the now infamous incident was not a hoax. He says he pleaded guilty and will serve jail time only as a way to save his wife from deportation. The truth? It’s up, up, and away, apparently. Watch.
Richard and Mayumi Heene pleaded guilty to charges (a felony and a misdemeanor, respectively) associated with the Balloon Boy hoax today.
Sentencing, which likely will not include jail time, was postponed until next month. Now, the big question is whether their next move will involve a reality TV show.
Reality tv sometimes rewards jerks (e.g., Michael Vick, Speidi, etc.), but the Heenes have two big strikes against them.
First, they already have jumped the shark. Any plot in a reality show likely could not be as outrageous as the now infamous Balloon Boy incident and, as a result, ultimately would be disappointing.
Second, networks often are reluctant to work with unknown people who have violent pasts. Mr. Heene’s violent past has been exposed, including a stint in jail following an alleged fist fight and vandalism, so it’s unlikely that he would pass a background check for a show, regardless of the Balloon Boy incident.
Remember, it’s a post Ryan Jenkins world. He’s the guy who participated in two VH-1 reality shows and hanged himself after allegedly killing Jasmine Fiore. His conduct resulted not only in the loss of a life, but also in the cancellation of two VH-1 shows.
It looks like the Heene parents are bursting their own bubble.
The attorney for Richard Heene said today that both parents will plead guilty to charges in the case. Richard will plead guilty to attempting to influence a public servant, a felony. His wife, Mayumi Heene, will plead guilty to false reporting to authorities, a misdemeanor.
It also looks like neither will serve jail time, because prosecutors have agreed to allow both to serve probation sentences.
The terms of the probation better prohibit them from profiting from the hoax in any way, specifically including a reality show!
Everyone keeps speculating about whether Richard Heene and his Balloon Boy family will get a reality show even as they face possible criminal charges.
Sure, reality tv sometimes rewards jerks (e.g., Michael Vick, Speidi, etc.), but networks often are reluctant to work with unknown people who have violent pasts. Now that Mr. Heene’s violent past has been exposed — including a stint in jail following an alleged fist fight and vandalism — it’s unlikely that he would have passed a background check for a show, even if the Balloon Boy incident never had occurred.
Remember, it’s a post Ryan Jenkins world. He’s the guy who participated in two VH-1 reality shows and hanged himself after allegedly killing Jasmine Fiore. His conduct resulted not only in the loss of a life, but also in the cancellation of two VH-1 shows.
Networks likely are more sensitive to this kind of outcome and, as a result, may never have worked with a man like Heene, especially if the show was supposed to be a family show.
New 911 recordings from the infamous Balloon Boy incident have emerged. If the Heene parents knew Falcon was not in the balloon, then these recordings may seal their criminal fate. The big question: were both parents in on it, or just the dad?
Watch Popsquire’s entertainment reporter / legal expert, Russell Wetanson, report on and analyze the latest Heene Family / Balloon Boy news on TV Guide Network and HLN. Enjoy!
Now that the Balloon Boy family may be busted, the question is whether reality TV will reward them with a show.
Let’s face it. Reality TV is no stranger to criminals or controversial figures.
MTV aired T.I.’s Road To Redemption, and BET is working with Michael Vick. And, remember that VH-1 shut down two show this summer after Ryan Jenkins became the primary suspect in the gruesome murder of Jasmine Fiore.
So, where do the Heenes fit in?
They have become an overnight sensation. Everyone knows their names and probably even their faces. This could translate to an audience, which speaks to networks. Plus, their potential crimes may seem less serious than any of the reality stars listed above.
However, the Heene family’s alleged misconduct involves children. This is a huge distinction. Viewers, production companies, and networks likely will draw the line there.
So, unless the Heenes can convince a court of law and the court of public opinion that they did not involve their kids in a publicity stunt, a reality show may never get off the ground. Pun intended.
Facing felony charges, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor, the Heene family lawyered up over the weekend, and their attorney is asking the police not to arrest the parents in front of their children. Smart move by the lawyer.
Meredith Vieira didn’t go to law school, but she still knows how to ask follow-up questions. Watch Richard Heene make excuses for his son’s behavior and deny orchestrating this stunt for attention.
Dear Wolfe Blitzer: The balloon boy said his parents “did this for the show.” A follow up question was warranted. Hello. A lawyer never would have let that go!
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Posted by russell wetanson
