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Bonnie Fuller

Bonnie Fuller

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Sarah Palin's Alaska Should NOT Be Cancelled -- It's Great TV & Brilliant Marketing!

Posted: 01/10/11 10:31 PM ET

Palin may be taking hits after the tragic Tucson shooting, but that's no reason her original and highly entertaining reality show shouldn't be put back on the air.

Whether you agree with Sarah Palin's politics or not, if you watched the shows a religiously as I did, you had to hand it to Sarah -- she made for gripping television.

The former Vice-Presidential candidate was impossible NOT to watch for multiple reasons. Number one, she IS gorgeous, so whether she was huddling in rain gear next to droopy Kate Gosselin, or in a pink sweatshirt in her Wasilla home, or gutting halibut in a fishline uniform -- she looked non-stop magnetically beautiful. Especially when you consider she's 46 and a mother of five.

Number two, she's jaw-droppingly outrageous. Rosie O'Donnell couldn't do her better. She managed to get a deadly swipe in at Michelle Obama's anti-obesity campaign, as she hunted for smores fixings. "Where are the smores ingredients? This is in honor of Michelle Obama, who said the other day we should not have dessert."

On her last episode, she gleefully called wussy Kate Gosselin a "city mouse," and she managed many times to guffaw over making liberals "wee wee!"

Number three, she stays on point, and every good television show delivers an enticing on point message. For Modern Family, it's the essential value of family, for American Idol, it's that talent and hard work can take you to the top.

In Sarah Palin's Alaska, she managed to combine the two. She repeatedly spouted off about her love for her wonderful "Alaskan" family AND was pretty much a broken record endorsing the power of a strong work ethic as well as self reliance and personal independence.

The bottom line -- no matter what your political beliefs -- you can't argue with the seductive appeal of the traditional American values of family and independence. And really who wouldn't want to have a fabulous, loving extended family like the Palins, and who wouldn't want to roll up their shirt sleeves and build success from the ground up, like Sarah and her husband Todd appear to have -- that's powerful TV.

Then there is Sarah Palin's unique form of homey self-expression. Americans always fall for the down-home talk that Palin specializes in. I'm "flipping mad," "'it's a big darn deal," "you betcha," are amongst her favorite expressions. Just listening to her, is entertaining.

Finally, Palin is surrounded by a full cast of characters that couldn't be improved by Central Casting -- kindly but gruff grandpa Chuck, handsome rugged dogsledder/fisherman/Mr. Mom Todd, adorable feisty daughter Piper and good girl gone bad gone good again, daughter Bristol.

I'm going to miss Sarah trying to shove her values down my throat while I'm wondering who the Lipstick Pitbull will bite each episode.

She's young enough to keep us guessing about her Presidential ambitions for years, while teasing us on TV for at least another season or two.

Click here for more on Sarah's outrageous finale of 'Sarah Palin's Alaska'!

--
Is Bristol Pain Going To College At The Biggest Obama-dissing School in the USA?
"Presidential" Candidate Sarah Palin Visits Cholera-Stricken Haiti!
Gabrielle Gifford Was A Democrat Who Was On Sarah Palin's "Target List"!

 

Follow Bonnie Fuller on Twitter: www.twitter.com/bonniefuller

 
 
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04:24 AM on 01/14/2011
Bonnie Fuller, nice article, but it's been placed in the Entertainment section. It's pretty obvious you were being satirical (and funny) so doesn't this belong in the Comedy section? (This is not a serious article, is it? Didn't think so ...)
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mariquita21
You can't have everything...where would you put it
06:04 PM on 01/13/2011
Mother of God....
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mariquita21
You can't have everything...where would you put it
08:36 PM on 01/13/2011
This is really not a reply to myself but to the "mod squad" who deleted this same exact post 8 or 9 times the only difference being that this one is in English and the deleted ones in Spanish....

