And although BET hosted a generation of young comedians on its cheesy stand-up showcase Comic View, big-time comics, such as Richard Pryor and Jay Leno, ridiculed Johnson for paying low appearance fees.

FORBES: The cable capitalist

Taking a big-picture view, Ward and Ferry argue that now is a good time to invest in Asia rather than betting on a rebound in the U.S. market.

FORBES: Classic Hedge, Asian Flavor

After his four-year playing career with the Tar Heels, Doherty disappeared from public view, in the way that many role-players on big-time college teams do.

FORBES: The Rise And Fall, And Fall Again Of Matt Doherty

On that view, it is a good time for the world's big consuming nations (including developing countries such as China) to build up buffer stocks, which provide the only real protection against short-term supply disruptions caused by embargoes, wars and the like.

ECONOMIST: Oil