Mrs. Blago Thrives in the Jungle

(NEWSER) - Patti Blagojevich survived 23 days in the Costa Rican jungle, but she won't be a reality TV champ, reports the Chicago Tribune. Viewers voted Blagojevich off the NBC series I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here tonight. The wife of Illinois' notorious ex-governor took her husband's place on the show after a judge refused to let him travel to Costa Rica. The show's finale will be broadcast tomorrow. More»

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»

Will take husband's place on NBC's 'I'm a Celebrity...'

(NEWSER) - Patti Blagojevich may take the spot originally offered to her husband on NBC’s I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The couple's lawyers don’t like the idea, but sources say the deal is likely, with Patti headed to LA to hash out the details. Said one lawyer in the case, “Frankly, they need the money.” More»

NBC wanted ex-guv in Costa Rica for celeb program

(NEWSER) - A federal judge has barred Rod Blagojevich’s bid to leave the country to join a reality-show cast, the Chicago Tribune reports. The ex-governor’s lawyers hoped he’d get permission in court today to travel to Costa Rica for NBC’s I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, which would be “a way to earn a living and support my children,” he said, though "it's not my first choice." More»

Ex-gov offered space on NBC show if judge gives the OK

(NEWSER) - NBC wants to pluck Rod Blagojevich from the political wilderness and dump him in the Costa Rican jungle, the Chicago Tribune reports. The ex-Illinois governor, who pleaded not guilty to corruption charges yesterday, has been offered a spot on a new season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!—pending court approval. More»