Blago guest stars in 'Rod Blagojevich Superstar'

[June 15, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich doesn't seem to mind being the butt of a theatrical joke.

Blagojevich got in on the joke Saturday evening, appearing as himself in a comedy show that lampoons the rise and fall of his own political career.

He opened The Second City's "Rod Blagojevich Superstar," a parody of the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar," standing on a chair with his arms raised as if he were being crucified.

The show -- which portrays Blagojevich as greedy, tactless and hair-obsessed -- opened in February and was supposed to end June 14. But production officials extended it to Aug. 9 due to constant sold-out performances.

A full house cheered as Blagojevich, who was removed from office in January and has pleaded not guilty to wide-ranging federal corruption charges, appeared on stage wearing a suit and tie.

"Where were you when I was impeached?" he asked the audience.

Blagojevich is accused of scheming to sell or trade President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat and using the muscle of the governor's office to get campaign donations. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Before the nearly hourlong show -- which includes duets with an actor portraying U.S. Sen. Roland Burris -- the ex-governor told the audience he hadn't seen the production before, but assured them it was a "fictitious account" of his life.

Blagojevich also worked in an endorsement of his wife, Patti, a contestant on NBC's reality show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!"

He asked people to vote for her to remain on the show, which asks viewers to decide which quasi-celebrity should leave a Costa Rican jungle.

NBC had wanted the former governor to compete. But U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel, who is presiding over Blagojevich's corruption case, refused to let him leave the country, so his wife joined the cast instead.

"In the tradition of Chicago politics, you can vote 10 times," Blagojevich joked. "Vote early and often."

As soon as Blagojevich left the stage, cast members launched into a song that asks, "What kind of idiot sells a Senate seat?"

In the show, Patti Blagojevich was portrayed as cutthroat and foul-mouthed. One of the songs was an expletive-laden version of "I Don't Know How to Love Him."

The former Illinois first lady, who has not been charged with wrongdoing, was famously labeled a "potty mouth" after the FBI said it recorded profanity-laced rants against critics of her husband.

When Blagojevich returned to the stage for the improv portion of the show, he was asked what he thought of the rock opera.

"It's b-------," he said, grinning.

Blagojevich told stories of his time in office. In one, he claimed that while he was governor, he liked to call the Chicago Cubs coaching staff to offer pitching advice.

Actors then used the stories as prompts for skits while Blagojevich watched them unfold.

Blagojevich spokesman Glenn Selig has declined to say how much the former governor would be paid for Saturday's appearance, but said Blagojevich will make a donation to Gilda's Club, a cancer support organization founded by Gilda Radner, a comedian and Second City alumna.

Actor Joey Bland, who portrayed Blagojevich by wearing a black turtleneck and helmet-like black wig, called it "the most surreal day of my life."

A few audience members guffawed as Blagojevich earnestly thanked the cast for making people laugh, but he assured them he was being serious.

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On the Net:

http://www.secondcity.com/

[Associated Press; By RUPA SHENOY]

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