Disgraced Governor Thanks Judge For Sparing Him From Eating Bugs

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Thursday was unfazed in an appearance on The Today Show, discussing  a judge's rejection of his request to travel to Costa Rica to film I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here, an NBC reality show.

The dethroned politician, who has been accused of trying  to sell the vacant senate seat President Barack Obama left behind, told Today that he respects the decision handed down by U.S. District Judge James Zagel.

The judge, in his ruling, implied that the former governor has severely underestimated the degree of the trouble he is in.

Blagojevich told  Today he might be able to play a role on the reality show in some capacity, and is en route to Los Angeles to entertain like-minded discussions. The show, slated to air this summer, will also feature personalities including Spencer Pratt, Heidi Montag, Duane "Dog" Chapman, Janice Dickinson and Geraldo Rivera.

He told Today that he wasn't shy about making the transition from governor to reality sideshow.

"I have two little girls," he said. "We have a mortgage to pay, and I'm obviously looking for a new line of work as I work through the process of proving my innocence."

Blagojevich showed a glint of his election-wining charm, joking, "I guess the judge did save me from eating bugs."

He saved you from Speidi, too.