Is Sarah Palin worth $1 million a week?
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Lately I’ve been thinking about the value of Sarah Palin — as in, is she worth $1 million per episode?
That’s how much she is reportedly demanding for the tentatively titled Sarah Palin’s Alaska, a docudrama reality show based on her life that the former Alaska governor and U.S. Vice-Presidential candidate is shopping around. (What does she think this is? Friends?)
Now before you answer the question posited by the title of this post, consider this: A&E and Discovery, two cable networks that have expressed interest in the show, have everything to gain by snagging Palin as their No. 1 star. The little networks would get tons of big publicity, and the curiosity factor would guarantee excellent ratings for at least the first episode or two.
But what’s in it for Palin — that cool million aside? Anyone who hasn’t been living under a television set for the last 10 years knows that reality TV yields mixed blessings for its participants. Before signing on, if you’re a nobody (Simon Cowell, the girls of The Hills and Kim Kardashian), a joke (Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie) or a has been (Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey), things can only get better, right?
What about established stars? So far all Ellen Degeneres has gotten out of her stint as an American Idol judge — besides another fat paycheck — are her worst reviews since Mr. Wrong. And don’t get me started on what reality TV almost did to the careers of Britney Spears and Whitney Houston.
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So what about Palin? To her detractors, she’s already a nobody, a joke and a has been, so why not go for it? And apparently, the show would present her doing more official-type things, not babysitting for her baby-mama daughter. But if Palin truly does harbor Presidential aspirations, is this the future candidate that she wants to put forward? Someone following in the footsteps of Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian?
Unless she can somehow elevate it to the level of high-brow entertainment (unlikely, but with A&E or Discovery behind it, not unfathomable), Sarah Palin’s Alaska would more or less assure her a failed Presidential campaign in 2012. Which, come to think of it, might be just what the country needs.
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It’s whatever they pay her…this is still a free country….except for the health care sector which just fell to the commies and baby killers
Are you OK, andy? You sound a little hysterical this morning.
In response to another comment. See in context »…This morning? People who like Palin would not be turned off by a reality show featuring her. They would love it! The men might get to see her in undies and the women might get to see her in undies. A win/win for trailer parks everywhere.
In response to another comment. See in context »I’m hysterical?
Wait to the police stop you on the street checking for your ObamacareNationalID Card….that’ coming
In response to another comment. See in context »Well… yes. I was just asking because you seem a little screechier than usual. Anything wrong, besides seeing imaginary policemen?
In response to another comment. See in context »Mr. Helligar,
I for one do not see a down side for Ms. Palin. She gets millions of dollars. Her rabid fans will eat it up. The people who consider her and joke will continue to do so. Since she does not have a prayer of getting elected dog catcher and lacks the guts or brains to actually maintain a presidential campaign, she really does not lose much of anything. I don’t think that she or her fan realize, or are capable of realizing, that she does not stand a chance, but that is really her who charm. So wins for Ms. Palin. Probably not so much for any cable network who gives her a million dollars for all 12 episodes that they agree to produce or the three that actually get shown.
I suspect that Palin realizes this, which is why she’s looking to extend her 15 minutes via the cheesiest possible route. If the show does make it on air, I only hope that it isn’t unexpectedly brilliant, wins her tons of new fans and makes her a frontrunner in 2012.
In response to another comment. See in context »Mr. Helligar,
Oh, no, I disagree. I can think of nothing better than Ms. Palin as the Republican Nominee in “Oh Twelve”.
In response to another comment. See in context »[...] Is Sarah Palin worth $1 million a week? True/Slant – Mar 22nd – 07:11 [...]
Of course, Sarah Palin is worth $1 million per episode to feature in a TV series. She is a popular superstar with millions of fans.
[...] leading Susan Davis at The Wall Street Journal to question anew the presidential ambitions theory. Jeremy Helligar at True/Slant also weighs in: “Is this the future candidate she wants to put forward? Someone following in [...]
[...] leading Susan Davis at The Wall Street Journal to question anew the presidential ambitions theory. Jeremy Helligar at True/Slant also weighs in: “Is this the future candidate she wants to put forward? Someone following in [...]
[...] leading Susan Davis at The Wall Street Journal to question anew the presidential ambitions theory. Jeremy Helligar at True/Slant also weighs in: “Is this the future candidate she wants to put forward? Someone following in [...]