Today's cuppa: Newhall Coffee Patriot Blend (as this past week featured both the birthday of the United States Marine Corps and Veterans Day)
Type "Sarah Palin's Alaska" into Google, and you get an avalanche of articles and reviews, some as least as revealing about the writers as the subject matter.
Yes, I'm out there in the mix. Click here for my syndicated interview feature on the show, which came out online a couple of days ago and will start appearing in print on Sunday.
The eight-part TV series that follows the Palin family on a summer adventure around the 49th State launches on Sunday, Nov. 14, on TLC, and is bound to stoke speculation on the former Alaska governor's future political plans, her personality, her family situation, etc. It will also offer an eyeful of staggeringly beautiful Alaskan scenery, courtesy of the crack production team headed by executive producer Mark Burnett ("Eco-Challenge," "Survivor," "The Apprentice").
Many are thrilled this show is happening; many are seriously not; many more may just tune in out of curiosity. Others feel that such a show "should" not happen. Ultimately, viewers will render judgment with their remote controls about whether there's a sufficiently large audience for a show like this, and the voice of the people will be heard. As always, upon that rests success or failure in TV.
For my story, I talked to both Burnett and Palin, and, as usual, not all of the conversations fit into an 800-max-word piece. Here's a bit more for my loyal Cuppers.
Burnett on why he produced this show: "I saw her step on that vice-presidential ticket, and suddenly, it was everywhere. Then, when the election was over, it carried on being everywhere, and everything she did was talked about.
"As a producer, my job is casting, and there are so many channels, and how do you break through the clutter? By the way, over 200 people like me approached her, every single channel, everybody approached her.
"My 'Eco-Challenge' and 'Survivor' background and my cred made her realize very quickly, 'OK, if I'm going to do something beautiful, this guy can do it.'"
Palin on hearing from Burnett: "He called us and said that he had always been fascinated with Alaska. He'd done work up there, and he knew that a way to showcase Alaska in a different way than he'd had opportunity in the past, was through my eyes.
"He knows that I'm just so extremely passionate about it and have a unique perspective on our resources and the people and the independent spirit that's up there, and I'd be able to share that by him working with me and documenting what it is that makes Alaska so unique
.
"A lot of people have no idea about what Alaska has to offer. Alaska has the resources to secure our union, to allow prosperity to just flow throughout America. Through the lens of the camera and through our commentary, we're going to be able to show what the potential is that can be tapped into, to better our nation, from Alaska."
Palin on being a woman in Alaska (I was also thinking of Lisa Kelly from History's "Ice Road Truckers," Palin's fellow Wasilla resident, when I asked about this): "You have to be self-sufficient, and you can't really look to others to fix your problems or to take care of the practical things that need taking care of. Just basically to survive the harsh conditions of Alaska, you have to do it yourself.
"For me, when (my husband) Todd worked up on the North Slope oilfields and as a commercial fisherman for all of our marriage, for all those years, so, as a mom, home with little kids while he'd be gone six, seven, eight months out of the year -- the women in Alaska, we've got to take care of ourselves.
"We've got to fix things that get broken. We've got to work on the equipment. We've got to make sure that the house is heated. All that came into play this summer (during filming), too, with that streak of self-sufficiency that's required up there, especially in the women."
Palin on looking out for others in an unforgiving environment (I was thinking of this article when I asked her about this): "Especially in our villages, you have these safety cabins, essentially, and they're community-used. There are cabins that are left open, and
there are foodstuffs, and there are sleeping bags. There's wood left in the cabin, because maybe somebody out snowmachining [HCTV: that's snowmobiling, for those in the Lower 48] or dog-sledding, they're out there in the wilderness, and they're going to need help.
"It's all about the Golden Rule -- you do that for somebody else, because you hope that they would do it for you. You leave the door open."
Palin on whether Burnett should do "Survivor: Aleutian Islands" (I've been after him about this for years): "Oooh, but you're exactly right. What could be tougher than trying to survive out there?"
(Don't hold your breath waiting for this -- I've never been able to budge Burnett an inch.)
