Rod R. Blagojevich has known prominence. As Governor of the Great State of Illinois, his oddly haired head graced many a press conference. Blagojevich has also known notoriety, indicted for 16 counts, including the alleged selling of Barack Obama’s Senate seat. And now, he wants to know celebrity from the lowest of all art forms?
From the New York Times :
Although Mr. Blagojevich has appeared on many television talk shows and recently published his memoir, his plan to appear with Donald Trump on the reality show “The Celebrity Apprentice” sent prosecutors to court on Monday, to seek limits on what Mr. Blagojevich might say on the show.
Prosecutors are concerned that things he may say on TV will poison the jury pool.
Prosecutors said they were concerned about possibly prejudicing potential jurors watching the show next March, just two months before his scheduled trial.Frankly, if I was the prosecutor, I would pay for the upgrade from coach to first class on the flight to New York. The likelihood is extremely high that something will come out of the editing process to make Blago look bad. They make everybody look bad during these shows. It creates tension and interest.
Defense lawyers countered that Mr. Blagojevich, who has pleaded not guilty to 16 charges, had a right to speak his mind and that a reality how was not a likely venue for jury prejudice to occur.
The question I have is what are his lawyers thinking? Does Blago need the money to pay his legal fees? I can’t say for sure, but I assume that they pay these third-string entertainers to do the show. I can’t imagine that anyone would put up with having to listen to The Donald pontificate for free. But then, I similarly can’t imagine that they pay enough to make it worthwhile. Surely, Blago could get a job at the Dairy Queen in the interim and raise some loot, without having every dumb comment broadcast on a network.
Do his lawyers believe that he can control himself, saying only wonderful, kind and thoughtful things that will humanize him and make him likable to the American public? Yeah, and Tom Delay can dance. They must be aware that the sounds that air, the images the fill the screen, are not selected by the contestants, but by the editors and producers who job it is to make America watch the show so that commercial time can be sold at a premium. Blago should certainly understand selling at a premium.
Of course, when his wife, Patti, appeared as contestant on “I’m a celebrity, get me out of here,” I’m told that she came off quite well, very sweet and human. But then, Rod isn’t Patti.
According to SatelliteTV Guru, this photo shows the cast of the next show:
The standout from the pic is that the shamed former governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, will indeed participate in Donald Trump’s reality show. Joining him will be 80’s metal rocker Bret Michaels, Curtis Stone (Australian chef), Bill Goldberg (aka professional wrestler Goldberg), Summer Sanders (retired Olympic gold medalist in swimming), Carol Leifer (comedienne), Sharon Osbourne (TV personality and wife to rocker Ozzie Osbourne) and Daryl Strawberry (former MLB all-star).
According to the NY Post, ’80s icon Cyndi Lauper is also reportedly in the cast but missed the photo shoot due to her personal loss of Lou Albano who died early that day. Also included in the cast are Holly Robinson (21 Jump Street) and WWE Diva Maria Kanellis.
Quite an unusual and diverse group of people to desire surrounding a criminal defendant. Do they hope that Blago and, say, Cyndi Lauper become quick friends, pals and confidants perhaps, and discuss the harshness of the government’s assault? Maybe Strawberry can sympathize, given his vast experience with the criminal justice system. Or better still, teach Blago the ropes, “just in case.”
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Perhaps Blago, staring down the barrel of the government’s very big gun, has decided to go for broke, to risk ridicule and ruination of what little dignity he has left, in the hope that he will emerge from this show a more likable, more respectable, human being. It could happen.
But it’s such a low percentage tactic that it borders on a Hail Mary pass into the endzone. Has the passion to be a reality TV star, the next Balloon boy, bitten Blago, or is he laying the groundwork for his post-prison career? I want to believe that there is some reason behind this choice, but it surely isn’t clear from where I sit.
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Evidence to support the NGRI defense?
‘Tis a fine line between insanity and stupidity.
Not impossible to be both. And if Blago actually believed this would help him, he might demonstrate both – but not legal insanity, I’m afraid, alas for him.
Rod Blagojevich on a reality show. That’s like Lindsay Lohan on a sobriety show. I’m pretty sure that Blago thinks he’s winning this thing.
Given your close and intimate relationship with Blago (not to mention Lohan), I defer to your view of Blago’s beliefs.
Oh for God’s sake! Don’t say that! Great. Now I’m going to get hauled in front of a grand jury so they can quiz me about my Blago connections… I hope you’re proud of yourself.
Need a lawyer?
Hmm, I think you just found a new revenue stream for lawyers. It’s like you’re some kind of legal rebel. You should offer to do a CLE class.
If only I had thought of this before the ABA used up all its Legal Rebel spots on SEO experts.