Sarah Palin Special, 'Real American Stories,' Debuts On Fox News (VIDEO)

NEW YORK (AP)— After an uproar by two big-name subjects of canned interviews, Sarah Palin's first TV special aired Thursday on Fox News Channel.

During "Real American Stories," the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate narrated heart-tugging profiles of Americans overcoming adversity and helping others.

"Heroism, courage, generosity and a warrior spirit – these are things that unite all Americans," said Palin, clad in a bright red blazer, at the top of the hour.

Stories included that of George Weiss, a wealthy businessman who helps prepare underprivileged students for college and pays for their education.

After the profile, Palin introduced her studio audience to a group of grade-school students being helped by Weiss' Say Yes to Education Foundation.

"There's such power in this idea of the voluntary private-sector contribution that George and others now are making," Palin said.

Other stories told of Jason Dunham, a heroic Marine who gave his life to save his comrades in Iraq, and by Cole Massie, a child with cerebral palsy who was inspired to walk by his service dog.

Palin welcomed Cole, his parents and, of course, the beloved dog for a follow-up studio interview.

"I don't know what my next goal is," Cole told her. "With this dog ... the sky is the limit."

But earlier in the week, actor-singer LL Cool J had complained when he learned about Fox News' plans to use an interview in the show he said he gave to another outlet two years ago. The network consented to drop his segment.

Country singer Toby Keith did appear, as announced, in footage focused on his hit song, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue." But on Wednesday Keith's publicist had said he was similarly caught by surprise on discovering that his year-old interview had been included in the program.

It is unclear when or if Palin will host future editions of "Real American Stories."

She joined Fox News as a regular contributor in January, but she'll be seen on TV elsewhere. The TLC network recently announced "Sarah Palin's Alaska," an eight-part series about Palin's home state that is set to start production this summer.

WATCH: New York Magazine's highlight reel of "Real American Stories":

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Fox News Channel is owned by News Corp.

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On the Net:

http://www.realamericanstories.com

Comments

[femsol]

11:35 PM on 04/10/2010

Oh no don't tell me!!!! I missed this huge event--Sarah's debut as an interviewer with phatom interviewees?. Just watched the clip--anyone think she used a teleprompter--it did not look like she was reading from her hand. Sure looked like she was reading a script maybe just queue cards but probably a teleprompter. She is so hypocritical on so many levels. I see though that this is to be replayed tomorrow night--and I already made plans to scrub my kitchen floor during that time slot. You betcha!

[Maxamillionair]

03:13 PM on 04/05/2010

sarah palin is a huge star! O.J. could have been just as big if he palyed his cards right.

[imsosure]

08:04 PM on 04/04/2010

It must be there is a sleaze appeal in the country to find her entertaining. She is most morbidly disgusting.

[tobyzip]

07:03 PM on 04/04/2010

Did folks actually watch the show??? How strange.

[Lulu-2]

05:46 PM on 04/04/2010

Huh?

So one story is about a wealthy man paying for underprivileged kids to go to colelge - that run CONTRARY to Palin's republican roots. No free handouts to the poor.

Then the next story involves a guide dog that was most certainly paid for by Medicare/Medicaid -- again, the total opposite of the Rebublican stance of "no socialized medicine."

Are you kidding me? The Discovery Channel didn't see the hyprocrisy of this???????

[imsosure]

08:05 PM on 04/04/2010

She is sleazy

[Jammerer]

11:51 AM on 04/04/2010

Good grief. What schmaltz.

[ObamAtomic]

12:18 AM on 04/04/2010

We only have to wait until next Thursday for another unspectacular show :)

[diamonds61]

10:13 PM on 04/03/2010

Fox and Greta need to make sure that all the people that Sarah Palin interviews are "WHITE". She does not speak or socialize or mingle with people of Hispanic, African American, or Asian descent. Her father said she feels uncomfortable around them. I am sure that Fox would enjoy a boycott of their programs due to their submission to Palin's racist attitude.

[diamonds61]

10:09 PM on 04/03/2010

Why is Sarah Palin wearing false eyelashes? She kept on batting her eyelashes constantly. It is obvious that she is yearns to be known as a beauty queen (all fluff) but she needs to look into the mirror and realize that she has become a middle-age beauty queen. Fox and Greta need to step back and know that this hillbilly from Wasilla can only act on command and with a script. She has no intelligence to form any serious thoughts of her own!!!!

[Cactusman]

12:33 PM on 04/03/2010

The definition of vapid boosterism. Booo-rrr-ing.

[cbzd]

12:10 PM on 04/03/2010

Why did Fox miss April Fools Day?

[RJPasadena]

12:08 PM on 04/03/2010

I wonder if she'll feature non-whites? Hispanics, blacks (LL Cool J probably would have interviewed with her if they we'ren't so sneeky about it), etc., How about naive american indians? she can ask them if they want their country back!

[katielady]

09:29 AM on 04/03/2010

SHE CERTAINLY RATES AS "SPECIAL" ! ! ! SHE IS ALSO CRAZY AS A LOON.. POOR LOON!

[cbzd]

05:47 PM on 04/03/2010

Loons are amazing birds, this comparison is unfair to loons everywhere, (especially those in Minnesota). I demand that you cease and desist this senseless categorizing of a good bird species with SP.

[Havana Thinks]

02:20 AM on 04/03/2010

I can't beeelieve........it's not .........But.ter!!!

[AddyGmom]

11:14 PM on 04/02/2010

Sarah Palin --------Spayshul says it all.