Sighting 'The View' A Blago blitz?
Is beleaguered Gov. Blagojevich showing his feminine side?
Sneed hears Blagojevich, who is weighing the possibility of a major media blitz, is keen on appearing on Barbara Walters' hit ABC-TV show "The View" with its all-woman panel.
(Rich Hein/Sun-Times, ABC)
• • Translation: Word is Gov. Blago, who is being probed by the feds, impeached by the Illinois House and awaiting trial in the state Senate, is considering launching an all-out media attack.
• • The fear: It could backfire. Putting the poetry-spouting governor out to explain "Y" and having it interpreted as "X" could be disastrous.
• • The upshot: "It would be Rod's decision," a source said. "It's his deal."
• • The backshot: "The governor is weighing offers from multiple media sources -- and if he did appear on 'The View,' it would probably be in tandem [contingent?] with an interview on 'Good Morning America,' which is also on ABC-TV and has expressed interest in him appearing on the show," a top source said. "He is weighing his offers."
• • The flipside: A call to ABC-TV "The View" spokesman Karl Nilsson netted this response: "Per our executive producer, we don't discuss our bookings."
• • Translation: Sneed hears there may be a personal reason Blagojevich favors an appearance on the show, which sports an all-female panel monitored by actress/comedian Whoopi Goldberg and includes Elisabeth Hasselbeck, comedian Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd.
• • The reason? Walters reportedly referred to first lady Patti Blagojevich being described as a "potty mouth" in news reports on the show -- pointing to a profanity-laced tirade allegedly recorded by the feds. Blagojevich, however, was reportedly moved by what he felt was a touch of sympathy from Goldberg.
• • The strategy: Sneed hears members of Gov. Blago's defense team are encouraging him to carpet-bomb the media and take his fight nationwide.
• • The upshot: Blago already plans to appear on WLS-AM's "Don Wade & Roma" show this morning, which follows an on-air job offer to Blago from WLS-AM program director Bob Shomper on Thursday morning. (Blago was reportedly called Wednesday and told to listen to the radio at 7 a.m. Thursday. That's when the pitch was reportedly made.)
• • The stumbling block? "The governor would have to quit his job to do the show," said a Blago source.
The Bunnies are coming! Explanation: Playboy publishing and online will soon be merged in Chicago -- and only a small editorial and sales presence will be in New York. Will Bunny boy Hugh Hefner visit soon? Stay tuned.
The Waukegan warrior: Although uber-agent Robert Barnett, who hails from Waukegan, is being mum, the buzz is Barnett is on board the Sarah Palin book wagon.
• • $$$$ At least one news report claims Palin's autobiography/memoir is being shopped near an eight-digit figure.
• • The response: Barnett, an old Sneed pal, e-mailed Sneed this message: "Hello, my friend. Robert Barnett (Waukegan Warrior) declined to comment." Oh, Bob.
• • Please note: Barnett, who represents a galaxy of Washington stars which would probably stretch the length of this column, is also repping former first lady Laura Bush, who just sold her memoirs for under $2 million.
Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis wearing a Harley-Davidson T-shirt and jeans watching the hit flick "Slumdog Millionaire" at the AMC Theater in Streetervillle on Saturday afternoon.
Today's birthdays: Princess Caroline, 52; Jeanne Moreau, 81; Chita Rivera, 76; Rutger Hauer, 65; Robin Zander, 56; Richard Dean Anderson, 59, and Diane Lane is restored to her proper age of 44.