Palin on "I can see Russia from my house": "I know. Eighty-seven percent of Americans who were polled thought I did say, "I can see Russia from my house.' But it was Tina Fey who said that, and 87 percent attribute it to me. That's how effective 'Saturday Night Live' was.
"But, of course, I capitalize on it. I'm like, 'OK, I'll put it into something fun, make lemonade out of a lemon.'"
So, is "Sarah Palin's Alaska" a travelogue, a documentary series or, as some pundits have suggested, an extended political ad signaling the start of her 2012 presidential campaign? I'm no prophet and no psychic, and I don't suppose you are either. If you're interested, you'll tune in and make up your own mind.
Type "Sarah Palin's Alaska" into Google, and you get an avalanche of articles and reviews, some as least as revealing about the writers as the subject matter.Yes, I'm out there in the mix. Click here for my syndicated interview feature on the show, which came out online a couple of days ago and will start appearing in print on Sunday.
The eight-part TV series that follows the Palin family on a summer adventure around the 49th State launches on Sunday, Nov. 14, on TLC, and is bound to stoke speculation on the former Alaska governor's future political plans, her personality, her family situation, etc. It will also offer an eyeful of staggeringly beautiful Alaskan scenery, courtesy of the crack production team headed by executive producer Mark Burnett ("Eco-Challenge," "Survivor," "The Apprentice").
Many are thrilled this show is happening; many are seriously not; many more may just tune in out of curiosity. Others feel that such a show "should" not happen. Ultimately, viewers will render judgment with their remote controls about whether there's a sufficiently large audience for a show like this, and the voice of the people will be heard. As always, upon that rests success or failure in TV.
For my story, I talked to both Burnett and Palin, and, as usual, not all of the conversations fit into an 800-max-word piece. Here's a bit more for my loyal Cuppers.
Burnett on why he produced this show: "I saw her step on that vice-presidential ticket, and suddenly, it was everywhere. Then, when the election was over, it carried on being everywhere, and everything she did was talked about.
"As a producer, my job is casting, and there are so many channels, and how do you break through the clutter? By the way, over 200 people like me approached her, every single channel, everybody approached her.
"My 'Eco-Challenge' and 'Survivor' background and my cred made her realize very quickly, 'OK, if I'm going to do something beautiful, this guy can do it.'"
Palin on hearing from Burnett: "He called us and said that he had always been fascinated with Alaska. He'd done work up there, and he knew that a way to showcase Alaska in a different way than he'd had opportunity in the past, was through my eyes.
"He knows that I'm just so extremely passionate about it and have a unique perspective on our resources and the people and the independent spirit that's up there, and I'd be able to share that by him working with me and documenting what it is that makes Alaska so unique
."A lot of people have no idea about what Alaska has to offer. Alaska has the resources to secure our union, to allow prosperity to just flow throughout America. Through the lens of the camera and through our commentary, we're going to be able to show what the potential is that can be tapped into, to better our nation, from Alaska."
Palin on being a woman in Alaska (I was also thinking of Lisa Kelly from History's "Ice Road Truckers," Palin's fellow Wasilla resident, when I asked about this): "You have to be self-sufficient, and you can't really look to others to fix your problems or to take care of the practical things that need taking care of. Just basically to survive the harsh conditions of Alaska, you have to do it yourself.
"For me, when (my husband) Todd worked up on the North Slope oilfields and as a commercial fisherman for all of our marriage, for all those years, so, as a mom, home with little kids while he'd be gone six, seven, eight months out of the year -- the women in Alaska, we've got to take care of ourselves.
"We've got to fix things that get broken. We've got to work on the equipment. We've got to make sure that the house is heated. All that came into play this summer (during filming), too, with that streak of self-sufficiency that's required up there, especially in the women."
Palin on looking out for others in an unforgiving environment (I was thinking of this article when I asked her about this): "Especially in our villages, you have these safety cabins, essentially, and they're community-used. There are cabins that are left open, and
there are foodstuffs, and there are sleeping bags. There's wood left in the cabin, because maybe somebody out snowmachining [HCTV: that's snowmobiling, for those in the Lower 48] or dog-sledding, they're out there in the wilderness, and they're going to need help."It's all about the Golden Rule -- you do that for somebody else, because you hope that they would do it for you. You leave the door open."