I'm not quite sure what part of my comment was not within the guidelines,whether it was "mother" or "of" or "God" apparently it is more favorable in English. Either way I had fun with the little game and a good laugh. Oh, and, I win.....lol!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
emlr
"a man of knowledge is free"
02:41 PM on 01/15/2011
Ay caramba! Madre de Dios!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Chanel
12:25 PM on 01/13/2011
I think it was highly possible NOT to watch her reality show. I know this because I didn't watch a single episode. Good riddance to her show and hopefully to her divisive personality being a permanent media fixture.
04:37 PM on 01/12/2011
I've stopped watching TLC completely. I also have a list of their advertisers who I will boycott until they apologize for backing this wretched dreck.
04:03 PM on 01/12/2011
I can't wait till it ends. I was trying to watch a serious program the other night on TLC, and it was interrupted every five seconds by promo's for her show. Thank goodness there's only one season.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
02:47 PM on 01/12/2011
Great show and I hope she does not run for President so she can make a three more seasons while ruining the lifes of liberal by lining up people to run against the establishment.

Liberals better hope she runs otherwise, enjoy the lame duck season, it will be the last season of your liberal lives you might enjoy.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
julbar
04:56 PM on 01/12/2011
The Democrats will win big in 2012 and in 2016.. nothing but empty air on the other side like the Palin woman . On the other hand, Barack Obama is a great strategist and a winner.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
BannedFromCommenting
♼ ♼ PLEASE RECYCLE TROLLS ♼ ♼
03:13 PM on 01/14/2011
Less taxes the better? You enjoy paying for private education, private rides to a hospital, a private company putting out your house fire, walking on dirt paths, as taxes paid for paved ones...Yeah, you enjoy not cr@pping in public sewer systems.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
hypyrwyf
there'll be pie in the sky when you die
12:34 PM on 01/12/2011
Uh, no, just no. Please no.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
02:48 PM on 01/12/2011
Sorkin? is that you?
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
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ThermoChemist
"Forewarned Is Forearmed"
11:20 PM on 01/11/2011
Funny..!

+++

-- "...she looked non-stop magnetically beautiful.."

That COULD happen when you have makeup people sitting off camera somewhere;
and camera people deciding on the best shots, best angles, best lighting, etc.

+++

-- "...she managed many times to guffaw over making liberals "wee wee!"

So, she has the vocabulary (and mind?) of a child! THAT is awe inspiring (especially
to some on the Right)?

+++

-- "...she stays on point..."

We are all aware of Palin and her "word salad"..?

+++

-- "...Palin is surrounded by a full cast of characters.."

Indeed. They are people "playing characters". IMO, far from a true reality show!

: )
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
02:44 PM on 01/12/2011
How do you get up every morning a be so negative..... this was a great show and the ratings proved it..... Hillary, Nancy or Barney, none of those "ladies" could have done this.....
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MalteseTiger
"Faux News Lacks Objectivity" - Al-Qaeda
04:08 PM on 01/12/2011
This show was a pathetic TLC raitings grab and is going where it belongs.. into the dustbin.

Failin Pailn doesn't deserve any of this.

"AND was pretty much a broken record endorsing the power of a strong work ethic as well as self reliance and personal independence."

Yes the strong work ethic that causes you to quit being a state governor because it was too much.. ya know.. work.
renoir
Comfortably Numb
11:17 PM on 01/12/2011
None of those ELECTED OFFICIALS would have stooped that low. Besides, they have actual jobs.

Palin has turned herself into a caricature of herself... only she's unfortunately learned only how to amplify the ugly. God knows she resists learning anything else.

But good on you for loving her. She could use a little love after the strenuous hate talk she constantly exerts her energy to secrete. She's exhausted!
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ThermoChemist
"Forewarned Is Forearmed"
11:08 PM on 01/11/2011
"...you had to hand it to Sarah -- she made for gripping television.

The former Vice-Presidential candidate was impossible NOT to watch..."
=======

???

Then, I've done "the impossible"..!

