Balloon Boy is looking to extend his 15 minutes. Now 10 years old, Falcon Heene is best known as the Colorado kid who gained national notoriety in 2009 when his parents led the public to believe that their son was trapped in an airborne silver helium balloon that floated away from their Fort Collins home. The event captured the nation's attention as cable news broadcast the spinning silver disc as horrified viewers looked on. After the situation proved to be a hoax, the boy’s father, Richard Heene, plead guilty to one felony count of attempting to influence a public servant,
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- 7/2/2013
- by Sophie Schillaci
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The parents behind the Balloon Boy hoax are selling the infamous aircraft for charity.
Richard and Mayumi Heene have set up the website http://www.balloonboyflyingsaucer.com/ where the balloon is being auctioned — with proceeds going to earthquake and tsunami recovery efforts in Japan.
Balloon, boy rivet nation
The couple explain in a YouTube video how the saucer works and why it originally was built it. Richard Heene also says that if the winning bidder pays $10,000 or more, they'll also receive the balloon's original plans; the winning bidder paying $50,000 or more will get photographs of the Heene family building the balloon; and the bidder who pays $100,000 or more will get a DVD of the Heenes building the craft in their living room.
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Richard and Mayumi Heene have set up the website http://www.balloonboyflyingsaucer.com/ where the balloon is being auctioned — with proceeds going to earthquake and tsunami recovery efforts in Japan.
Balloon, boy rivet nation
The couple explain in a YouTube video how the saucer works and why it originally was built it. Richard Heene also says that if the winning bidder pays $10,000 or more, they'll also receive the balloon's original plans; the winning bidder paying $50,000 or more will get photographs of the Heene family building the balloon; and the bidder who pays $100,000 or more will get a DVD of the Heenes building the craft in their living room.
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- 6/2/2011
- by Robyn Ross
- TVGuide - Breaking News
If Andy Warhol were alive today, he'd be shocked to see the limits to which we've pushed the whole "15 minutes" theory.
Richard and Mayumi Heene, the couple who spent a month in jail for inadvertently orchestrating a massive media hoax in 2009 when they lied and said their six-year-old son was carried off in a balloon, are back in the news again.
TMZ reports the couple is auctioning off the iconic silver balloon. But it's for a good cause.
The family posted a video saying proceeds of the auction will go to tsunami relief efforts in Japan. So how high do they think the auction will go? Richard Heene says they'll circumvent the whole bidding thing for the "purchase now" price of $1,000,000.
A small price for a piece of fame.
If you're skeptical about the couple's motivations, we can hardly blame you, but the Heenes say they've already hired an attorney to distribute the possible profits.
Richard and Mayumi Heene, the couple who spent a month in jail for inadvertently orchestrating a massive media hoax in 2009 when they lied and said their six-year-old son was carried off in a balloon, are back in the news again.
TMZ reports the couple is auctioning off the iconic silver balloon. But it's for a good cause.
The family posted a video saying proceeds of the auction will go to tsunami relief efforts in Japan. So how high do they think the auction will go? Richard Heene says they'll circumvent the whole bidding thing for the "purchase now" price of $1,000,000.
A small price for a piece of fame.
If you're skeptical about the couple's motivations, we can hardly blame you, but the Heenes say they've already hired an attorney to distribute the possible profits.
- 6/2/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Is the father of teen sailor Abby Sunderland the second coming of balloon boy's dad and (reality star hopeful) Richard Heene?
Laurence Sunderland called the comparisons to Heene "ridiculous" on Monday's Larry King Live despite reports that Sunderland signed a deal for a reality TV deal shortly after his 16-year-old daughter hit the high seas on her own.
Was Abby's journey to become the youngest to sail around the world solo all a ploy for a TV show venture...
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Laurence Sunderland called the comparisons to Heene "ridiculous" on Monday's Larry King Live despite reports that Sunderland signed a deal for a reality TV deal shortly after his 16-year-old daughter hit the high seas on her own.
Was Abby's journey to become the youngest to sail around the world solo all a ploy for a TV show venture...
