The reality show known as the Democratic presidential contest got a badly needed plot twist — and an unexpected new location — when former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg decided to take steps to run in the Alabama primary.

Who would have thought that a New York billionaire would launch a Democratic presidential campaign in the heart of Dixie — and at the same time Jeff Sessions, former GOP senator, ex-U.S. attorney general and full-time Trump punching bag, moved to resuscitate his career in the very same state? Alabama suddenly became the center of the political world.

I can see Bloomberg now, working on his twang for a swing through Tuscaloosa. It’s about as far from the Upper East Side as you can get.

Bloomberg personifies the growing unease many Democrats feel as they survey the party’s leading presidential contenders. But so does Tom Steyer, another older white billionaire whom many Democrats accuse of buying his way into the race. Why is Bloomberg different?

Because he has a track record in government, for starters. He ran the biggest city in America, and one of the most politically perilous, without screw-ups or scandals. That’s more than you can say about a couple of other New York mayors who thought they could be elected president, Rudy Giuliani and Bill de Blasio.

He’s also got a strong record against gun violence, and don’t dismiss that as a selling point to rank-and-file Democrats. It’s right up there with health care.

Joe Biden has to be either worried about Bloomberg or relieved. He should be worried if his heart is set on winning. He should be relieved if he knows his support is soft and wants a plausible backup who can take the baton.

POA pals: People are asking me what I think of Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer leading that “F— the POA” chant at district attorney candidate Chesa Boudin’s election night party.

All I can say is that the Police Officers Association helped me, and I was running against a former police chief.

As Assembly speaker, I made sure the California Highway Patrol always had the best equipment and the best pay possible. In return, I never worried about being pulled over for speeding between the capital and San Francisco.

Nonetheless, when I ran for mayor I was told I had no chance of winning the San Francisco police union’s endorsement, in part because I was trying to unseat Mayor Frank Jordan, a former police chief.

I went to the union’s endorsement meeting at the Fairmont Hotel more out of respect than anything else.

For whatever reason, there was an unusually large contingent of motorcycle cops at the endorsement meeting. As I was walking in, I passed a row of lightweight Japanese motorcycles that the department was using at the time.

“You gotta be kidding me,” I thought.

The first thing I asked, even before I started my endorsement pitch, was, “How many of you are riding those Japanese bikes outside?”

Half the room looked at each other and raised their hands.

“I hope you aren’t in love with those pieces of crap,” I said. “Because if I’m elected mayor, you are all going to be riding real motorcycles — Harley-Davidsons.”

A roar of approval went up in the room. I didn’t have to say another word to win their backing.

And they are still riding Harleys to this day.

Movie time: “Jojo Rabbit.” Believe it or not, this comedy based on an awkward 10-year-old member of the Hitler Youth finding an imaginary Adolf Hitler as his alter ego is actually funny.

“Terminator: Dark Fate.” I hope Arnold Schwarzenegger got his money in advance, because this movie is not going to make a nickel. How many times can you get excited about robots that keep popping back to life after being blown to bits?

Bus buzz: Things have sure changed on Muni.

I was in the Fillmore the other day and decided to drop in at the Transport Workers Union headquarters, and did I get an earful.

For starters, most of the drivers I spoke with were women.

And they tell it like it is.

They said there are more crazies who spend the whole day riding buses than ever, especially when it’s raining.

It seems that when a person comes on, sits down and starts talking out loud, all the other passengers slowly move away and try and act as calm as possible.

It makes for an uncomfortable situation, kind of like not wanting to set off a bomb.

But it also puts everyone on their best behavior, which is also new for Muni.

You don’t say: A quick shout-out to John’s Grill for hosting a great election day luncheon for one and all, and for free.

Mayor London Breed showed up in her signature blue, but it was state Treasurer (and former San Francisco state Assemblywoman) Fiona Ma who caught my eye and ear.

She is definitely running for governor.

Like a lot of things in politics, it’s just a question of when.

Want to sound off? Email wbrown@sfchronicle.com