In what promises to make for epic political theater, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he will join the low-budget, badly scripted production that is the California recall election. The Austrian-born bodybuilder and Hollywood action hero told Jay Leno he would seek to replace Gov. Gray Davis, ending weeks of speculation about his political ambitions. Schwarzenegger will face off against commentator Arianna Huffington, who also announced her candidacy Wednesday, in what is shaping into the battle of the accents.

Meanwhile, a surprise entrant into the field — Gary Coleman, the diminutive star of the '80s sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" — added yet another bizarre wrinkle to the mix. (Campaign slogan: "Coleman '03: They'll have theirs, you'll have yours, and I'll have mine, and together we'll be fine!") And speaking of slogans, Hustler publisher Larry Flynt said he will run under the banner, "Vote for a Smut-Peddler Who Cares," although it remains to be seen whether a new lawsuit involving sex toys and a dishwasher will hurt his chances.

Just how California's electoral process came to resemble a bad episode of Hollywood Squares is still unclear, but the fact remains that the next governor may be decided as voters are forced to weigh the relative merits of the catch phrases "Whatchu talkin' 'bout" and "Hasta la vista, baby."
More: Arnold Schwarzenegger Jokes, California Recall Jokes