Sarah Palin on The Learning Channel
(taking the palm of my hand and rubbing my ear)
I’m sorry, New York Times, I thought you said Sarah Palin is going to be on The Learning Channel.
Oh. You did.
Really.
Is there some other Sarah Palin I don’t know about?
Because, the one that I know about stacked the Alaska Board of Game with non-biologists, calls climate change “snake oil science,” thinks Africa is a country, can’t figure out that whole North AND South Korea thing, and believes that humans and dinosaurs coexisted, and that the Earth is 6000 years old.
Just sayin.
In a news release about the acquisition, Discovery does not characterize “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” as a reality show, preferring to call it a “documentary series about the remarkable Governor Palin and her home state of Alaska.” The company is acquiring both the United States and overseas rights to the series.
Remarkable indeed. If you would like to share any “remarks” about the “Governor” you can email the Discovery Channel and “The Learnin’ Channel” you can contact them HERE.
So glad I gave up cable AND broadcast TV for good. Netflix Rules!
remarkably unlearned for starters… Maybe someone is hoping that if she’s on “The Learning Channel” that she’ll get some learnin’ done?
Oh, forgot this tidbit: http://www.adn.com/2010/03/25/1198632/is-palins-reality-tv-gambit-worth.html
Leaning channel and SP —–JOKE??????
Hmmm.. seems the “Viewer Relations” website is down – will keep tyring – this is a flipping joke.
http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations
WTF?? This show will be about Palin??? I guess there will be pagentary and high school stories; not to mention what teenagers and grifters do in Alaska….
“documentary series about the remarkable Governor Palin and her home state of Alaska.”
Makes me sick to think about her as a “TV” star in her own mind!
A petition has already started to boycott the Discovery Channel.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/21/boycott-the-discovery-channel-networks
Personally, I think this is the perfect network for Sarah Palin (they actually already have her on the front page of their website…be prepared, it is somewhat startling with those big chompers)
Here’s just some of the circus freakshow lineup of TLC shows:
LA Ink-psychotic over-tatted freak who b1tches about everyone and everything
Addicted-plastic surgery freaks gone wrong
Toddlers & Tiaras-fake tans, teeth, and hair, little girls and their moms who will do anything for a crown
Hoarding-Buried Alive- people who are so psychologically damaged that they hang on to everything and anything in an attempt to stay sane
The Little Couple- husband and wife who exploit their physical handicaps
19 Kids & Counting- Wacked out fundamentalist proselytizing overbreeders who exploit their home schooled children for personal gain
Jon & Kate Plus Eight- Tabloid media wh*res…enough said
Say Yes to the Dress- Bridezillas and their overbearing families trying on ridiculous wedding dresses
The one show I do like which I recommend Sarah get on right away, which is What Not To Wear…Sarah is their poster child of the BEFORE.
Anyway. like I said this is the perfect place for a very over exposed family of attention seeking media wh*res who love to exploit their family for personal gain!
Kudos, Sarah, you have officially made yourself fair game for the papparazzi. I wonder if Sarah and Todd will fall victim to the reality show divorce curse.
Sarah Palin Teams Up With Discovery Company: An Unnatural Match? (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/25/sarah-palin-teams-up-with_n_513235.html
Guess that channel will be on my blocked list, as what not to watch unless they remove her.
All I can say is “they have got to be kidding.”
This is truly an example of the blind being led by the uninformed.
‘Whack jobbery’ will no doubt point out the shores of Russia from ‘her’ Alaska. Deliver me!!!!!
When I signed the petition I said their first mistake was equating learning, environment and nature with Sarah Palin. TLC the new comedy network who knew.
You don’t think she will show how to shoot animals out of helicopers? Will she go to villages and show how her administration abandon them? I have lost all respect for the Discovery Channel…..
Remember back when TLC showed awesome stuff like Trading Spaces?
I’d far prefer to call this debacle a “reality” show, because in order to film a documentary, you need to have curiosity, motivation to research, and a purpose beyond hearing yourself talk.
