Part Two: Will Barbara Walters Tap Sarah Palin to Replace Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View?
Last month, just after Vice-Presidential candidate and former Governor Sarah Palin, resigned, I wrote a column suggesting her next career move. As a headhunter, I had suggested that Barbara Walters hire Palin as a "temp" co-host to replace Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who is about to take a maternity leave.
Remember how your first job out of college was being a "temp"? Well, in today's economy, temping no longer means you're just a "guy (or gal) Friday". I strongly recommend that anyone at any level, consider a temp assignment, because even a temporary job can lead to a full-time career.
My prediction remains that Walters, who, along with ABC, produces The View, and together are shrewd enough TV executives to notice what Palin did for NBC's ratings on SNL and will want the "Palin Pudding" to help bolster The View's own ratings. Here is a continuation to that Palin column -- I start by receiving my imaginary phone call from Sarah Palin:
The person on the other end of the line says "Stephen Viscusi? This is Sarah Palin. I just finished reading your book Bulletproof Your Job and I am calling you for some career advice."
I immediately think it's my other imaginary celebrity friend, Tina Fey, playing a joke on me.
"Tina, I know that's you, what's up? Still trying to get more dough from NBC?" "No, this really is Sarah Palin. I just resigned from office as Governor of Alaska, and I read your column in the Huffington Post about Barbara Walters calling me to temporarily replace Elisabeth Hasselbeck, on ABC's The View. How did you know?"
I suddenly realize that it's not Tina Fey, but it is really the former governor.
I remark that while most American's are losing their jobs and worse yet, can't even find new ones, how lucky she must be to be able to afford to quit a job without having another.
"Your husband must make more money than I thought as a fisherman," I say. I explain to former Governor Palin that I am Catholic and that Jesus was a fisherman, and he never seemed that wealthy.
I ask former Governor Palin, "What do you know that Jesus didn't?"
I push the former governor about quitting a job at a time when so many Americans are desperate for work. She tells me that she feels bad for those who are unemployed and that she hopes President Obama gets "the Department of Work" on the problem right away. Hmmm...
Back to the point of Palin's call to me...the former governor tells me her goal is to get her own T.V. show, something like The Rachel Ray Show. You know, some kind of talk show, but Palin wants to have her show indoors and outdoors, maybe have some fishing segments, talk about being a hockey mom, and just be Sarah.
I tell Palin what I everyone today. Take what you can today. A "temp" job is better than no job at all. I feel a sense of irony in explaining this to a woman who just quit a perfectly great job (with great benefits) to become a temp. I instruct her to, "Go in as a temp. Be cooperative with your coworkers -- in this case the three comedians and Barbara Walters -- and then, just see what happens."
I then say to Palin, "Look, if you don't take the temp job, I bet Walters will hire former Miss California, Carrie Prejean, to fill in for Hasselbeck. Sarah, I'm still not convinced that catching fish will pay all your legal bills or your mortgage. After all, Jesus never seemed to make a decent living that way."
Everyone should know "temping" or working on a per-project basis, is the best way to get your foot in the door, which can lead to a permanent job.
Finally, Palin tells me that Walters offers to even make a baby corner in Palin's dressing room for her newest baby, Trig Paxson Van Palin, and will even put a new hockey stick on the wall. (What kind of baby name is that btw?)
Sarah remembers out loud about another temping gig in showbiz that she did recently, when she appeared on NBC's Saturday Night Live. She figures if she can handle Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey and Lorne Michaels that night, than the other three co-hosts would be a piece of cake.
Our conversation concludes with me asking, "Sarah, does this help?" I can almost see that famous wink over the phone, and she oh-so charismatically replies, "Yes, and stay tuned!"
I have some imagination...right?
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You're always welcome to write me with your career dilemmas, and I'll answer you on this column.
Follow me on Twitter @ Workplace Guru and add me on Facebook or email me at: stephen@viscusi.com.
Disclaimer: The scenarios and events portrayed in this article are products of the author's imagination.
© Stephen Viscusi. All rights reserved. Article can be duplicated in part of full without author's permission.
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Stephen Viscusi is the author of two books about jobs and the workplace. Charles Gibson from ABC's World News calls Viscusi, "America's Workplace Guru".
Viscusi is a TV broadcast journalist on jobs, a headhunter and resume spin doctor. His latest book, Bulletproof Your Job: 4 Simple Strategies to Ride Out the Rough Times and Come Out On Top at Work (HarperCollins) has been published around the globe in at least 9 languages including Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese.
Viscusi is also the founder of www.BulletproofYourResume.com.
Viscusi's headhunting and workplace advice is usually considered counter-intuitive to the conventional wisdom. Viscusi is not a career or life coach. To the contrary, his current book, Bulletproof Your Job has been described as the New Millennium's The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, and that's how Viscusi sees the workplace. He's your workplace General.