Palin on whether Burnett should do "Survivor: Aleutian Islands" (I've been after him about this for years): "Oooh, but you're exactly right. What could be tougher than trying to survive out there?"
(Don't hold your breath waiting for this -- I've never been able to budge Burnett an inch.)
Palin on "I can see Russia from my house": "I know. Eighty-seven percent of Americans who were polled thought I did say, "I can see Russia from my house.' But it was Tina Fey who said that, and 87 percent attribute it to me. That's how effective 'Saturday Night Live' was.
"But, of course, I capitalize on it. I'm like, 'OK, I'll put it into something fun, make lemonade out of a lemon.'"
So, is "Sarah Palin's Alaska" a travelogue, a documentary series or, as some pundits have suggested, an extended political ad signaling the start of her 2012 presidential campaign? I'm no prophet and no psychic, and I don't suppose you are either. If you're interested, you'll tune in and make up your own mind.
Sorry, but no one should be proud to be a part of this assault on Alaska and our intelligence farce. Obviously, Mark Burnett long ago exchanged ethics for $$. So sad. If he hadn't, he would have used an authentic, honorable Alaskan for this show, rather than the most polarizing figure in the USA.
We won't be watching anything Burnett or TLC in this household again. TLC is now known as The Loser Channel, and well it should be with this kind of trash.
Pray for the haters like Cheryl that maybe one day this country can be whole again.
Palin is never in Alaska. I don't believe she is so in love with it but she's found a way to make money off of it while traipsing back and forth across the "outside" as she calls us. I'll take the "outside's" weather any day over cold and ice.
When the Women's Movement started, it was never meant to make women feel they had to act like men or be recycled men. It is still that way. Ms Palin should not try to divide women--left leaning or right leaning. Also, all states have hardworking people who do it on their own. We simply have different "frontiers". No state is better than another based on it's people. And no woman or man is better than another. People choose where they live--AK is different, yes but other states have much to offer. I wish TLC would showcase some of the other states with politicians who promote their states by staying in their jobs to do so.
I love Alaska because it is the last part of this wonderful country that can give us an idea of what it must have been like to settle the Lower-48. (Okay, minus the ice, snow, and polar bears.) I love women whose character and beliefs are like those expressed by Sarah Palin because those are mine. I look forward to the show. I, too, will be praying for those who hate all that I love and respect.
to Cheryl: we will pray for you (Cheryl) & your friend George Soros... & the majority of us can't wait for this show to be on Sunday... ! !
Thank you Cheryl. It would be difficult to add to your comment. My family and friends all feel exactly the same and will not be watching anything produced by TLC and especially Burnett. I'm even giving up Survivor, it was getting old hat anyway.
And shame on them for not admitting that this is blatantly political and shame on those who call anyone who isn't in agreement with their opinions names such as 'haters' and feel they need 'praying for' it is you who are the problem with this country.
Lynn and Cheryl, Stop spreading your hate. You don't have to watch the show.
I find the comment from Cheryl very bizarre. What she is basically saying is that any producer or network or television station that puts a show on that has someone she doesn't care for politically should, I don't know, cease to exist, be banned from the airwaves, should be boycotted? Can you imagine if we got rid of all the shows with people that liberals don't like, then got rid of shows with people conservatives don't like, then got rid of shows that libertarians don't like? Well, you get the idea. There wouldn't be much left, would there. You're going to dumb the entire TLC network because they put one show on with a conservative host? Pretty over the top. Aren't you liberals supposed to be the "tolerant", "celebrate diversity" folks?
A fair and honest assessment! I appreciate that! Can't wait to watch! Thanks.
It's not hate I'm spreading, folks. Just sharing some intelligence with those that are lacking. You? Quite possibly if you're Zabotis, bud or (your brand of)truth.
