Television: Sarah Palin’s Alaska
November 18, 2010 | Television
I have a confession to make. I watched Sarah Palin’s Alaska on Sunday night. I couldn’t help wondering, who’s footing the bill? TLC? Sarah Palin? Alaska tourism? Because, dang! It can’t be cheap to hire fishing guides to take you salmon fishing or rock-climbing guides to fly you to the “top of the world” (Denali National Park and Preserve).
In any case, it showcases the beauty of Alaska very well.
Something bothered me, though. There was a segment with Sarah at her home with her daughter, Willow, and Willow’s friend, Andy. They walked into the kitchen, and Sarah asked Andy if he was hungry. No, I just ate, he said. Then Sarah inexplicably said that maybe Willow should cook him something for lunch. (Hello? He said he just ate.) Andy put down Willow by saying he wasn’t sure he’d want to eat that.
Did Sarah get all mama grizzly on him and defend her daughter?
Nope.
She put down her daughter too. She said, yeah, you’re probably right.
Wow. She showed her own daughter absolutely no respect.
Respect? Pffft! I don’t need to respect my children!
Actually? Yeah, you do. So they know what being treated with love, dignity and respect feels like when they go out in the world and make friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, work colleagues, etc. Because if they’re raised with disdain and disrespect? That’s what they’ll know. And that’s what they’ll find.
Don’t believe me?
Here’s what happened next.
Willow went upstairs. Andy started to follow her. Sarah stepped in and told Andy he wasn’t allowed upstairs with Willow, that he’d have to wait for her downstairs. Sarah went back to work at her desk in the kitchen. Guess who snuck upstairs. Right under Sarah’s nose and for all the world to see.
That’s right. Andy showed Willow no respect, then he metaphorically thumbed his nose at her mother in her own house.
Some might say Sarah got what she deserved. Maybe. But Willow didn’t. A child deserves to be treated better than that.
November 18th, 2010 at 10:19 am
I couldn’t bear to watch this, so thanks for the report. I’m sure TLC paid for the bulk of this show; still cheaper than a “scripted show.”
Andy sitting downstairs doesn’t make for very good TV, now does it? And this clearly demonstrates one reason that just having rules about stuff your kids are not supposed to do isn’t always helpful. (I imagine there were rules for Bristol Palin too, pre-baby.)
I’m on the fence about poking fun at Willow–I show a lot of respect for my kids but I kid around with them. My children certainly don’t mind gently ribbing me about my, er, culinary skills.
With Sarah Palin, sometimes I feel as though she’s using a passive/aggressive tone that says, I’m kidding! But sounds like she means it. To be fair (and that’s oh so hard), it may just be that stilted, Communications Major voice she uses.
It is annoying (and certainly disrespectful) when you tell someone you’re not hungry and they keep talking about feeding you.
It’s no surprise to verify that Sarah Palin is pretty much all about Sarah Palin.
Which wouldn’t be so bad if she was still the small town TV anchor that she should have remained.
November 18th, 2010 at 10:41 am
There’s a difference between ribbing and disrespecting. It just didn’t feel like ribbing to me. Ya know? And you’re right. I get a very passive/aggressive feel from her.
November 18th, 2010 at 11:18 am
[…] Deep Muck Big Rake » Television: Sarah Palin’s Alaska deepmuckbigrake.com/2010/11/18/television-sarah-palins-alaska/ – view page – cached I have a confession to make. I watched Sarah Palin’s Alaska on Sunday night. I couldn’t help wondering, who’s footing the bill? TLC? Sarah Palin? Alaska tourism? Because, dang! It can’t be cheap to hire fishing guides to take you salmon fishing or rock-climbing guides to fly you to the “top of the world†(Denali National Park and Preserve). Tweets about this link […]
November 19th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
There are two shows on TLC that I can say unequivocally that I will never watch: “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” and “Kate Plus 8.”
Never. Ever. Ever.
But thanks for sharing. I absolutely know now that I’ve made the right unequivocal decision. ;-)
November 19th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Sometimes my category should be, “I watch / read / listen so you don’t have to.” :)
November 20th, 2010 at 7:48 am
I didn’t watch either, and won’t – not just a non-Palin fan, but totally skeptical of “reality” TV. I suspect that Andy’s following Willow upstairs was about as “unscripted” as a State of the Union address. It was probably Sarah’s idea. Don’t worry, TLC, your secret is safe with me.
November 20th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Oh, I’m sure this show is nothing BUT scripted and nothing gets aired without her approval. Which makes the treatment of her daughter even more disturbing.