Exclusive! We called it! Bernies died in threes!

We received some criticism over the weekend when we invoked the Die in Threes rule and predicted, if obliquely, that a third show business "Bernie" would soon be announced dead in wake of the sad passings of

* super manager and producer Bernie Brillstein on Thursday

and

* superstar comedian Bernie Mac on Saturday.

Now, the New York Times reports the death of Bernie Castelli, original executive producer of the Broadway musical Hair, that was revived in New York's Central Park on Thursday, producer the of Hair, which was revived in New York City on Thursday. The Times describes him as a "painter, a screenwriter, a balletomane and a choreographer as well as a producer... described by those who knew him as a world-class bon vivant."

See? We weren't trying to be funny.