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- 6/15/2010
- by Kate Stanhope
- TVGuide - Breaking News
Richard Heene followed up his Oscar-worthy performance on Larry King Live Friday night by checking into Larimer County Detention Center this morning. As punishment for his felony count of "attempting to influence a public servant," the one-time Wife Swap star will swap his wife again, this time for a shiv-wielding prisoner named Torch. The suffering will last 90 days, without cameras or angst-ridden pre-teens refusing to do their algebra homework nearby. [TMZ]...
- 1/11/2010
- Movieline
And the most embarrassing example has been the rise of 'fake science', which values naivety over facts – a bit like Sarah Palin
Much criticism – positive and negative – has already been ladled on Ego "James" Cameron's latest film, Dancing with Smurfs, aka Avatar. But one point that has not been discussed is how much Sarah Palin would enjoy it.
On the one hand, considering that this movie features the most simplistic racial stereotypes since Star Wars' Jar Jar Binks did his best Butterfly McQueen impression for George Lucas, Avatar is an obvious winner for Palin. After all, she is the woman who, according to her father, left Hawaii University because there were too many Asians there for her liking: "They were a minority-type thing and it wasn't glamorous, so she came home," said Chuck Heath.
On the other hand, as Avatar comes weighed down with anti-war sentiments, topped with some...
Much criticism – positive and negative – has already been ladled on Ego "James" Cameron's latest film, Dancing with Smurfs, aka Avatar. But one point that has not been discussed is how much Sarah Palin would enjoy it.
On the one hand, considering that this movie features the most simplistic racial stereotypes since Star Wars' Jar Jar Binks did his best Butterfly McQueen impression for George Lucas, Avatar is an obvious winner for Palin. After all, she is the woman who, according to her father, left Hawaii University because there were too many Asians there for her liking: "They were a minority-type thing and it wasn't glamorous, so she came home," said Chuck Heath.
On the other hand, as Avatar comes weighed down with anti-war sentiments, topped with some...
- 12/30/2009
- by Hadley Freeman
- The Guardian - Film News
The reality TV couple which sent Colorado authorities on a wild chase in the 'balloon boy' drama in October has been sentenced to prison.
Richard Heene and his wife Mayumi, who previously appeared on U.S. reality show Wife Swap, were charged with falsely reporting their six-year-old son had been trapped inside a flying experimental balloon, which had become untethered in their back yard. The boy was later found hiding in the family's garage.
Heene pleaded guilty to one felony count of attempting to influence a public servant last month, while his wife admitted guilt in one misdemeanour count of false reporting to authorities.
The Heenes appeared in court on Wednesday, when a judge sentenced Richard to 90 days behind bars, although he has been allowed to serve 60 days of his sentence on a work release programme, permitting him to seek work as a construction contractor while serving his sentence. He was also placed on four years' probation.
Mayumi received 20 days in prison for her part in the incident, which will be served after Richard completes his sentence.
He must report to prison on 11 January.
The reality TV couple's sentence comes just a day after they were slapped with a $42,000 (£26,250) bill from Colorado state officials to cover the costs of the hoax.
Richard Heene and his wife Mayumi, who previously appeared on U.S. reality show Wife Swap, were charged with falsely reporting their six-year-old son had been trapped inside a flying experimental balloon, which had become untethered in their back yard. The boy was later found hiding in the family's garage.
Heene pleaded guilty to one felony count of attempting to influence a public servant last month, while his wife admitted guilt in one misdemeanour count of false reporting to authorities.
The Heenes appeared in court on Wednesday, when a judge sentenced Richard to 90 days behind bars, although he has been allowed to serve 60 days of his sentence on a work release programme, permitting him to seek work as a construction contractor while serving his sentence. He was also placed on four years' probation.
Mayumi received 20 days in prison for her part in the incident, which will be served after Richard completes his sentence.
He must report to prison on 11 January.
The reality TV couple's sentence comes just a day after they were slapped with a $42,000 (£26,250) bill from Colorado state officials to cover the costs of the hoax.
