Deal predicted for Marion Barry TV series

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- A former staffer for Marion Barry says the former Washington mayor's reality series project is still being shopped around to television networks.

Andre Johnson, Barry's former communications director, told The Washington Post he expected a deal for "Mayor for Life" to be nailed down in the near future.

The program would examine Barry's current role as a city councilman and, unlike Sarah Palin's popular reality series, would revolve around politics more than Barry's personal life, the New York Daily News said Saturday.

A 30-minute pilot episode posted on YouTube includes scenes in which a panicky City Hall staff member is subpoenaed over the awarding of city contracts that could result in censure for Barry.

Barry gained notoriety for smoking crack in 1990 and winning re-election in 1994. His more recent scrapes involved taxes and stalking allegations.