Guess I should have figured this would be a palinbot site and everyone knows there's no talking sense to them... duh!
So, bud, just what is the difference between Soros and the Koch brothers? If you can be honest, the answer is Koch/right Soros/left. They're all involved way more than they should be, but they have the money to do it, so they do.
In a perfect world we could do away with pacs and lobbyists and truly go back to 'we the people' and 'one man, one vote.'
As long as we have low intelligence types like $arah and Beckster scamming and preaching to their lower intelligence believers, we'll never progress. They're all taking us backwards.
You'll be in my prayers, as always.
Hey Lynn and Cheryl go watch Michael Moore Movies, then you can cheer on all the anti american crap spewed to the nth degree. Oh Gores movie is also available unless his massuese is using it.
It just takes one word to describe you Cheryl.....SHALLOW
Sarah’s happy. All the crap the Republican elite, most Dems, and the media throw at her, and she’s still smiling. She’s one strong, happy woman.
I have to laugh when I think of Karl Rove, Olberman, or even Obama trying to climb a snow topped mountain, or fish along side grizzly bears. She’s more of a man then they are, and even a better woman. I hope she runs for president and laughs at them all.
Palin is a good person which makes her a target for for those on the marxist left. Their main mission in life is to tear her down because of what she represents- family, faith, respect for ALL human life, the American dream, and the ability for women to achieve without the help of the feminazis (which is her greatest sin in their eyes).
This show fully demonstrate the stupidity and barbarism of those Eskimos Hillbillies like the Palins.
In the 19th century, the Great Leaders of the Democratic Party had done a great job in cleansing those American Indians out of America and locked them inside those Indian Ghetto Reserve forever and made America become a great conutry as it is now.
Now the Palins (whose husband and children are contaminated with the blood of American Indians) are trying to restore those barbaric Indian lifestyle by showcasing their low-life Eskimo culture. Every civilised and cultured Americans must condemn and reject the Palins, and banished them to their igloos ghettos never able to crawl out again just like our Great Democrat forefathers did.
Cheryle and Lynn are raciest!! Haters, probably unhappy liberal women! & are sitting alone with their cats tonight watching last place CNN.
Who cares about losers Cheryl & Lynn & their mean girl attacks, & why would they even care to comment if they are not planning on watching...maybe they are TROLLS sent here by liberal/progressive groups.....I PRECIT THE SHOW TO HAVE OVER 8 MILLION VIEWERS ! ! !, so losers Cheryl and Lynn don't even fit into the equation.
GO SARAH AND FAMILY ! ! ! We wish you well.
Yep, typical Palin supporters! Braindead teabaggers. Mostly waxy, overdone bleached blonde bobbleheads or drooling creepy middle aged men. Praying at the alter of Palin, Beck and El Rushbo! Gullible people who believe anything talk radio spews out.
Yep, Saint Sarah sure hates the "lamestream media" until she needs them to promote all her money making crap!
Soon you will fade into the sunset, you screechy, hateful woman. Very soon.
Most of the people of Alaska don't think Sarah Palin represents Aslaska, so why is she doing this show. For political gain, trying to change what people think of her. We know her for her hateful rhetoric and grifter life style. She doesn't represent Alaska, and no one is going to fall for her show!!
Bye, bye Cheryl
I didn't read anything racist (correct spelling) about Cheryl and Lynns comments. Some people obviously have trouble with reading comprehension. Funny how they are called mean girls and losers for voicing there opinions. You people are no better! If I want to see Alaska it will be on a show about Alaska not on a show about Sarah Palin.
I saw nothing hateful or racist in either Cheryl or Lynn's comments.
I am seeing some pretty hateful name-calling & ugly accusations among the comments however ... All Americans love their Country. How that love has been expressed of late does seem to be where the polarization of America has come from. As Americans it is healthy to have differing opinions (how opinions are expressed can become unhealthy however). I think the comments made here are a perfect example of how Sarah has polarized the country. You don't need to release claws and rip people apart just because they have a different point of view.
