Gov. David Paterson kicked off a round of radio interviews today with a stop in the WGY (AM 810) studios to appear on one of the final shows hosted by veteran on-air personality Don Weeks.

The governor was in a jokey sort of mood – a far cry from his angry rhetoric in Buffalo yesterday when he went after state worker unions and legislators who might be contemplating playing hooky for the Nov. 29 lame duck session.

The first order of business? A discussion of last night’s “Dancing With the Stars” finale. Paterson said he was pleased that Jennifer Grey had won, calling her “one of the best dancers they’ve ever had,” and adding: “So, I think in the end, justice prevailed.”

Weeks’ question had been about Bristol Palin and her unlikely success on the show, to which Paterson replied:

“I think Bristol went farther than perhaps her talent would have taken her…You know, I’m looking for something to do after Jan. 1, and I think I’m going to go on ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ because I think, particularly since the political climate is pretty good, if i can get the Palins to vote for me, I can get to the finals as well.”

Paterson said he plans to spend Thanksgiving here in Albany at the Executive Mansion with his wife, First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson, and their extended family. He’s scheduled to make a stop tonight to the pre-holiday Equinox preparations, and might reprise his delivery boy performance of last year.

The governor is apparently spending quite a bit of time in the Capital Region as he prepares to turn over his title – and all the perks that go along with it – to Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo.

Paterson said he celebrated his 18th wedding anniversary with his wife and some friends at Crossgates Mall, where he had a humorous run-in with a young constituent. The governor told Weeks he was purchasing tickets to a movie when he was approached by a little kid.

“He comes up to me, and he says: ‘Hi!’ And I said: ‘Hi.’ He he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t ask for a picture. And then he says: ‘Are you Mr. Cuomo?’ And I answered: ‘I’m almost Mr. Cuomo.’”

(Insert high hat here).

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