Trump Inspires Another TV Star to Consider Politics

Joe Piscopo's Frank Sinatra impression, made famous from his days on Saturday Night Live, has gotten an update. It's no longer "New York, New York," but "NJ, NJ," the actor, standup comic, and potential 2017 Republican candidate for governor is now crooning. Piscopo performed the updated song—lyrics included "my New York and Philly blues are melting away"—at a recent charity event for the Boys and Girls Club in New Jersey, where his flirtation with running for governor to succeed incumbent Republican Chris Christie when his term ends in 2018 is out in the open. It's no joke, he tells the AP.

"I'm seriously looking at it," said the 65-year-old, promising to make a decision by January. "I love the people. I love the state. I know what has to be done." He says he would likely run as a Republican in 2017, but isn't ruling out jumping in as an independent after the June 6 primary. Piscopo has never campaigned for or held office, but considered running in 2004. What's different now? He said he feels emboldened by the against-all-odds victory of President-elect Donald Trump, whom he spoke for recently at a Florida rally. "When I saw Mr. Trump in Tampa and he invited me to speak, I saw it was contagious. It was the movement. It wasn't the machine." (More New Jersey stories.)