Each week, in the Huffington Post, Stephen Viscusi volunteers his headhunting career advice to the world. Some, like in this week's column aren't even asking and in other week, some have.
His disciples can be celebrities, politico, world leaders, heads of industry, and some are just ordinary people who write him for advice. It's like Tony Robbins advising Al Gore or Deepak Chopra advising Michael Jackson (wait, scratch that one).
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Don't quit your day job, Stephen Viscusi.
Palin doesn't fill any of the requirements for the job, except ideologically (politically speaking). She's the wrong age, the wrong status (ordinary relatable women), and more obviously, the wrong emotional make-up.
I don't think you understand women (Barbara Walters, in particular), or the actual dynamic required on The View of each of the co-hosts - Self-divulgence. At some point, each of the women who have ever co-hosted have had to unrobe emotionally before the others (at the very least) and the viewing audience. Say what we will about Elisabeth Hasselbeck (and we've said it all), she got the job over the others competing for it (Rachel Campos) because she was less emotionally guarded and willing to expose herself (in the early days) in not entirely flattering light.
Palin can't be honest with herself much less a television audience. Whatever venture she embarks upon, if it's in the entertainment milieu, she's a short-termer. She doesn't wear well, and you can't fake it and be on television day in and day out.
But more importantly, Barbara Walters would never agree to having someone she couldn't stand as a co-host, or someone who would compete with her stature. It would be one thing for Walters to agree to have Palin on as a guest, but not on an ongoing basis.
Palin would be a perfect fill-in for Hasselbeck because she and Elisabeth are very much alike in their "world view." But it could also result in Palin becoming even more famous than she is now. Just imagine for a moment her shooting off her mouth about subjects she knows nothing about - which Palin has already proven to do quite often - and Whoopi or Joy engaging in the same style of banter they now conduct. Palin would last a few weeks and then quit because she would not be able to match wits with Whoopi and Joy. However, Palin would not admit the real cause but would vociferously complain about her being treated unfairly, thus further enhancing her demagogue status. Palin is so well liked by the far right Limbaugh's and Beck's that Whoopi and Joy would be analyzed and vilified for every remark made to Palin, but they could handle it. As much as I dislike Palin, I'd definitely TIVO every episode.
Are you kidding me? She'd quit as soon as one of the eminently more sophisticated women on The View bruised her thin skin. I'd be very surprised if she lastedlonger than the first 20 minutes.
Station break, anyone?
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Lol, eminently more sophisticated. Granted most of the women on The View are more sophisticated, Whereas being a stand up comedian is not an easy job, it's hardly rocket science.
Stephen Viscusi is the author of Bulletproof Your Job and the founder of www.Bullet
That's like asking will Glenn Beck ever get a clue, NO!
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Poltiics aside, Alec Baldwin was happy to have her on SNL. She helped his ratings.
Stephen Viscusi is the author of Bulletproof Your Job and the founder of www.Bullet
LOL
After Hasselbollocks campaigned for Palin, she may end up losing her job to her.
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ironic isn't it? :)
Stephen Viscusi is the author of Bulletproof Your Job and the founder of www.Bullet
Add Sarah and I will be one of the many viewers moving toward the exit.
***Add Sarah and I will be one of the many viewers moving toward the exit***
Why didn't Sherri Shepherd move you to the exit?
She isn't even sure if the world is a globe for goodness sake.
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She didn't hurt SNL and it's the provocative nature of poltical controversy, and the openness to diverse opinions, which is the successful formula that brings us to watch The View.
Stephen Viscusi is the author of Bulletproof Your Job and the founder of www.Bullet
Delivering salacious snarky talking points is what Sarah delights in. On radio she couldn't add her new "crinkly nose sneer" to emphasize her put-downs, the effect would be lost.
Presently she is in her quiet mode, building up the suspense about where she will land and when. It will have to be a big coming-out
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As soon as Hasselbeck's water breaks, I bet you'll be seeing Palin on The View.
Stephen Viscusi is the author of Bulletproof Your Job and the founder of www.Bullet
Oh, please let this happen. Joy and Sarah discuss shooting wolves from helicopters. Woopie and Sarah discuss the meaning of 'African-American'. Sherry and Sarah discuss how corn get stuck in your teeth. Babs and Sarah discuss the political ramifications of a two state solution in Israel. And finally, Elizabeth and Sarah discuss how it feels to birth the baby Jesus.
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Lol. Remember, I'm talking about Sarah "temping" for Elisabeth. On all the emails I get on talents and jobs on The View, it's interesting how everyone forgets that Whoopi, Sherry and Joy are stand up comedians. Those are their sole credentials for talking about their view on the world. I believe all of them are moms, but I’m not aware of their academic credentials, but this is about ratings and entertainment.
