Springer again pondering politics

Akron, Ohio — It seemed Jerry Springer’s final thought on politics was, he wasn’t going to get involved again.

Now he’s talking about running for governor of Ohio.

The talk show host, who’s a Democrat, spent about $1 million this year to determine voter support for a possible U.S. Senate run in a primary, and eventually a possible campaign against Republican incumbent Sen. George Voinovich.

Springer decided against it in August, saying he realized he couldn’t be elected as long as he remains host of the raunchy “Jerry Springer Show.”

But on Thursday, Springer told students at the University of Akron that he’s open to the possibility of running for Ohio governor in 2006. He’d end his show, he said.

Chef finds American food scary

Taipei, Taiwan — American celebrity chef, writer and TV star Anthony Bourdain likes to dig into such exotic dishes as live beating cobra hearts in Vietnam and boiled iguana in Mexico.

But the star of the Food Network show “A Chef’s Tour” told Taiwan’s CTI cable news that he thinks the scariest food is served at McDonald’s.

“What could be more frightening than walking into a McDonald’s and looking at a Chicken McNugget. What the hell is a Chicken McNugget?” the New York chef said in a CTI interview that aired Friday.

Wayne Newton fills Hope’s shoes

Las Vegas — Singer Wayne Newton will receive the Bob Hope lifetime service award at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival for his efforts entertaining U.S. troops.

The festival will run Oct. 29-Nov. 2 at the Stardust Resort and Casino, where Newton is the resident headliner. The Smothers Brothers, the Improv’s Budd Friedman and comedian Rita Rudner also will be honored.

Newton took over Hope’s USO duties two years ago as celebrity figurehead on tours.

“Wayne Newton has brought a lot of smiles and laughter to Las Vegas for the last 40 years. It’s great he’s being honored for his work entertaining our troops overseas. I’m sure Bob Hope would be smiling knowing his legacy continues,” Stardust spokesman Rob Stillwell said Wednesday.

Legacy of a voice continues

Los Angeles — When Mel Blanc died in 1989, his legacy for providing words from the mouths of animated characters such as Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig was passed to son Noel Blanc.

“Sometimes it was hard to tell where my dad’s personality left off and his characters began,” Blanc said Tuesday.

Noel Blanc is honoring his father with a limited-edition lithograph featuring Warner Bros. characters that Blanc helped make famous.

The poster-size “Passing the Baton: A Tribute to Mel and Noel Blanc” lithographs are numbered, signed and will be personalized by Noel Blanc. Produced by Warner Bros. for Great American Ink, they cost $495.