Sure, this has all the makings of an excellent April Fools gag, but due diligence suggests that NBC News has actually invited Former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin to join the anchor table at Studio 1A.
In an allDAY blog post from yesterday, NBC promotes Palin’s Tuesday visit thusly: “Sarah Palin will co-host Tuesday. She’ll reveal a different side of her than you’ve seen before.”
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From Governor of Alaska, to Vice-Presidential Candidate, to Fox News contributor, Palin has worn many hats since her days as a sports anchor for KTUU-TV in 1988.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc7LBtRGCd8]
Moving from the sports desk to the anchor chair via international political stardom is certainly a move up in the world. But why now?
The other “big” story in the world of weekday morning news magazines is that TODAY Show alum Katie Couric will be guest hosting for the cross-town rival, ABC’s Good Morning America, all next week.
Couric, whose career has not been the same since leaving her gig at NBC, could certainly bring some buzz to the ABC program. They sure could use it, since they have had to find new ways to promote their Nielsen ratings without saying, “We’re not in first place.”
This purely is a win-win for both NBC and Sarah Palin. The TODAY Show will continue to gleefully pound Good Morning America into the ground by using a conservative icon while getting back at an old employee. Sarah Palin will be able to paint herself as one not afraid of going into the lion’s den of the “lame-stream media.” Tina Fey will have her next Saturday Night Live sketch idea. Palin gets to attack NBC for unfair portrayals. Everybody wins.
