Sarah Palin: The reality star who won’t go away
Okay, so TV and the blogs are all atwitter about the possibility that Sarah Palin, former vice presidential candidate and current Alaska governor dropout, will be the star of a Mark Burnett reality show.
Why is this surprising? Doesn’t anyone realize that Palin is a reality show, the show of her own creation? Cute, funny, stupid…Hey it’s as if The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s ditzy Georgette, or Friends‘ flaky Phoebe, suddenly got her own series.
You gotta hand it to Palin, who used the presidential race platform to propel herself into the pay-per-view arena–not since the Clintons has anyone so adeptly capitalized on a negative image.
Even Republicans don’t think she’s suitable for office–but they’ll sure tune in and watch Jay Leno!
So what kind of reality show can we expect from Sarah? How about the hilarity (cue: laugh track) ensuing when ultra-conservative Palin’s teenage daughter shows up pregnant! And then there are the spats with the son-in-law–or rather, promised in-law, and his incarcerated mom. And you know, nothing gets laughs like an over-the-hill Baby Boom-style mother.
Does Sarah have any sisters? Will Todd get plastic surgery? If so, we’re in Kardashian territory. And if that doesn’t work out, Palin can turn to Katie Couric and declare, “You’re Fired!”
But the real question–the one remaining question about her character and stamina–is: Will Palin eat worms?
My bet is: yes. And for sure she’ll eat wolves. I also wouldn’t be surprised if she came out with a line of canned seal meat.
Post Your Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment
T/S Members
Log in with your True/Slant account.
Slim, svelte, seductive Gov. Sarah Palin continues to excite & enthrall the masses with her charm, elegance, and astonishing pulchritude. What a lady, what a star!
[...] Follow this link: Sarah Palin: The reality star who won't go away – Susan Toepfer … [...]
Hello Susan,
We I have to say such a show would fill a huge void. I was huge fan of what was the best TV show ever. It was called the “O.J. Simpson Trial”. Outlandish characters, plot twists galore, glamor, gore, it had it all. Every imaginable social angle was exploited, race, gender, class, fame, power, due process, papparazi, &c. At first I was dumbfounded when they canceled it but I realized that they had done exactly the right thing, quite while you are on top, just “MASH”. The two pathetic attempts at revivals, the “O.J. Simpson Civil Trial” and the sad, flaccid “O.J. Simpson Las Vegas Trial” were tepid and halfhearted efforts.
Ms. Palin’s show has so far had everything the O.J. Simpson show had and more. It was like O.J. Simpson meets the West Wing. Again the role of race, class, gender in our country get played out but national security, elections, politics, get added, all with a broad national backdrop. If only someone would get murdered! Can you say “Emmy”? Where is Vince Foster when you need him?
(BTW, the character on MTM was Sue Ann Nivens – not LuAnne who is the ditsy niece of Hank Hill on “King of the Hill”. Sue Ann Nivens, played by Betty White was a razor sharp character. It was about 10 years later in “Golden Girls” she played the ditsy “Rose Nyland”.)
Excellent analysis, David–and too funny! Thanks, too, for the name correction–I will make it.
In response to another comment. See in context »Actually, David, I meant Georgette…also Rose is a good example, too. Guess I’m confusing all my flaky females…or entering their ranks.
In response to another comment. See in context »Does anyone remember the 70’s sitcom “SOAP”? Somehow this trainwreck of weekly public revelations from “The Palins” reminds me of the follies that a clueless governor and family suffered each week in our living rooms. They survived only with the help of their handlers. Somehow, no matter how much the governor screwed things up with his ineptness, it was all worked out in 30 minutes, less 9 minutes of commercials. Now we must suffer through the “Palin Follies”, broadcasted on every network, only now she is the writer, director and star. She continues to appear clueless in public every week, then somehow, circumstances beyond our imagination reach out and rescues her from herself. What is the next absurd twist that will be revealed this week on “SOAP”? Maybe it will be revealed that she was paid six figures to distract us from NBC’s fiasco with Jay Leno? Palin plays the fool perfectly. But when it comes to marketing the public character she has become, she is a shrewd and calculating force. She may not know much about governing, or much about life in the lower 48, but she does know how to market herself. Jerry Springer would have killed to have her on his show.
As an independent, I find myself reading blogs, stories and articles that sway from left to right, liberal to conservative. I find myself most educated and informed when I look at issues from all sides.
Sadly, there are in increasing number of online writers who offer very little meaningful discussion to the complex issues we’re facing in our country today. Articles such as this are akin to the stories found in the National Enquirer. Then again, I’m increasingly realizing that this website (trueslant) offers more gossip and attack vs. quality discussion on topics of substance.
The liberal media and conservative media are responsible for elevating Sarah Palin to her celebrity position. She doesn’t control the pen of the writers, nor does she produce or control what we see on Fox, MSNBC, etc. She has become entertainment and a tool for increasing ratings. Personally, I don’t agree with her on many issues. And, I would likely never vote for her for any national office. That being said, I welcome her right to capitalize on the fame the media has given her, her right to speak publicly, say things I cringe at, etc. Those are her choices. And – I have the right to turn the channel and to also cringe when yet another article or news story features something about her. This is getting very old. Let’s move on!
Not so sure it’s the media that’s giving her fame–I’d say running for vice-president would give you a pretty big push in that direction, and flogging a whining bio would help a lot too. And no, I do not welcome Palin’s right to capitalize on her fame–this is an awful precedent for those who seek high office.
As for all the rest…well, you have a perfect right not to read this, and join a “quality discussion” elsewhere. But thanks for contributing to this one!
In response to another comment. See in context »