TV Syndicators Say "No, Thanks!" to Sarah Palin
It’s been almost a week now and we still really have no idea why Sarah Palin–governor of Alaska and running mate to Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)–abruptly announced her plans to resign, just as most of us were preparing to enjoy a weekend of BBQ, beer and bottle rockets.
While there’s been much speculation, one possibility that sounds like it can be scratched off the list is: “Fabulous Host of Her Own Syndicated Talk Show.”
A survey of syndicators reveals that they believe that Palin, while certainly mediagenic, “does not have the skills,” “appeals to too narrow of an audience” and overall is too polarizing. Not one syndicator indicated a whiff of interest in doing a show with her.
And it’s not because Sarah’s a Republican with a capital R. Many American women share her identification as a Republican, Christian and conservative, and these women want to watch other women like themselves on TV.
“If I could get Elizabeth Hasselbeck out of her contract at The View, I would do it in two seconds,” said one syndicator. “I would never invest in Sarah Palin. For me, the fact that she resigned as the governor of Alaska means she’s a quitter. She now has no chance.”
More likely, syndicators speculated, if Palin does have a TV career ahead of her, it will be as a commentator on a cable news network. And let’s be honest: that cable news network would likely be Fox News (although of course we would love to see Palin go head-to-head with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow). The question, says one cable news network executive, is “does she want to have a political future or not? If she does, then it makes sense for her to write the book, get paid for speeches, assist other candidates’ campaigns and maybe appear as a commentator.”
It seems like a safe bet that Palin does want a political future, and she has quite the love/hate relationship with the media: loves to be in the media spotlight, hates it when the media report things she doesn’t like. Isn’t that always the way?
Palin does have some broadcast experience. In 1998, after competing in the beauty contests and before politics, she was a sports reporter at Channel 2 Broadcasting’s KTUU Anchorage. She’s undeniably appealing, with her folksy manner and good looks. And while her primetime interview with CBS’ Katie Couric was an unmitigated disaster and her July 3 resignation speech was full of odd metaphors about basketball and dead fish, her speech to the Republican National Convention demonstrated that the woman can really light up a country.
In the meantime, we’re all still left wondering exactly why Palin felt the need to depart her post now, just 2 1/2 years into her governorship, with 2012 still shimmering in the distance. It looks like we have to wait for Palin’s upcoming memoir, recently bought by News Corp.-owned HarperCollins, to find out.
Non British or Confederate commented:
This is not about Palin or Popularity. Its about a dyeing ideology gasping for air as the status quo cable commentary tries to project false hope against reality. Most of the Marxist Liberals are in control of the media that is a given.
As I just spoke with my liberal friend who pulled the ballot arm in hopes of getting something out of the government for free.. as most did. But when I asked him who is the Vice President..... he hadn't a clue just like most of the liberal drones that pretend to have a real life.
Liberals on the other hand are the most financially generous people I have experienced in my life, but only with other peoples money and would never give out of their own purse unless financial strings were attached with future gains.
Palin, well lets just see if the general marxist cable networks decide to pass up the most talented and cautious woman would expose the reality of talk show media. Maybe if she did say she was going to do a Show there may be a National Prime Time waiting line to just hear Reality for a change.
Afraid of REAL competition..... yeah thats it.
jeff commented:
Sarah Palin wouldn't make a good TV show host or anything like that; she is not belivable.
She has no hold on any of the issues. She does a lot of dubble talk, and things not related to subject.
Russell commented:
I tend to agree with Mary Katherine's point, if Palin goes into the world of TV talk, say like Daytime TV for instance, then she will be the biggest thing to hit Daytime TV since Oprah's debut in the fall of 1986 and will be the transition phase from Donahue to Oprah to Sarah, just like that, will be the new queen of Daytime TV talk, and do the OPRAH/DONAHUE format of celebrity stars, the real serious issues, and real everyday people. Also, the TV promo will say, "WHAT MAKES SARAH PALIN AMERICA'S MOST WATCHED DAYTIME TV TALK SHOW?"
Russell commented:
First of all, I happen to be a Hillary Democrat, for starters. Well, seriously, if Palin's memoir becomes a best-seller when next spring comes around and if I we're a TV syndicator, I would consider giving Palin a shot at it because she looks to me more like talk show stardom, but also remember BARABARA WALTERS when she first came to ABC NEWS in 1976, she like Palin was the laughing stock, and then she joined 20/20 and look what happened to BARBARA WALTERS' broadcasting career since then and I expect Palin to rebound quite nicely if she goes into the talk show arena.
