Charlie Rose's late-night talk show is rarely a shocking affair. That's its appeal, of course -- a quiet, contemplative chat with Davos luminaries before bedtime. Folks who tuned in on Monday night, though, got a rare fright: Rose's left EYE was heavily bruised and bandaged, looking for all the world as if he were trying out for a role in Wes Anderson's next picture.

At the top of the show Rose explained that he'd taken a spill. But the influential tech blogger Mike Arrington -- who was recently on the show -- called up Rose's producer to ask what really happened to the HOST.

Arrington REPORTS that Rose tripped in a pothole walking down 59th St. in Manhattan.

The host, whom Arrington says is a gadget-hound, was carrying his new MacBook Air, and thus he had a big decision to make: Protect his face, or the beautiful machine? In the split-second before he kissed the pavement, Rose chose to save the computer.

"In doing so, he pretty much hit the pavement face first, unfortunately," producers told Arrington.

Producers say the MacBook Air was undamaged, save for the BLOOD stains.