I'm a Celebrity Voters Boot Patti Blagojevich

Former governor says he's preparing the girls

(NEWSER) - Jury selection resumes Monday in the retrial for Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges, and the former Illinois governor tells the Chicago Tribune that he's mostly worried about how daughters Annie, 8, and Amy, 14, will handle a possible jail sentence for their dad. "I explained to her that I was in a hard business," Blagojevich said of Amy, "that there are some federal prosecutors who were politicizing their offices. And that I did nothing wrong." This being Blagojevich, an asterisk comes with the interview. More»

After dispute over closing argument, Sam Adam Jr. departs

(NEWSER) - Rod Blagojevich's lawyer left a federal courthouse in Chicago today without delivering his closing argument after the judge threatened to cite him for contempt of court, the Tribune reports . Sam Adam Jr. wanted to tell jurors about witnesses the government didn't call and planned to contend that their testimony would have bolstered the former Illinois governor's case. "You cannot argue against the law," the judge, James Zagel, told him. "It doesn’t do your client any good to have his lawyer held in contempt." More»

Prosecutor accuses Patti of paying for it with suspect Rezko money

(NEWSER) - Looking as good as Rod Blagojevich does ain’t cheap. The ex-governor and his wife spent $400,000 on clothes while in office or running for it, according to testimony from a government financial analyst at Blagojevich’s corruption trial yesterday. Prosecutors followed that up by playing a wiretap tape in which Blagojevich loudly and obscenely complained that he might not be able to afford to send his daughters to college, the Chicago Tribune reports. More»

Then-gov considered media titan to succeed Obama as senator

(NEWSER) - As Rod Blagojevich considered possible successors to Barack Obama as US senator from Illinois, he came up with one name "no one can assail": Oprah Winfrey. As the former governor's corruption trial dragged on today in Chicago, prosecutors played a tape from December 2008—after Obama confidant Valerie Jarrett had withdrawn, the Tribune reports , costing Blago what he perceived as leverage with the president-elect—of Blagojevich and an aide tossing around names. More»

Fame? Money? Marriage? Think again

(NEWSER) - Before you bust out your Michael Jackson impression for a shot at $1 million on America’s Got Talent, consider this: That $1 million is actually $375,000. Unless, of course, you want to take $25,000—before taxes—per year for 40 years. The Daily Beast tells the truth about 20 reality shows' prizes:

• The Apprentice: The winner actually does get the promised year-long job with a salary of $250,000—but your “job” is basically promoting Trump.
• Hell's Kitchen: The much-touted head chef job isn't quite so prestigious. Last season's winner was called "just an employee" by his new restaurant's executive chef.