It's too bad a federal judge denied former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich permission to be a cast member on NBC's "I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!" The ex-gov, indicted on 17 counts, including trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by President Obama, would have fit right in.

Of course, he still might. Producer Chris Brogden said the show "is looking at all kinds of ways Mr. Blagojevich could become involved." Actually, they already found one. On Friday, NBC used him as bait for TV cameras and reporters at the network's annual "Summer Press Day."

In the series, which will premiere June 1, a gaggle of 10 celebs are dropped into a Costa Rican jungle. Week after week, viewers vote them off until there's one winner. Well, two, if you count the charity to which the winner donates the prize.

I'm not sure what charity Blagojevich would have played for but, based on transcripts of phone calls he made as governor and released by prosecutors, his legal defense fund will need some hefty donations.

In telling Blagojevich to keep out of Costa Rica's jungle, the judge didn't intimate he was a flight risk. "It was more about me focusing and spending that time in June to get the information and start working on building my case," he said. Besides, he added, "where am I going? Why would I run away when I know what the truth is and I'm innocent?"

Perhaps because, strictly speaking, innocence doesn't always guarantee a not guilty verdict. Plus those transcripts are pretty incriminating, though they are not likely to be the whole story.

All that aside, there is the question of whether Blagojevich actually belongs in a show among other cast members that include D-list actor Stephen Baldwin, aging supermodel Janice Dickinson, "American Idol" washout Sanjaya Malakar, retired basketballer John Salley, reality show curiosities Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt or pro wrestling beauty Torrie Wilson.

Panel for "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" at NBC Summer Press Day on April 24, 2009.

Back row (L-R): Janice Dickinson, John Salley, Chris Brogden, Jayson Dinsmore.

Front row (L-R): Rod Blagojevich, Stephen Baldwin, Torrie Wilson, Sanjaya Malakar.

Photo Credit: Chris Haston/NBC.

Unlike these people, Blagojevich is not famous mostly for being famous. He actually accomplished something. A former prosecutor, Blagojevich was elected to the state legislature and then won three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Twice, he was elected governor of Illinois. Jon Stewart's mockery of his name and hair notwithstanding, Blagojevich had an impressive resume of public service before the indictments came down.

Of course, win or lose in federal court, all that is history. Even if he isn't sent to prison, his political career is over. However, as he points out, his responsibilities as husband and father of two young daughters are ongoing.

Even so, it takes more than a little rationalizing to argue, as he does, that moving from public service in government to public humiliation in reality programming is not a comedown of monumental proportions.

I asked him point blank if he had experienced a moment of dismay, going from the lofty halls of government to the manipulated and contrived silliness of reality TV.

"It's obvious it's not something I signed up for originally and not something I saw myself doing," he said. But, he continued, he has become disenchanted with politics in general and, specifically, with politicians who sell out to lobbyists and spend all of their time obstructing progress.

He said there was a "fundamental dishonesty" in Washington and in every state capital "that does not exist, as far as I can see, in the entertainment world that I've had experience with so far."

"In some ways, especially with a reality show like this where you're going to be able to tune in and see the celebrities out there in a jungle, without staff, without the comforts of life, you're going to see a lot of honesty that you just don't see in politics."

Mind you, Blagojevich said this knowing full well that, on the other side of the camera, unseen by viewers, is a small production staff army ready to step in at the first sign of danger.

And he said this after Dickinson explained onstage and off that the shrill, demanding persona she projects on reality shows is just a put-on to artificially manufacture drama.

Janice Dickinson in a promotional shot for "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!",

premiering on NBC on June 1, 2009 at 8PM ET.

Photo Credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC.

And Blagojevich predicted greatness and success for the show and the cast even though a practically identical version went down in flames on ABC six years ago.

So, yeah, maybe Blagojevich qualifies as a celebrity after all. That much obfuscation in the name of promotion shows that he is at least on the right track.

Barry Garron is a freelance writer and TV critic who has covered the industry for more than 25 years for The Hollywood Reporter and The Kansas City Star. You can contact him at tv.critic@yahoo.com.