Been a while since I’ve parsed the snark, so enjoy my version of the HuffPo article on the Palin/Discovery/TLC deal
* ** * ** * **
Parsing The Snark on “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” is officially headed to Discovery Communication’s TLC
by Terpsichore
The network that exploded over the last year with the help of “Jon & Kate” has acquired eight episodes of Palin’s documentary-style tour of her home state, produced with reality kingpin Mark Burnett.
…
The New York Times asked a Discovery spokesman if Palin would address her views on climate change on the show; the spokesman would only say, “the deal was just concluded this week and now we begin the development and production.”
“Our family enjoys the mindless unscripted reality-dramas on Discovery’s networks but not those shows where you have to do all that thinkin’ and use those facts from scientists that we don’t understand and yet still refuse to agree with.” Palin said. “I look forward to telling Mark exactly what I’m going to say to bring the wonder and majesty of Alaska to all Americans, even if I have to cram it down their throats”
Burnett, who created “Survivor,” described Palin as “a cypher-like personality that will nonetheless make me millions.”
“I can’t think of anyone more compelling than Sarah Palin to tell the story of Alaska only because I do not know anybody else from Alaska” he said. “I’m thrilled to reunite with Discovery on this project, which brings together one of the most fascinating figures of our time – me – with one of the most wondrous places on earth.”
“Discovery Communications is so excited to help Sarah Palin tell the story of Alaska, and to have a great documentary filmmaker in Mark Burnett helping to reveal Alaska’s powerful beauty as it has never been filmed, with script written by Mark and independent and highly knowledgeable and qualified researchers/writers as read by one of the state’s proudest daughters,” Discovery COO Peter Liguori added.
Liguori is the former head of Fox Entertainment.
“TLC is grounded in great storytelling, strong characters, and passionate audiences drawn to extraordinary people doing extraordinary things,” TLC boss Eileen O’Neill said. “Aside from the fact that we can’t promise to deliver any of the above as the product isn’t even planned yet (see quote from above … “the deal was just concluded this week and now we begin the development and production”), we are confident and frankly taking the enormous risk that if Sarah acts like a celebrity professional and just does what she does best, read a teleprompter with spunk, ‘Sarah Palin’s Alaska’ will be another compelling television event. However, it is equally possible ‘Sarah Palin’s Alaska’ will be a ginormous snoozer at best and a farce at worst, but since the advertisers already signed on before knowing what they were getting, caveat emptor, baby!”
* ** * ** * ** * **
It doesn’t appear she even likes Alaska. She is hardly ever there. I am sorry for Alaskans—what a waste to be using a vindictive, hateful, lying person(?) to show off Alaska.
She’ll lie, spin and use Alaska and taunt environmentalists.
There appear to be some FOX connections w/Discovery. Too bad about that, Discovery is off the island for me now. I’ve got my cable bill right next to the computer, and will cancel the Discovery/TLC/Etc channels today.
The so-called “Learning Channel” has never been about learning anything. Hairah should be a perfect fit – right after Toddlers and Tiaras.
Blessings to all Mudflatters and goodbye to my Discovery Channel cable package!
When, oh when, will we stop celebrating the year of the idiot? TLC is sinking to all new lows with this one. At least the Teaparties will watch, the rest of us have much better things to do.
It’s all about the PR…and who all $carah had to screw to get this deal.
TV is incestuous, and Murdoch’s wrinkled old paw is in 40% of it.
I managed to leave a message on their site. I think they’re getting avalanched.
This is what I wrote:
You’re kidding right? You’re putting this bloody-minded woman on your network promoting her view of Alaska? Are you going to show wolves being shot from planes? Because she’s fine with that you know. Are you going to show Polar Bears drowning in the Arctic? Because she thinks Climate Change is left wing propaganda. She’s fine with opening the easement next to our National Park up there so that her allies can kill more wolves, including murdering pups in their dens. She is the antithesis of ‘learning’. She is the last person who should be featured on your network. She even thinks Pebble Mine is a good thing, although it would destroy a way of life for the Native Alaskans there. Seriously, what the hell are you thinking?
