Sarah Palin's Alaska

     I cannot stand Sarah Palin politically, can't imagine a situation where I would ever vote for her, and in the past have barely tolerated her when she speaks on other subjects. I say that not to upset or offend anyone, least of all the Palins, but so you understand my mind set when I first tuned into her new mega TV hit, Sarah Palin's Alaska. By the way, I also have little patience for reality television. However, in this series, I find something highly entertaining and addictive. I would recommend checking it out.

     Now, it's far from perfect. Sarah certainly hasn't won me over completely. She still can be smarmy, and her offhand insults at the Obamas and the like annoy me. Half of the time her on-camera interviews come across as totally scripted and insincere. It's those times where she's not talking to the camera where she starts to seem like a normal, even likable, person. When her kids are disrespectful, but she holds her tongue, she proves her mettle as a mother. She's tough, but not smothering. If the show is any indication, she seems like a pretty good parent, and someone it would be fun to spend some time with. She isn't afraid to get dirty, is tougher than most, and seems to have a solid, loving marriage.

     That's why her public persona up to this point, quite the opposite in a negative way, has become more baffling than hated to me. I'm sure she'd never invite me to join her up in her home state for some fun, but if the chance ever arose, I'd jump at it, and likely enjoy myself quite a bit. The family appears to be having so much fun every week, it's easy to imagine joining them.

     The rest of the Palin family is portrayed just fine. Todd doesn't talk much, but when he does, you see a supportive, hard working family man, which was the image I already had of him. Sure, her daughters are a bit mouthy every once in awhile, but what teenage girl isn't? They certainly are better than many I have encountered. For the most part, they seem pretty grounded and sweet, raised quite well by their parents. That may be a surprise to anyone who views Sarah as ignoring her family for the sake of career, as quite the opposite appears to be true. Sarah's father cracks me up, and seems like a warm-hearted, generous man. None of her relations and in-laws come across in anything but a positive light.

     But the Palins aren't the biggest draw of the show for me. The hook is that you get to see the beautiful state of Alaska, and all it has to offer. In last night's episode, the family went whitewater rafting, and then Sarah took Piper to see some sled dogs. My wife would have loved that trip! Huskies are her favorite breed of dog. I won't say it was better than any other episode, as they all come across with about the same quality, but it's nice to see one more piece of that semi-wilderness every week.

     New episodes are presented Sunday nights on TLC, and reruns air frequently. Even if you're not a Palin fan, check it out. You might be surprised at how easy it is to watch.


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Article first published as TV Review: Sarah Palin's Alaska on Blogcritics.

Kathy Griffin's Life on the See-List

       Six seasons in, with a couple of Emmys under her belt to show for it, can Kathy Griffin really still claim she's a D-List celebrity?  Isn't she at least B or C list by now?  Sure, she does crass, embarrassing things to help her keep that status, but I don't think she shocks anyone any longer with anything that she does.  I think it's time for an upgrade, and perhaps even a title change for her popular series.

     We're already six episodes into Season Six, and Kathy has had quite a bit of entertaining adventure already.  And not only that, she's been pretty serious.  In last night's episode, she publicly had a pap smear poolside at a hotel to raise awareness for women's health.  Last week, we saw her hold a rally in Washington D.C. to support the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in our military.  Admittedly, she got her vagina waxed and vajazzled before the pap smear.  She also called the Majority Whip a Queen.  She's still Kathy, and Kathy has to be zany.  However, these were important topics that she devoted real effort to working on.  While many of the things she does are just publicity stunts, those two were meant to accomplish something more than just get her in papers.  And I'm sure they did, though it's hard to measure on woman's efforts in a widespread, slowly occurring change.  I definitely give her an A for effort.

     Now lest you think Kathy has become a tireless crusader, she has also managed plenty of ridiculous acts this season.  In one episode she judged, and then participated in, a young child beauty pageant.  She went to Wasilla, Alaska to hang out with Levi Johnston and leave a note on Sarah Palin's door.  She held a yard sale of her own, as well as her mother's, stuff.  She created merchandise to promote her mother.  Speaking of her mom, Kathy has brought new levels of humiliation on poor Maggie.  Maggie refused to attend the pap smear, for one.

     Plenty of bigger name stars have also made appearances, including Liza Minnelli and Joy Behar.  If you'd like to see more of Kathy, tune in to her show on Bravo Tuesday nights at 10pm.

Tina Fey hosts best Saturday Night Live of the season

     In a year of mediocrity, Tina Fey (30 Rock) returned to her old stomping ground on NBC's Saturday Night Live last night and proved that the show can still deliver.  With an opening monologue that featured a brief cameo from comic legend Steve Martin, Fey knocked it out of the park from the get-go.  She also was allowed to flex her Weekend Update chops, returning to the desk alongside the man who now has her former job, both as anchor and head writer, Seth Meyers.  Of course, no Fey episode would be complete without the character that brought her back to the show a number of time in the last few years, Sarah Palin.  The Sarah Palin Network, a new station being launched, featured a number of hilarious ideas, including Palin playing a parody of Fey on 30 Main Street, and her husband Todd solving crimes in the big city while riding a snow machine.  It was funny enough, I wish it were real.

     The success can't all be credited to Fey, as talented as she is.  The opening featuring Fred Armisen as Barack Obama going over this year's Census form made me laugh harder than anything in recent memory.  Although the questions were not the same ones featured on the actual census, they played to every right wing eccentric's fears, asking where the firearms are kept and when the residents would not be home.  The SNL version also queried several sexual topics, and asked which members of the household did not support the health care overhaul, so that they would not receive care in the inevitable shortage to come.

     Also of note was Jason Sudeikis's portrayal of The Devil during Update.  It seems even the ruler of hell objects to what priests are doing to young children, and how dare they claim that He had anything to do with it.  Top tier comedy.

     The low point, unfortunately, was the musical guest.  Sudden teen sensation Justin Bieber performed his own numbers decently, but stunk up a couple of sketches.  Particularly, the one where he had a number of lines as a student that a teacher, played by Fey, was in love with.  Bieber was required to sing several parodies of his own music, which he performed not very well, and with no emotion.  He also was incredibly lame on the dialogue.  It begs to question, is his voice polished by computer and every live performance is lip synched?  Or does he just practice certain things many, many time until he finally gets them right, and did not have time to do it for SNL?  Either way, tween fans would probably object strenuously, but Bieber stunk.

     Fey will soon return as part of a 'Women of Comedy' episode on Mother's Day Weekend with Betty White and other SNL alum.  Saturday Night Live airs Saturday nights at 11:30pm on NBC.