I have NEVER watched one single second of her show..!
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srivers
"Honesty is the best politics." - Stan Laurel
05:42 AM on 01/12/2011
Welcome to the club!
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
02:45 PM on 01/12/2011
but you are still here writing negative little tid bits...... should watch the show, you would learn about life in Alaska.... and how Sarah will control politics for years.....
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MalteseTiger
"Faux News Lacks Objectivity" - Al-Qaeda
04:10 PM on 01/12/2011
If I wanna know about real life in Alaska.. I'll watch National Geographic.

I've also done the impossible and am happy to say i will continue to do so as long as I am alive.
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ThermoChemist
"Forewarned Is Forearmed"
06:35 PM on 01/12/2011
"...writing negative little tid bits"
=======

What goes around comes around... Sarah reaps what she sows. She's constantly
negative and spouting negative comments; so she (and her followers) should not be surprised when they receive, no less, in reciprocation..!

"...watch the show, you would learn about life in Alaska."
==========

From her? Why? I already KNOW she is "a poser". I don't need to watch her show
for her to show me [even more].

Prime example?

Sarah, the supposed life-long hunter who clearly knew practically NOTHING when it came to guns (their handling and use for hunting) as shown on the show; as per an article.

"...it's been revealed on her own reality show that she does not even know much about guns or how to use them."

http://www­.theawl.co­m/2010/12/­sarah-pali­n-the-tv-s­tar-expose­s-sarah-pa­lin-the-fa­ke-hunter
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SF TKF
Cthulhu thinks you'd make a nice sandwich.
06:28 PM on 01/11/2011
Before your panties twist themselves up into a full on wedgie, you might want to consider that it wasn't TLC that didn't option a second season, it was Palin who bowed out (and you honestly find her attractive?).
10:11 PM on 01/11/2011
I'd rather it was TLC that didn't opt for a second season. At least I'd have some modicum of respect back for them.
As for Palin that's just par for the course. Quit.
06:23 PM on 01/11/2011
Bonnie, I have to hand it to you. You're as insightful as usual!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
happycat
No bio needed. My cuteness speaks for itself.
10:55 PM on 01/11/2011
Didn't you mean, 'inciteful'?
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Tallulah Morehead
Award-Eligible Film Legend
04:53 PM on 01/13/2011
Good one. I may "borrow" it.
06:08 PM on 01/11/2011
I believe annoucements of the show not coming back were made before the incident.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MalteseTiger
"Faux News Lacks Objectivity" - Al-Qaeda
04:10 PM on 01/12/2011
Yes.. before the first ep even aired
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
KingHuff
05:52 PM on 01/11/2011
I think the show should have been called" Sarah Palin Does Stuff She's Never Done Before In Alaska "
05:34 PM on 01/11/2011
Okay, I know this is NOT going to be posted, but I'll say it anyway.
Bonnie, if Olbermann kept his "worst person in the world" feature, I'd nominate you for every single thing you've written at HP. Seriously. Every one of your columns displays an absurdly sick sense of priorities and values. In sum, I would never date you.
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quindy
quindy
07:30 PM on 01/11/2011
Well said.
10:56 PM on 01/11/2011
I'm just not that into her either.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
grailknight
is happily godless
04:46 PM on 01/11/2011
"In Sarah Palin's Alaska, she managed to combine the two. She repeatedly spouted off about her love for her wonderful "Alaskan" family AND was pretty much a broken record endorsing the power of a strong work ethic as well as self reliance and personal independence."
Right, she loved her Alsaka family so much, that she quit, so much for a strong work ethic. As for self reliance, then why is she in Fox's pocket?
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02:55 PM on 01/12/2011
she lefted the gov place because she was getting an ethic charge every week from liberal who can't admit Ms. Waters and Mr Rangel should be removed from office for violating ethics charges

by the way, Sarah was clear of all of them, paid her personal legal bill and will continue to be an example of positive leadership...


double standard by the liberals again......
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Tallulah Morehead
Award-Eligible Film Legend
04:56 PM on 01/13/2011
You just blanketly believe every lie she tells. She has never been "Cleared" except in her mind. She's as corrupt and dishonest a crook as can be found in politics.
01:49 AM on 01/15/2011
This is satirical, right?