- 12/23/2009
- WENN
Richard and Mayumi Heene didn't quite get their "Christmas miracle." The couple who wanted America to believe that their 6-year-old son, Falcon, was adrift in a runaway balloon both were sentenced to jail time for crafting a hoax that first captivated then horrified the nation. Before learning his fate, a visibly shaken Richard offered a choked-up mea culpa: "I want to reiterate that I'm very, very sorry, and I'm going to apologize to all the rescue workers." His lawyer, David Lane, also said Richard accepted full responsibility and begged for leniency for his wife. "If anyone has to go to jail here, your honor, it's Richard Heene...Do not send his...
- 12/23/2009
- E! Online
Two-time Wife Swap star Richard Heene pled guilty to a felony after turning himself in to police yesterday, and will get probation. That's the result of the attention-seeking hoax he committed last month, which he lied about on TV while his kid puked. The AP reports that he pled guilty "to a felony charge of attempting to influence a public servant" and his wife "Mayumi Heene was expected to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge...
- 11/13/2009
- by Andy Dehnart
- Reality Blurred
The reality TV couple behind last month's 'balloon boy' drama in Colorado have been charged with duping police and law officials.
Richard and Mayumi Heene, who starred in U.S. show Wife Swap, have been accused of falsely reporting that their six-year-old son was stuck in a flying experimental balloon, which became untethered in their back yard. Their son was later found to be hiding in the family's garage.
Both parents face face jail time and fines.
Richard Heene has been charged with one count of attempting to influence a public servant, while his wife is charged with one count of false reporting to authorities.
Richard and Mayumi Heene, who starred in U.S. show Wife Swap, have been accused of falsely reporting that their six-year-old son was stuck in a flying experimental balloon, which became untethered in their back yard. Their son was later found to be hiding in the family's garage.
Both parents face face jail time and fines.
Richard Heene has been charged with one count of attempting to influence a public servant, while his wife is charged with one count of false reporting to authorities.
- 11/12/2009
- WENN
A Colorado Sheriff says criminal charges are expected to be filed against Richard Heene, the father of the so-called "Balloon Boy," "The Insider" confirms. The parents of the child -- who was thought to be sent up in a Mylar balloon but was later found in the garage of his family's home -- are said to face a Class 3 misdemeanor charge, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said in a press conference on Saturday. The sheriff's department is also said to be obtaining search warrants for the Heene home. Alderden also said that Faa officials and federal officials are looking to any additional charges that may apply.
- 10/18/2009
- by TheInsider
- TheInsider.com
Denver -- Criminal charges will soon be filed in the case of a 6-year-old boy who spurred a frantic search for fear he was inside a wayward helium balloon, but who was later found safe at home, officials said on Saturday.
The Larimer County Sheriff's department was preparing charges over the much-publicized incident. The boy's father, Richard Heene, an amateur scientist and inventor, has denied speculation Thursday's incident was a publicity stunt.
A massive search-and-rescue operation and media frenzy ensued after the Heene's homemade helium balloon broke loose and drifted thousands of feet above Colorado for hours.
"We do anticipate ... there will be some criminal charges filed in respect to this incident," said Sheriff Jim Alderden, speaking to reporters in a news conference televised on CNN.
He said initial charges would likely be a misdemeanor.
The department was preparing search warrants, he said, adding the possible misdemeanor charge "hardly seems serious enough given the circumstances.
The Larimer County Sheriff's department was preparing charges over the much-publicized incident. The boy's father, Richard Heene, an amateur scientist and inventor, has denied speculation Thursday's incident was a publicity stunt.
A massive search-and-rescue operation and media frenzy ensued after the Heene's homemade helium balloon broke loose and drifted thousands of feet above Colorado for hours.
"We do anticipate ... there will be some criminal charges filed in respect to this incident," said Sheriff Jim Alderden, speaking to reporters in a news conference televised on CNN.
He said initial charges would likely be a misdemeanor.
The department was preparing search warrants, he said, adding the possible misdemeanor charge "hardly seems serious enough given the circumstances.
- 10/17/2009
- by By Alexandria Sage, Reuters
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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