Back to earth: Balloon hoaxers find out what reality really is

The thing about balloons is that they eventually deflate and come back to earth. For Richard and Mayumi Heene, their balloon bump was belated but appropriately attention-grabbing.

They were the hoaxers who made news in October by raising an alarm about their son Falcon possibly being carried away in a giant helium balloon shaped like a flying saucer. Their role called for them to stay on the ground and put on a media show.

After police launched a frantic search, with military helicopters scrambled and Denver International Airport temporarily closed, Falcon was found hiding in the rafters of the family's home in Fort Collins, Colo.

It didn't take long for the authorities to figure out the couple's claim was as empty as the balloon. Having once been on a TV reality show, they had made up this wild story to get on another show and make money to pay their bills. Stupidity, greed and irresponsibility lifted that balloon.

Their rough landing came last Wednesday when the Heenes were sentenced in a Fort Collins courtroom. Mr. Heene received 90 days, including 60 days of work release. Mrs. Heene was given a 20-day sentence.

"Jay Leno said it best when he said, 'This is a copycat game.' And people will copycat this event," said prosecutor Andrew Lewis. The Heenes "need to go to jail so people don't do that."

Even if the jail terms aren't long, they came with a condition that will hurt this couple on the make: During four years' probation, they cannot reap any money from the stunt. No books. No movies. No reality TV deals.

Hollywood reality, step up and meet the reality everyone else lives in. In the real word, there are consequences for doing stupid, criminal acts.