Nobody puts 'Bullet' in a box

Recently here in New York (in fact, right across the street from our newsroom) Christie's auction house sold off some of the last remnants of the long-ago empire of Roy Rogers. While some Americans only know the name from a fast-food roast beef place on the Jersey Turnpike, older folks remember the hold he had on popular culture. As Elton John later chronicled in a song of the same name, Americans came to know Roy, his wife Dale, his trusty steed Trigger and his dog, Bullet.

Recently, the Roy Rogers Museum was forced to close, and it meant a sad ending for some of these icons. Trigger, stuffed in a reared-back pose forever, was sold for $266,500. Roy's dog Bullet went for $35,000. On the day after the auction, Peter Blank, one of our veteran studio cameramen, was walking through Christie's building and saw a familiar face sticking out of a crate. He took the photo I've included here, which is as shocking at first glance as it was for poor Peter to see. Peter—who is of a certain age—remembers Bullet in his prime, running alongside Roy and Trigger, anxious for the next adventure. Sadly, it seems, not even in death is there dignity for Bullet, who below is recorded forever, looking hopefully for his Master...before being sent to a new home. For Bullet's sake, we can only hope it’s a loving home.

It was a big Sunday night on television. While I'm still sorting out my feelings on “Mad Men” (and compiling a list of continuity errors), I can sum up my reaction to “Entourage” in one sentence: Turtle, did you really think you were invited to Mexico for your vast business knowledge, rapier wit, crackling intelligence and skills as a raconteur? And just today, driving to the City from the Jersey Shore, I saw a billboard for the same brand of tequila. It was all a product placement stunt. We were all victims. Same as Turtle.

We hope you can join us for the broadcast tonight.