I won't be watching due to similar reasons mentioned by Cheryl and Lynn (which I guess will now result in name calling and ugly rhetoric thrown in my direction. Its ok, I understand). I also won't be watching because, frankly, Sarah's ability to climb snow capped mountains, fish, hunt, or even wrestle bears is of no consequence in the grand scheme of things.
As this is a discussion regarding television viewing, I feel I, & others, have a right to disagree with those who think this is worthy of air time. Or is this just all about the Palin fan club? I also feel I have a right to voice my disappointment in how some of you have treated those who's opinions differ from your own. When did everyone in America have to feel, think & act the same? All points of view are valid in their own right, depending upon how they are expressed. Hate toward others is never valid, imho.
Oh, I'm going to watch "Sarah Palin's Alaska" alright. I wouldn't miss that one for the world!
An interesting and thoughtful (and FUNNY) opinion piece appeared in this morning's Boston Globe by a person named Joanna Weiss. As good as it was, I had to take issue with the first sentence:
"The word on Sarah Palin, in wishful-thinking circles, is that she’s given up her political future to be a media star."
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true....
I am wishing like Jiminy Cricket on a star that Sarah Palin's political career is in full throttle. The very idea that the GOP would nominate Fascist Barbie as their 2012 candidate would be a dream come true. It would only spell electoral doom for "the party of Lincoln" - and the people who tend to vote in the first Republican primaries of the season tend to have the collective IQ of a half-eaten box of Milk Duds (South Carolina for instance). She could make a good enough showing early on to give her enough momentum she needs to crash victorious into the convention in the late summer.
Oh! What a treat that would be!
To paraphrase the late, great Milly Ivins in a slightly different context:
"If that woman's IQ slips any lower we're gonna have to start watering her twice a day."
I sure do miss Molly Ivins.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Bill589. Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it. Palin's choice for foreign affairs advisor ia clear indication that she is a NeoCon. The NeoCon movement believes in the "New American Century" and as a consequence this political philosophy requires big government, big spending, big military and foreign intervention. We cannot afford another NeoCon government like Bush and Cheney.
Zabotis, bud, Truth, sodakhic-the-paid-Palinbot-troll, Brad Karr, Bill589, beth, lisa mc, and Viator -- pray for yourselves instead. You don't realize and probably don't care that you Palin-worshipers will be truly "Left Behind" -- and all the poorer for it, because Palin will have all your money to spend on herself.
And oh, BTW, this may be "elitist" of me, but there is one thing that makes all of you stand out -- you're so illiterate! Use a spellchecker, at least!
If someone is going to take the time to seek ot a website to trash a family oriented program simply because Sarah Palin is in it - yep, I'll see them as haters. I don't agree with Obama's socialistic policies but I have never bothered to go on any board and try to trash the guy - that's a difference between you and I Cheryl. Prayerfully face it.
Zabotis, Not sure how Cheryl or any of the other's who choose not to watch this show came to the site .. but I came upon it because I tend to seek out all points of view in effort to educate myself (in fact it was Sarah's own tweet that brought me here). If after reading the article I then choose it isn't worth my time to watch the show, and express my opinion openly, I would hope that, simply because my opinion differs from yours, I do not fall into the "hater" category. Goodness!
You see, I feel that once we begin name calling we have lost the opportunity to partake in civil discourse. We shut down the other's ability to learn from us. Civil discourse requires the ability and willingness to take in both sides of an "argument," choose the side that most fits your moral and social ideology and then share your point of view with others. One does not need to agree with the other side, but in a free America, I would hope we all have enough sense to appreciate that there is more then one point of view, and to each individual, their view is valid.
The anger and ugly rhetoric I have seen come out of this simple discussion about a television show, and its "star" has saddened my heart because it has proven just how divided our great Country has become .. all because of what exactly? Re-read the comments here .. and then consider, with an open mind and heart, where exactly is the anger and hate coming from?
I wish with all my heart that a television show about a woman and her family braving the Alaskan wilderness could repair that riff among Americans ... but it won't, we must do that ourselves. Each of us individually, without hate, without name calling, without fear.