OCTOBER 21, 2009

       He’s the man who cried wolf and wanted the world’s attention, and now the world hates Richard Heene.

       By now you know the infamous reality star wannabe who told the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and a local TV station… oh yeah, then the police, that his six-year-old son might be in a balloon flying high over Colorado.

       For hours the world watched as news channels reported live from the scene – including in the air with the flying saucer-like balloon – wondering what the fate of the little boy would be. But alas, he wasn’t in the balloon, he was hiding at the family home.

       Shocked were the parents over the boy’s whereabouts but as the details surfaced, the sideshow family began to play into it by making the rounds on morning shows and putting their little boy at the hands of the bloodthirsty media. (You might recall the boy got sick during a couple interviews on live television.)

       So, Heene got exactly what he wanted: he got everybody’s attention but it seems to have backfired to the tune of jail time and what could be hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of fines. This adding to his sordid past and criminal record for abuse and other slimy antics.

       It might be safe to say no respectable TV network would put this man on a reality show now, but such is the case with sensationalism these days, you never know what website will pick him up and make him a star (once he’s out of jail, I’d imagine, if in fact he goes there).

       It could be just a matter of time before he really is getting what he wants. After all, he’s already a household name and chances are it would be ratings gold to have him on the air once the dust settles – or even as the dust is still swirling.

       I’m making a prediction here: he will be on TV in a few years, but I’m guessing America’s Most Wanted when he’s on the run for doing something terrible and stupid to his family.