Leggo My Blago?

April 24th, 2009: The latest from Blago's publicist:

(PRNewsChannel) / Los Angeles, Calif. / One of the stars of the upcoming NBC reality show 'Help, I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!,' wants to help get former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in Costa Rica to participate on the show.



Stephen Baldwin says he's willing to go before Judge James Zagel to get permission for Blagojevich to join him in Costa Rica on the show.



"If there's an opportunity to go before the judge and it would help the situation I would be more than happy to go," Baldwin told the former governor who is in L.A. to help promote the reality program airing on NBC in June.



Baldwin said he believes people are innoncent until proven guilty so everyone should still be under the assumption that "he's innocent."



The judge ruled earlier this week that he would not alter the conditions of Blagojevich's bond to allow travel to Costa Rica for the reality show.



"I would love for Blagojevich to be on the show," Baldwin says. "He would add intensity and spice."



Baldwin, also in L.A. to help promote the new show, says he will start wearing a handmade button on his lapel during interviews that proclaims 'Leggo My Blago.'



With the role of the former governor in the new NBC reality show still unclear, Blagojevich's publicist welcomed the support of the Hollywood actor.



"I think it's great that a Hollywood star like Stephen Baldwin is behind the governor," says Glenn Selig, founder of the PR firm, The Publicity Agency (www.thepublicityagency.com), which represents Blagojevich. "Rod really appreciates his support."



Blagojevich is in Los Angeles with Baldwin and other stars to help promote the upcoming reality show, which he hopes to still have a role in at some point.

Blago in Free Fall

April 24, 2009: The images of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich flailing about on an NBC set in Tinseltown (see the video below) are almost more than I can deal with on my day off. Hopefully the compensation he receives for taping this promo for the show in which he can't be a full participant will enable him to proceed with his legal defense. Did ge get the message Judge James Zagel clearly sent him last Tuesday?

Is the Toddler Toast?

April 17th, 2009: Cook County Board President Todd Stroger is going to have a hard time surviving the scandal that broke in the early hours of this morning. Commissioner Larry Suffredin is already calling for his resignation. More to follow...

Celebrities endorse Chicago 2016

Tuesday, April 6th, 2009: I wonder how influenced members of the International Olympic Committee were by the celebrity endorsements of Chicago's candidacy by the likes of Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey and President Barack Obama (whose video you can  watch below):