Sincerely,
M. Aragon
I bought the domain name SarahPalinsAlaska .info ( dot net is still available too )
Not sure what to do with it yet but I’m sure we can come up with something, eh ?
Also own StandUpForOurNation . I think I have dot info and dot net.
1.2 million an episode from The Learning Channel for a woman whose young daughter is being kept from an education so she can instead be used as Palin’s prop and shield.
Only in America !
I have sent three emails to Discovery and signed the petition to boycott TLC and sponsors. I can’t believe what a little activist I’ve become since SP entered my consciousness. What a surprise to find myself becoming that blogger in my parent’s basement – well, not exactly – no basement and I’m now dressed for the day
I’d really like to see something big happen that stops this show before it starts. I would be so happy.
Buff, how clever and resourceful you are! I am very impressed, kudos to you!
TLC should just change its name to The Learnin’ Clowns.
I tried to get on the Discovery Channel’s viewer relations web site and it wont load. Maybe their server is way too busy? I’ll try later. I am on the verge of dropping my Dish Network. Last year they added Faux Noise, and now this. Ugh! I’ve had enough.
Wouldn’t be so bad… if she only had a brain. Now that would be a “discovery”.
photo
here’s a letter for Target stores, one of the sponsors:
Dear Target
If Target stores are one of the sponsors, here’s my letter to them:
Dear Target,
Sarah Palin has published a map ‘targeting’ my Congresswoman with
a ” crosshairs in a gunsight” image. Palin is currently screeching at
those who oppose health care reform for average Americans to ‘reload’ not ‘retreat’,
and is set to appear at a political rally with Ann Coulter, who, Lord knows,
could scare the customers out of any store.
I know the name of your store is ‘Target’, but do you really want your customers forever associating
you with this?
OK…here’s my take .
The Discovery group could not have picked a better channel from it’s variety of channels based on the type of programs that are currently aired on TLC. They are mostly freak shows which provide voyeurists an opportunity to mindlessly follow a bunch of dysfunctional folks. Sarah Palin fits right in. They are sending her a message…Sarah you belong on a freak show!
Having said all that, I still plan to boycott any and all Discovery channels and all advertisers. I am writing to all conservation groups as well asking them to voice concerns about this choice as well.
It seems Alaskans may have heaved their sighs of relief prematurely. According to the ADN article, Alaskans can now be hosed for $400,000 per episode (assuming a $1M price tag) by the Grifter Queen. With eight episodes planned, that’s a lot of hosing.
http://www.film.alaska.gov/
To Buffalo Gal # 21:
Good move. You should get all the dots…. you can make a bit of cash there, but act fast because once the first on-air drivel spews out of her mouth, they’ll be worthless. LOL. Let us know what happens!
What’s with this time we’re living in?
I seem to be walking around with my head down a lot saying “WTF”.
VernD.
As an Alaskan, SP does not represent my state. In fact she is the source of great anxiety. I view her as a dangerous domestic terrorist. But be that it is beyond my capacity to censure, give her enough rope, she may well take the plunge herself.
I just reviewed the current shows on TLC. Wow!!!! Several years ago their programing was classy but not now. We used to refer to TLC as “the leisure class.” But now it’s “the losers collection.” The sideshow at the carnival Sarah will fit right in there…..you betchya.
TLC, the tribe has spoken.
I’m glad I don’t waste any money on expanded cable. I have basic, and that’s after going without any TV for almost 2 years!
Murdoch is behind this move. All I can hope is that once Palin crashes and burns, that everyone who aligned themselves with her goes up in flames, too.
Perhaps she will make a visit to Wasilla High School and have a poignant discussion on the virtues of abstinence only education with the students there, also, too?Perhaps even take teh Bristol and baby…
I just signed a petition regarding her supposed deal with The Discovery Channel.
