Once the action began, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Mr. Zepaltas celebrated by belly-flopping into the tomato heap.

WSJ: Messy Business: Now You Can Pay To Get Hit by a Tomato

America is belly-flopping upon impact no matter what happens fiscal-cliff-wise this week.

FORBES: Happy New Year? Fiscal Cliff, Meet The Costberg

These household and household-ish names climb the stairs and take a very public leap, sometimes landing gracefully, or at least belly-flopping for audience amusement.

WSJ: Splash: Reality Television Takes a Dive��Jason Gay