Sarah Palin’s new show “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” debuted on Nov. 14 to almost five million viewers. She shared the top-10 ratings spots with the Pittsburgh Steelers, WWE wrestling, and Spongebob Squarepants.
Some believe the show has the potential to expand her constituency and land her a nomination for the 2012 presidential election. I personally believe this gimmick will end up reinforcing her image as a dummy and a hack.
Palin’s show airs every Sunday on TLC. She describes it as a “documentary,” its purpose being to bring the people and wonders of Alaska to everyday Americans. From what I have seen, however, it is just another ill-contrived reality TV show, sprinkled with lines spoon-fed directly from the producers. Palin’s expeditions into the beautiful Alaskan wilderness are contrasted with her often awkward family interactions. There are also several moments of blatant political advertising.
In one instance, Palin compares the giant fence around her house to the kind of fence “we need to build to secure our nation’s borders.” When her husband Todd catches a fish, she says, “He’s bringin’ home the bacon, and that’s the way it should be.”
Palin’s hockey mom image has already won her popularity with certain conservatives who believe politics have become disconnected with American lives. Some analysts believe Palin’s show has the potential to strengthen her constituency by focusing on family values.
Yet Palin does not seem to truly connect with her family on the show. She is glued to her Blackberry, Todd is just her little puppet, and the kids basically ignore her. The youngest daughter, Piper, calls her “Sarah” and another daughter, Willow, seems like she is plain unhappy to be there. It is clear that Palin is just as disconnected from her children as any other politician.
Palin’s daughter Bristol has been a formidable competitor on this season of “Dancing with the Stars.” I cannot figure out how accidentally becoming pregnant at 18 years old makes one a star. It baffles me really, almost as much as her mother getting a show on The Learning Channel. It seems Bristol is a chip off the old block.
I do not believe the show will do any favors for Palin, but I could be wrong. America has a problem of getting its information solely from the media. I just hope America will first remember Palin’s 2008 interview with Katie Couric during which she could not name a single U.S. Supreme Court case or even a newspaper she liked.
“Sarah Palin’s Alaska” ends up being exactly what it is trying to avoid being: elitist. She “reconnects” with Alaska’s working class by having a floatplane pick them up at their lakefront property. A leader does not receive millions for a show about her family’s vacations; a leader makes it their sole business to serve the people.