Blagojevich Headed To Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice'

If there were a prize for indicted former elected officials for keeping a high public profile, then ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich should win it with the news that he will be a contestant on Donald Trump's reality show, "Celebrity Apprentice."

Taping of the show will begin later this month and could take at least three weeks, reported the Chicago Sun-Times' Natasha Korecki, who had the scoop. Blagojevich would continue on the show until he either wins or is fired by Trump.

Blagojevich -- who is quite a showman, if you haven't noticed -- was impeached and removed from office last January. His federal indictment charges him with, among other things, trying to sell the Senate seat once held by President Obama. Blagojevich has maintained he is innocent.

But Blagojevich needs the money, and the Trump show seems well-suited to Blagojevich's own outsized personality and his ability to remain sunny despite the fact he might face serious prison time and financial ruin.

Blagojevich's press agent, Glenn Selig, (who also represents suspected killer Drew Peterson) declined to confirm Blagojevich's participation in the Trump show.

"We don't comment on rumors or projects or anything we don't have an announcement about," Selig told the Sun-Times.

Under Selig's guidance, Blagojevich has become -- in his own way -- a brand. He is a sought-after talk show guest (on with Jon Stewart last month) and an author. His book, "The Governor," triggered another round of appearances on talk television and radio.

Blagojevich wanted to be in the cast of a NBC reality show taped in Costa Rica earlier this year -- "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here" -- but U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel said Blagojevich could not leave the country. His wife, Patti, flew to Costa Rica instead and almost survived to the final rounds of the series.

Blagojevich, a Democrat, and Tom DeLay, a Republican, are two figures who prove the public just likes to be entertained. DeLay, the former House majority leader, just wrapped up a stint on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" despite money-laundering charges stemming from a 4-year-old indictment still hanging over his head.

DeLay dropped off the show because of stress fractures to his feet and talked to comic Jimmy Kimmel about his dancing.

Kimmel: "Do you think this will inspire other indicted politicians to dance?"

DeLay: "It keeps you outa jail."