Worst Parents of 2009

One 'Sarah Palin's Alaska' guest star: Kate Gosselin

(NEWSER) - The fall TV season really starts on Sunday, Nov., 14, when the first episode of Sarah Palin's Alaska airs. "It takes a special individual to thrive in Alaska," says the head of TLC, the network best know for inflicting the Gosselin family on America. Not coincidentally, Kate Gosselin of Kate Plus 8, another TLC brainchild, will guest star during the eight-part series. "The Palins recently shared their Alaska with the Gosselin family, and that camping trip will be part of an episode," the exec tells the New York Daily News . More»

Sentences unclear, but judge assures 'significant' monetary cost

(NEWSER) - The parents of “balloon boy” Falcon Heene pleaded guilty today to charges related to the hoax that sent police and rescue personnel on a wild-goose chase. Richard Heene pleaded to a felony, Mayumi Heene—a Japanese citizen who risked deportation if she had a felony on her record—to a misdemeanor. They won't be sentenced until December, but the judge assured the defendants that “the financial consequences will be significant,” the Denver Post reports. More»

More bizarre background on 'Balloon Boy' dad Richard Heene comes out

(NEWSER) - Richard Heene’s totally sensible motivation for his balloon hoax: He “believes the world is going to end in 2012," explained a lawyer for one of Heene’s researchers, who police recently interviewed. "Because of that he wanted to make money quickly, become rich enough to build a bunker or something underground, where he can be safe from the sun exploding,” the Telegraph reports. More on Heene: More»

Flight delays at Denver airport during caper could result in fines

(NEWSER) - The Federal Aviation Administration is the latest agency to start its own investigation of last week’s Colorado balloon circus, with authorities looking into delays at Denver International Airport during the craft’s flight. And while local law enforcement wants criminal charges against the Heene family, any FAA violations would most likely draw fines or civil penalties, a rep tells the Coloradoan. More»

Internet yields veritable treasure trove of Balloon Boy family background

(NEWSER) - Richard Heene wanted to make his family famous, so it's no surprise that the Internet yields a wide variety of background info on the balloon boy dad—from the hilarious (Heene wearing a bra) to the not-so-hilarious (former run-ins with the law). Read on for more:

• TMZ unearthed two audio gems: Theme songs Heene wrote for shows he cooked up in 2005, "The Psyience Detective" ("Tune into the show that's really effective/Watch Richard Heene—Science Detective!") and "The Contractor" ("If you need it built or fixed/There's just one man to pick/That's Richard Heene—contractor!").