King of the boob tube

Blago, King of the Jungle. I'll see your "reality TV" and raise you projectile vomiting.

That seems to me to be a fitting response to the news that NBC has signed the indicted former governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, for its latest reality show, I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here. No, I'm a viewer . . . get me out of here.

ANYWAY, the network thinks Blago's notoriety will garner good ratings for the summer series, which will air four nights a week. Natch, everything is pending court approval.

Personally, in this case, I would welcome a little judicial activism in the name of preserving what's left of our culture. Revoking the ex-governor's bail might be nice.

If you can take it, read this from James Hibbard's The Live Feed:

Given Blagojevich's notoriety following his arrest on federal corruption charges, he's bound to garner some curiosity tune-in for the network. Celebrity is produced by Granada, which signed the governor for the show pending the court's approval.

Official Celebrity description: "Ten celebrities of various backgrounds will be dropped into the heart of the Costa Rican jungle to face challenges designed to test their skills in adapting to the wilderness and to raise money for their favorite charities."

THERE'S A small problem with the charity deal, of course. (And isn't it funny how we will countenance the most insipid things so long as "charity" gets a cut?)

You see, Rod Blagojevich's favorite charity is Rod Blagojevich. Thus the criminal charges.

Sigh.