Balloon Boy Dad Richard Heene Hints at "Big Announcement"

Michael Heene, the father of Falcon Heene, the balloon boy who kept a rapt balloon-watching audience on Thursday glued to cable news, has planned a "big announcement" to take place at 10 a.m. Mountain Time on Saturday, October 17, as reported by USA Today. What the "big announcement" will be is mysterious, but here are a few possible announcements.

Announcement #1: It was a hoax. Perhaps attic-dwelling Falcon Heene's "We did it for the show" comment was the pin that popped the Heene hoax balloon. The twice-over live television vomiting from Falcon may have nerves or some bad poi or perhaps his moral compass vomiting the truth. Kids' (and adults') autonomic functions can sometimes react this way when they are lying. This is why interrogation rooms work on criminals, because they are eventually broken over time.

Announcement #2: It wasn't a hoax. Stay away from my family. It's hard to predict this response from such a fame-hungry family. After all, TMZ.com reports they were shopping their family all over the place for a reality show. But taking the high road might be the smartest choice for this family, as the only people who can implicate them in the hoax is the family itself. Those boys know the truth, and it would be wise to keep them mum.

Announcement #3: Our new reality show begins taping tomorrow. This is an equally likely scenario, as this family's story is hotter than shrimp vindaloo. TLC no longer has the trainwreck that is "Jon and Kate Plus 8," so why not "Michael and Mayumi Plus 3 Plus Silver Flying Saucer"? Stranger things have happened, but whichever network will take on the Heene reality should wait a bit, or face national outrage.

Announcement #4: We'll be on Oprah this Monday. Just as likely a scenario as a new reality show. Same consequences for Oprah.

Announcement #5: That mysterious cloud over Russia is actually one of our balloons. The Heene family could very well turn into an international incident.

Announcement #6: David Letterman slept with one of our balloons. Leno would have a field day with this one.

It could easily be any one of these announcements, with how strange the story has been already. However, the Heene family seems to be loving it, the media hanging onto their every word. Even The Today Show's Meredith Vieira kept grilling the father despite Falcon Heene puking his guts out in front of her. That's what you'd call undivided attention.

The media is guaranteed to lap up any "big announcement" this family concocts before their 15-minute balloon ride touches down.

Sources:
USA Today, "Balloon Boy Family Plans 'Big Announcement'"
TMZ.com, "Heene Family's Reality is TV"