The Blago Infamy Factory Expands

On April 23rd, I declared as the "Best Idea of the Week" an Illinois' court's denial of Rod Blagojevich's participation in an upcoming reality show, "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" Citing reasons such as his pending criminal charges and the fact that he is not a celebrity, I felt Blago did not deserve to use his impeachment as a launching pad to TV stardom and monetary reward.

Well, the Chicago Sun-Times reports today:

In another bizarre chapter of Illinois political history, the wife of onetime governor Rod Blagojevich is likely to finalize a deal this week to appear in a reality TV show.

"It appears she's going to do it," said Sheldon Sorosky, attorney for Rod Blagojevich.

Patti Blagojevich will appear as a contestant on the reality TV show "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" according to an attorney for her husband, Ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Sorosky said Patti Blagojevich plans to fly to Los Angeles this week to finalize a deal to appear on the new NBC prime time TV show: "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" There's no indication what NBC has offered to pay Mrs. Blagojevich, but her husband's onetime deal called for up to $123,000.

NBC executives sought to woo Patti Blagojevich onto the show almost immediately after U.S. District Judge James Zagel last month blocked the former governor from being a contestant.

The show will be filmed in Costa Rica. Because of the federal charges against Rod Blagojevich, he needed approval to leave the country.

Meanwhile, Sam Adam Jr., onetime lawyer for R&B star R. Kelly, formally filed his intent with the court to act as the ex-governor's lawyer.

"I'm ready to go," he said Monday.

I'm really not a fan of the advancement of despicable people due to their despicable actions. "Profane Patti" is even less of a celebrity than her husband, for starters, but NBC's hasty move to replace the ex-governor with one of his (life) partners in crime is nauseating. Surely there are other fame-hungry, D-list attention seekers who would be willing to compete for cash in Costa Rica. Give Ann Coulter a call. I hear Manny Ramirez has some time to spare. Pluck out one of the Jackson 5 or one of the Brady Bunch....anyone but ousted politicians and/or their spouses.

An even better idea for NBC: fill the Costa Rican jungle with Americans who were recently laid off from their jobs. Let THEM compete for cash.

Worst, er, Best Idea of the Week: No Blagojevich!

Former Illinios governor and current punchline, Rod Blagojevich, was my surefire pick for Worst Idea of the Week. Yes, I know--his despicable, profanity-laden scandal regarding the sale of President Obama's former Senate seat dominated headlines several months ago.

But this week Blagojevich returned to the esteemed pages of, uh, Entertainment Weekly as a potential contender for NBC's upcoming reality bomb, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here (a show popularized in Britain that strands D-list celebrities in a remote location while TV viewers (if there are any) vote on which people to keep around until a winner is announced.)

Blagojevich is a casting faux pas on so many levels. Firstly, I consider Blah Blah Blago to be infamous, not famous--certainly not a celebrity! (His hair style definitely didn't set any style trends.) But more importantly, what kind of message are we sending by letting a recently impeached, disgraced governor earn and compete for cash (reportedly, $80,000 per week!) on TV? Sure, he has the right to but...

...actually, breaking news: a judge has denied Blagojevich the opportunity to jet off to a Costa Rican jungle with other fame-starved no-names like Geraldo Rivera for I'm a Celebrity! U.S. District Judge James Zagel just turned down the request by Blagojevich, according to reports in Chicago newspapers. "I don't think this defendant in all honesty...fully understands the position he finds himself in," Zagel said. Blagojevich still faces federal corruption charges.

Zagel believes it to be a bad idea to modify the terms of BlagojevichÕs bail to allow him to travel to Central America. He said the governor should stay in the U.S. and review the government evidence against him so he will be better able to understand the jeopardy he is in.

Previously, Blagojevich hinted that his participation in the reality show was a bit dubious. "It's not my first choice, but it's a living," he said. Better than auctioneer of Senate seats, I wonder?

Therefore, the best idea of the week goes to U.S. Judge Zagel for denying Illinois' ill-minded Blago a first-class ticket to beautiful Costa Rica and dirty reality TV cash.