Comedy Central

"Daily Show" host Jon Stewart decided deportation might just be the best send off he could imagine for former presidential hopefuls, like Newt Gingrich, who fail to go all the way.

On Wednesday, now-former Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich announced he was putting the brakes on his campaign, effectively clearing the way for Mitt Romney to lock in the Republican nomination -- though he didn't go so far as to endorse his rival. The news was well received on late-night TV.

"Today, I am suspending the campaign," Gingrich said in a clip that aired on "The Daily Show."

"There you have it!" host Jon Stewart cheered. "Not ending, just suspending. He's suspending it, like we all had to do to our disbelief when he thought he was going to be president."

But it was Gingrich's next line that really inspired Stewart to imagine an unlikely future.

"Suspending the campaign does not mean suspending citizenship," Gingrich insisted.

"Wouldn't it be awesome though if it did mean suspending citizenship? Like if you lose a presidential primary, you're deported," Stewart pondered with a smile. "Wouldn't that be awesome?"

A similar sentiment was shared by Stewart's fellow after-dark host, Jimmy Kimmel.

On “Live,” Kimmel, just days after taking digs at Gingrich during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, kept up the cracks going. This time the zingers revolved around a YouTube video Gingrich recorded to give his supporters “insider advance notice” that he would be suspending his campaign.

In the video Gingrich, vows to continue on the road, do everything he can to defeat Obama, travel with wife Callista and be an all-round American... But it’s hard to hear the noble farewell or any of his next-step details because in Kimmel’s version of the video, Gingrich stands giving his speech while a couple of movers take apart his office in the back.  

Maybe those rumors of his campaign running $4 million in debt are true after all.

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Should Brad Pitt play Newt Gingrich in a movie? They're like twins, no?

Julianne Moore is playing Sarah Palin in HBO's upcoming movie, but if Hollywood made a film about Newt Gingrich, who should play the former House speaker and presidential candidate?

Gingrich has an idea: Brad Pitt.

In an interview with the Florida-based Rich Stevens radio show, Gingrich was asked who should play him in a movie about his life.

Gingrich had a little fun with the answer. "In my fantasy life?" he asked. "Brad Pitt ... why not?"

Uh, because you look nothing like each other? Because Pitt is 20 years younger, quite a few pounds lighter and, well ... one of the sexiest men alive?

Gingrich readily admitted the two are far from twins, telling Stevens: "I don't look like him at all. He's thinner, he's better-looking, he's younger. ... Look if you're gonna go for it ... let your imagination soar."

Some say Rainn Wilson in his role as Dwight Schrute on "The Office" would be a better match. (Check out the resemblance.) Now that's good casting. (Also, don't miss a young Rick Santorum and ... McLovin from "Superbad.")

Sure. Pitt as Newt. Whatever. Who do you think should play the candidate, and who would you cast as his wife Callista? Or as Mitt Romney? Tell us on Facebook.

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Newt Gingrich

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich faces a lawsuit over his use of "Eye of the Tiger," the theme song to the movie "Rocky III," court documents show.

The claim for copyright infringement, lodged on Monday by Rude Music Inc in an Illinois federal court, relates to Gingrich's use of the song at his political rallies.

Rude Music Inc is owned by Frank Sullivan, who co-wrote the Grammy-award winning song. In addition to Gingrich, the complaint names his campaign, Newt 2012 Inc, and the American Conservative Union, an advocacy organization, as defendents.

The complaint states that the violation it alleges is intentional since Gingrich is "sophisticated and knowledgeable" concerning copyright laws. Rude Music Inc has requested the court to order an end to unauthorized use of the song by the defendents, and to award Rude Music Inc damages.

A Gingrich campaign spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

Do you think politicians intentionally use music without permission and just figure they'll get away with it for as long as they can, or was this an honest mistake? Tell us on Facebook.

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