Balloon Boy Saga, for those that missed it.

I must confess. I am one of the many Provo residents who finds comfort inside the bubble and only looks through the window of the media once in awhile when I feel courageous. It’s not that I don’t care about what is going on in the nation… I just don’t care to see more air time of Mr. Obama. However some family near Denver, Colorado, was able to steal some air time with one of the greatest stunts of this October.

You might have seen pictures on the interbox or on one of the TV’s at your local restaurant with a circular flying craft quite peculiar indeed. For about an hour and a half this IFO (Identified Flying Object) gripped the hearts and minds of Americans across the nation as they watched Balloon Boy take his epic voyage. For those just tuning in, a family reportedly saw their six year old son climb into a weather balloon and take off into the clear Colorado sky on October 15.

My friends and I stared at the screen speechless as we flipped from news channel to news channel till we found a fair and balanced view of what was really going on. We watched as the helium balloon soared thousands of feet above the ground at break neck speeds of 25-35 miles per hour. News anchors provided speculative commentary as to the family’s condition and the details of the balloon’s construction. From the side lines associates would shout to the news anchors of any updates from any availble source. Adding to the specific drama reports of an object falling from the craft came in extending the search efforts.

A relief came to the audience as the balloon finally lowered to the ground with a heroic emergency responder sprinted from his vehicle to grab the loose rope attached to the balloon. Confusion and fear set in when they opened the compartment of the craft to reveal no one inside. This fueled the scanty reports of a falling object the flight path of the balloon was canvassed again. At this point I had to pull myself away from the screen and head back to campus for the day certain that the kid had been hurled from the balloon and had become a grease spot in some field near Denver International Airport.

Hours later, however, the boy was found hiding in the attic of the family home. The boys had been playing and the report came that at some point Falcon Heene, the six-year-old child, had climbed into the balloon at some point but was nowhere near it when it took off. Around this time the apparent “tragedy” started to look like somewhat of a hoax. The family had been in a couple reality TV shows and it seemed as though they had missed the glimmer of the limelight. It wasn’t until reporters had a chance to interview Falcon that the truth came out; “We did this for a show.”

Media Giants and authorities alike after seeing the wool pulled over their eyes are now eager to get back at the Colorado family. The family is now being slanderized all over the web and media sources for wasting tax payer money to publicize themselves. But really, who could fault them for wanting to live the American dream of becoming another messed up family on a reality TV show?

The Heene Family has not been formally charged with a crime and it remains uncertain as to what kind of penalties will be for wasting tax payer money and taking TV time away form the President. However, one thing remains certain, this will be spoofed to death.

For more information check out these links:

Fair and balanced

Larry King Live Interview with the Heene Family

The Balloon Boy Game

Goosh