Steve commented:
Wow. I didn't expect to read so many supportive comments for Governor Palin. Guess the political folks are everywhere. With all due respect, I did find this article, like others that I've seen on the subject to be somewhat of a premature "strike" against the possibility that Palin might consider a syndie career. I heard it from the media first - not her. IF she (or any agent she might acquire) did decide to pursue this path, I'm willing to to "betcha" a number of syndicators would at least consider it. Could it be worse than some of the talk shows we've been subjected to already -- really??? After all - no matter how you feel about any person, TV has proven there is truly no accounting for taste.
Biddy commented:
Mary Katherine, you really want our next president to have her own show where she cooks wild game and hosts musical guests? That's a bit delusional- both the show and her being president.
NonPartisanAlaskan commented:
By the way, her sportscaster gig was for one weekend as an intern.
NonPartisanAlaskan commented:
The thing about Sarah, is she doesn't fact check, and says stupid things off the cuff. Syndicators are right. As a governor, she gets too many ethics complaints, can you imagine her liability? Even as a commentator, she has absolutely no knowlege on anything. (In Alaska, the personnel board who review the complaints, are personal friends appointed by her, thats why the complaints are dismissed.) She would be better doing a fishing or snowmobile reality show, and stick to subjects she knows about.
Mary Katherine commented:
If Governor Sarah Palin did a show it'd be the biggest thing since the Superbowl, and you know it! Conservatives and Republicans (not the same thing) would watch it, many independent and Democratic women would tune in, and men who think she's hot, no matter their political persuasion. She could cook wild game, have political and musical guests, and do a monolougue about current events. Name one of these mysterious syndicators that won't touch her -- if you can.
She's the next president, unless the Mossad finds "you-know-who's" birth certificate, and you presstitutes can't stand it!
StewartIII commented:
TV Syndicators to Palin: Sorry, You're Too Unskilled, 'Too Polarizing'
newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2009/07/13/tv-syndicators-palin-sorry-youre-too-unskilled-too-polarizing
Robin888 commented:
Lady, you are nothing but a hateful moron. The fact that you work in "broadcasting and cable" suits your intellectual capability which is, apparently, limited to mudslinging. A Sarah Palin hit piece premised on the deep insight of the usual unnamed sources--in this case "syndicators." This isn't journalism. It reads like the spiteful rant of a middle-school aged girl in the throes of jealousy. Bitter and juvenile.
Edgar commented:
Oh please! Grow up, libs! Palin is too polarizing but Olbermann isn't? You call Palin an "empty suit"? A "fraud"? Jesus, you people DO live with your heads in an echo chamber of fawning fellow liberals if you believe THAT! lol !
Danielle commented:
The truth is, she is showing no interest in a show and they are pissed about it. There isn't a syndicator in the country that wouldn't die for the chance to put her on TV. Gee, another liberal (non) journalist hack taking shots at Palin. What a shock!
Dave commented:
I would care but Im a thinking person and don't watch tv news anymore. Why would I.
But I will say that liberals hate Palin because she did not kill her child. Admit it, you wish she did. Doesn't that make you disgusted with yourselves??
Jack Bauer commented:
#1. She's not interested in it, leaving that gig to former Governor Mike Huckerbee.
#2. "TV Syndicators" -- whoever the eff THEY are, would run the show in a heartbeat BECAUSE it would generate huge audience numbers.
#3. If crazed troofer Rosie O'Donut can be seriously considered for a TV show, then Sarah would be a shoe-in as she is sane, and has a lot more to offer than a rabid lesbian who demonstrated live on TV how to relax hanging upside down like a bat. Nice metaphor, by the way.
#4. The View is leftist asylum run by a washed up harpie, and features a genuine nutcase in Joy Rehab.
Cville commented:
I'd sooner watch replays of the Osborne's tongue kissing strange senior citizens again.
Disgusting to think anyone would want to watch such a superficial woman - sad reflection of society.
American Patriot commented:
Palin is everything fake about this country. im an independent voter that leans to the left. im becoming open to some republican's views as of late. but palin, to me, represents the fake side of the republican party and does not have the mental capacity to hold my interest. female version of george bush.
USA commented:
Your just jelus
notasarahfan commented:
Love her? But WHY? Empty suit! Talking head! What's to love? Sad that this kind of inane babbling can engender a fan club.
News Corpse commented:
Palin would have a tough time holding up her end of a conversation/debate on TV. I think that her "folksiness" would wear thin in short order.
Still, Fox News would love to have her, and she wouldn't be the only potential 2010 Republicans on the network (see Huckabee).
Nancy commented:
We love u Sarah!