Stephen Viscusi is the author of Bulletproof Your Job and the founder of www.Bullet
Joy holds a BA in Sociology, which certainly informs her worldview. She also has an MA in English Education, a degree that requires a fair amount of study in multiple disciplines. Her "sole credential" is NOT simply being a comedianne. Whoopi is more self-taught in politics, religion, etc. I would agree with you that comedy is Sherri's sole credential- the woman is an id.iot.
While it would be an incredible ratings boost, Walters would be ins.ane to offer such a position to Palin. It would be the end of The View. On second thought...
Great article, Stephen! Sarah Palin said in her good-bye speech, "We eat, therefore we hunt." Interesting. She supports the brutal aerial killing of wolves, so does that mean she eats wolf-burgers? Just a thought...
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Thanks. That wolf hunting has helped Sarah more than it's hurt her in terms of creating her image. Sometimes over the years, I believe I've seen Barbara Walters in fur, maybe Sherri, and I'm not so sure who else, but I do know that Sarah Palin maybe killed one of those fur coats that one of those ladies own. It's about ratings, ratings, ratings!
Stephen Viscusi is the author of Bulletproof Your Job and the founder of www.Bullet
And leave us alone.
I'll bet it was not fur from the baby wolves that were gassed in their dens after their mother was killed.
Whoopi Goldberg is one of the few entertainers/actors to ever have won *all* of the following awards in her career: Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards. In addition to her long history of political activism and humanitarian work, her out-of-this-world credentials as a multiply award winning entertainment icon more than qualify her to have opinions. The indirect put-down of Ms. Goldberg's credentials is regrettable, Mr. Viscusi.
I dont agree with Sarah Palin's political actions. But you dont realize we (Alaskans) dont hunt wolves to extinction, the wolves have to eat and they eat the caribou and moose, which we (rural Alaskans) really do have a real need to stock our freezer with so we can eat (everything is very expensive here in our great state :)
We MANAGE the wolf population, we have the opposite problem the LOWER 48 has of having no wolves. This stance of predator management is supported by %90 of Alaskans. Whether they are democrat (which i am) or republican. Alaska was %60 to %40 in support of Mccain, and we have one democrat and one Democratic Senator and one Republican Senator.
Since before Alaska was a state we have been managing the predator population just fine. Like i said, we still have the problem of TO MANY wolves. And we always will have them because we MANAGE them. Not exterminate them (Like has happened in the lower forty eight)
Argue with her political actions, but NO ALASKANS want this crap about wildlife being discussed by anyone who doesn't get it. By stressing this single issue you disagree with Alaskans about, you alienate them from the greater Democratic party of the rest of the country.
So take a HINT and protect the furs of the animals in your own state if you even have any left.
If they do....I'll never watch the view again. Period.
Hasselbeck was bad enough.
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The reason that the show is so successful is b/c it's made up of 3 stand up comedians and of course, Barbara Walters is a first-rate producer/journalist -- smart enough to know that different opinions, whether we agree with them or not, is what makes the good television. Who do you suggest replaces Elisabeth, Rachel Maddow? Trust me -- with Palin,the ratings will go through the roof like it did for SNL. Did you stop watching SNL too?
Stephen Viscusi is the author of Bulletproof Your Job and the founder of www.Bullet
You're forgetting that Palin was only personally on SNL once. Ratings were through the roof that night because people wanted to see the interaction between Palin and Tina Fey. The rest of the election season was Fey's brilliant parody, and it was this parody that kept people tuning in. They were laughing AT Palin, not with her.
This post is hilarious. Anything that pokes fun at Palin, is the blog for me. Thanks I needed that. I was just watching The Ed Schultz show and a couple of pretty savvy "Air America" types were being interviewed about whether Palin can do radio. The segment was called "Airhead America" One of them said that without her winking, Palin would just fail, because she wouldn't have that crutch.. The other said, "What will she do after twenty minutes, let alone three hours? What about the dogs and other animals that would run for the hills having to listen to her grating voice?"
The discussion was based upon Clear Channel's rejection of Sarah Palin, for her own show.
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I have news for everyone who is talking about Palin -- I have a face made for radio -- Palin has a face made for TV. Remember, she started as a beauty pageant contestant. She's about her looks, smile, winks, her hair-- radio is beneath her. The View is a good jumpstart to this kind of career. Maybe Oprah and Harpo Productions will produce her show on Oprah's new network. She did it for Rachel Ray, Dr. Phil and now Dr. Oz. Wow, I'd love to get my own new headhunter show on Harpo's new network.
Stephen Viscusi is the author of Bulletproof Your Job and the founder of www.Bullet
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