Brian Damage
04-14-2009, 10:56 PM
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has made a deal to star in NBC's upcoming summer reality show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here," the network confirmed Tuesday.
"Rod Blagojevich will be a participant on the show pending the court's approval," NBC said.
The network has been looking for household names for its version of the U.K. hit, which launches June 1. NBC is taking the unusual step of airing the show four nights a week at 8 p.m. for nearly a month, and a successful launch could fuel the network's entire summer schedule.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Blagojevich's attorney told a federal judge Tuesday that he will file a request to loosen his client's travel restrictions to participate in the show, which will be shot in Costa Rica. Blagojevich was indicted April 1 on federal corruption charges that included 11 counts of wire fraud, three of extortion, one of racketeering and one of lying to federal investigators.
He has plead not guilty.
Given Blagojevich's notoriety, he's bound to garner some curiosity tune-in. "Celebrity" is produced by Granada, which signed the governor for the show pending approval.
In the series, 10 celebrities of various backgrounds compete in challenges to raise money for their favorite charities.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i4f136523a2618c0cca1a65cbcdfd5a66
"Rod Blagojevich will be a participant on the show pending the court's approval," NBC said.
The network has been looking for household names for its version of the U.K. hit, which launches June 1. NBC is taking the unusual step of airing the show four nights a week at 8 p.m. for nearly a month, and a successful launch could fuel the network's entire summer schedule.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Blagojevich's attorney told a federal judge Tuesday that he will file a request to loosen his client's travel restrictions to participate in the show, which will be shot in Costa Rica. Blagojevich was indicted April 1 on federal corruption charges that included 11 counts of wire fraud, three of extortion, one of racketeering and one of lying to federal investigators.
He has plead not guilty.
Given Blagojevich's notoriety, he's bound to garner some curiosity tune-in. "Celebrity" is produced by Granada, which signed the governor for the show pending approval.
In the series, 10 celebrities of various backgrounds compete in challenges to raise money for their favorite charities.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i4f136523a2618c0cca1a65cbcdfd5a66