Check out the petition here
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/21/boycott-the-discovery-channel-networks
Just got this in an email newsletter and thought you guys might find it interesting:
Will Marketers Buy Into ‘Sarah Palin’s Alaska’?
New TLC Show Won’t Be Political, but Palin’s Role Will Likely Have Effect on Audience, Ad Support
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=142980
I’m vaguely amused by the one comment on there from a guy who thinks that it both takes any effort on the media’s part to discredit Palin, and that the only people she polarized are the media. Clearly, someone who has been living under a rock, politically speaking, for the last year or so.
the Discovery channel is paying Palin a million dollars per episode to provide her with a platform to further her political agenda concerning Ak. I can envision the episodes: sara Palin moving around the state showcasing the importance of the pebble mine and ANWAR, showing examples of why it is neccessary to slaughter wolves from the air, carry guns into bars, refuting global warming & its effects on the alaska habitat. Ignoring the poverty, alcoholism & unemployment in the villages & rural alaska. This ‘documentary’- type show, as it is being escribed by Discovery, is all about Palin’s celebrity & very little having to do with showcasing the real Ak. Alaska. And she is being grossly overpaid to do it. This woman has no shame, & boy does she have a lot of enablers.
How resourceful. Buffalo gal.
Sarah Palins Alaska will be marvelous site.
Every one of her shows can be picked apart without mercy and with a lot of humor.
I lost all respect for that channel when they put on that ridiculous “Jon & Kate plus 8″ fiasco…now I’ve lost even more.
Sarah Palin and the Learning Channel polar opposites. The woman is dumber than a mound of excrement. I will no longer watch any Discovery Channels. I thought the programming was for topics to enlightened and teach. If they think Sarah Plain can accomplish either the program directors are nitwits as well.
Well done Buffalo gal!
Buffalo Gal: Grab the dot.net version too, before it’s too late. It’s not just the eight shows, you betcha. In addition, there will be the DVD boxed set, the T-shirts, tote bags, other branded merchandise, maybe some imitation wolf hides (just kidding, PETA, really!)
So, you will be in a good position to cash in with your own merchandise, such as the famous picture of Sarah pretending to shoot a gun. My daughter sent me a gag gift of Sarah’s Embarrassmints with graphics of our favorite ex-governor toting a gun, carrying her Bible, spilled oil in the background. And, when the TLC people realize that you are getting their traffic, you will be able to sell them the sites for a Palin sized Profit.
I think the viewers relation link may be down because everyone is trying to use it. I was able to get on after a few tries when the news that Discovery “had” her first came out. I had previously sent comments to both A&E and Discovery when they were supposedly fighting over her and got through with no problem.
Signing the Care2 petition and leaving comments will be very helpful. They need more signatures – are shooting for 10,000 signatures and only have around 2800 now. Wouldn’t it be great if we could push them over the limit?
If viewers can get this show canceled before it’s begun it would hit the Tundra Terrorist where it hurts the most – in her bank account. Then watch her go completely insane – she sez – rubbing her hands together, laughing maniacally.
There isn’t much of her life that she hasn’t flung in front of t.v. cameras, I wonder what TLC will air. Reality shows are where viewers go to watch freak shows…Palinland will be perfect! I like the idea of it airing alongside the toddlers in tiaras show.
Look what being on t.v. did to Jon and Kate, this could be the show of the century (and the end of a pseudo political career)
So if Palin is doing a “documentary” then she might actually have to…to…
read from a teleprompter…gasp! Or can she fit all those factoids on her palms?
I wish TLC and SP nothing but the best of ignominious failure.
I predict we will never even see commercials for the show, it will be relegated to some weird time slot then dumped asap when there are NO viewers. Gotta love contracts. Wait, will she even show up for an episode or are they just using her name?
What’s really ironic is that TLC will send people to do the research on Alaska for the series. Palin will do nothing but read what they’ve researched and written.
