Taco Bell No Longer a Sponsor

Apparently Taco Bell didn't like my creative use of product placement in the Bernie Mac news story, and so they have withdrawn as a sponsor of Philosophies for the Modern Gentleman. Therefore, I present this amended news story of Bernie Mac's unfortunate demise...

Comedian Bernie Mac Dies

American actor and comedian Bernie Mac died Saturday in Chicago of complications from explosive diarrhea. He was 50 years old. Mac had sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease, but his publicist said the explosive diarrhea was not related to that disease. Doctors believe the explosive diarrhea was in fact cause by Taco Bell's new Fajita Steak Melt.

Bernie Mac played the ex-con blackjack dealer in the Ocean's Eleven film trilogy, which also starred George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Clooney said of Mac's passing, "The world just got a little less funny. I'm also surprised to hear that it was Taco Bell that ended up killing him. I would've thought Bernie as more of a KFC or Popeye's Chicken kind of guy." Mac received the prestigious Peabody Award for his television sitcom The Bernie Mac Show, which also garnered Globe Globe and Emmy nominations.

He first came to nationwide prominence in 2000 with his appearance in the film The Original Kings of Comedy, a documentary that brought a new generation of African-American comedians to a wider audience. Mac's film appearances included the disappointing 2003 film Charlie's Angels, last year's Transformers (which also sucked), and the comedic remake of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner entitled Guess Who (didn't see it).

Last year, Mac told late-night talk show host David Letterman that he planned to retire soon because he wanted to enjoy his life. Good job, Taco Bell. You just robbed Bernie Mac of plans to retire, and you robbed the world of a beloved comedic actor. He will be missed.