Michael Arrington of TechCrunch reported last evening that people he trusts at Microsoft now confirm Jerry Seinfeld's literally out of the picture in the company's $300 million Vista television campaign, which was worse than a train wreck.

So it's three and out: Three commercials, three whiffs. Why are we not surprised? Who came up with the totally inane story lines that had absolutely nothing to do with anything? (Actually, the Miami-based ad firm Crispin Porter + Bogusky is the culprit.) Who wrote those idiotic scripts? (Same guys.) Who "directed" smirking Bill Gates, who couldn't act his way out of a whitebox? (Well, they hired somebody to do that dirty work.)

Arrington blogs that "Microsoft won't confirm Seinfeld's rumored $10 million fee one way or the other. And they say he may be back later in the campaign. But starting today [Sept. 18] the ads go on, without Seinfeld."

Everybody affiliated with that project should go now to their rooms and take a timeout in the corner for like four years. Either that or run up to Cape Canaveral and hitch a ride on a one-way satellite launch.