On "The Sorpranos," Corrado "Junior" Soprano, locked up in a mental institution for his mistaken shooting of his nephews, boss Anthony Soprano, wrote a letter appealing to the vice president.

"Dear Vice President Cheney," he writes, "As a powerful man all too familiar with accidental gun play, I am writing in the hope that you will intervene in my case. Like yourself, I was involved in an unfortunate incident when a gun I was handling accidentally misfired ..."

Uncle June received a form letter in return.