Here’s a very interesting take on Palin’s show re: her fundamentalism, found at the end of a post on Boing Boing, The post is entitled “Ten Alternate Names for the New Sarah Palin Reality Show, from Boing Boing readers” and includes
• MYTHMAKERS
• NATURE’S DEATH PANELS
• THE BEWILDERNESS
• WIFE ON EARTH
• NORTHERN OVEREXPOSURE
… wombats…. many wombats…
The Discovery Channel petition now has over 2500 signatures, which I believe is one quarter of the targeted number. Very cool!
So TLC will do all the work, Sarah will read it in her inimitable way (except by Tina Fay) and collect a million each time?
Nice work if you can get it.
Or do they have an escape clause in the contract like athletes do?(If she ends of in prison for some of her little mistakes?)
I left my comment at the Viewer Relations site (after it finally loaded):
“I just wanted to let you know that I will not be watching any more Discovery Network programming. Sarah Palin’s Alaska is an affront to not only animals and Alaskans (of which I am one), but to learning. Shame on you for giving her this show.”
HERE IS THE NUMBER TO MAKE A COMPLAINT TO DISCOVERY CHANNEL 571)262-4899
Dear Learning Channel,
Why would a TV channel with the word “Learning” in it’s name Hire- or even have anything to do with- Sarah Palin? Just asking.
anxiously awaiting your honest reply
Nick from MKE
_________________________________________________________________
Dear Nick from MKE,
Due to a freakisk convergence of stars and planets ( which we discuss in one of our programs about either the Bible Code or Nostrodamus, we have decided to answer your question in the most transparently honest manner possible. Answer follows:
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
The Learning Channel
What you expect from a channel, that thinks having a bunch of children is cool so why not promote them and make money off of theme. When I realized they had the ’18 and counting’ series, I stopped watching the channel. So that fact that they’d have Sarah to make money off of her doesn’t surprise me. Will they show a segment on the aerial killing of wolves, her personal baby???
I was signer # 2556. My comments:
“You have chosen to give part-term ex-governor $arah Palin a show about Her Alaska. Her Alaska where starving, freezing villagers are “graced” with a plate of cookies and a prayer? Her Alaska where she lives in a compound on a dead lake in the meth capital of the state? Her Alaska where animals are hunted from helicopters? Her Alaska where wolf pups are gassed in their dens? Her Alaska still suffering the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez? Her Alaska where Thanksgiving turkeys are slaughtered on camera at a turkey pardoning event? Her Alaska, with her screeching, her whining, her temper tantrums, her greedy, grabby, grifting? You think there’s an audience for a show about Ms. Palin’s Alaska? How sad. How downright pathetic.
I’ve seen all that I care to see of Ms. Palin and Her Alaska.
Good-bye to your channels, your shows, your products, and your sponsors. Your sponsors are hearing from me also, too. You betcha!”
Whew. That felt good.
OK, just so I got this straight… She was hounded out of office by the mean media, and she could help us more by dumping us and by “going in a different direction”. At 1 million an episode, and 8 episodes planned, she really could really help Alaska out! Not even counting the several million in book receipts. We’re talking serious help! The villages could put up about 8 wind turbines, or buy insulation and new windows for 100 villages. Lots of great possibilities. Let’s us help her with some suggestions…..
@ Nick
Hahaha. Yep. The only thing TLC and SP want to “discover” is more filthy lucre. Yellow-bellied sap-sucking suckers, both of ‘em.
The sacrificial lambs in their quest? Only truth and integrity, eh?
While I’m sure our half-term Guv had some very ideological and high-minded reasons for doing this venture…the following story about George Bernard Shaw creeps into my mind:
It is said that Shaw once found himself seated beside a woman at a dinner party. “Madam,” he asked, “would you go to bed with me for a thousand pounds?” The woman indignantly shook her head. “For ten thousand pounds?” he asked. “No. I would not.” “Then how about fifty thousand pounds?” he continued. The colossal sum gave the woman pause, and after further reflection, she replied: “Perhaps.”
“And if I were to offer you five pounds?” Shaw asked. “Mr. Shaw!” the woman exclaimed. “What do you take me for!”
“We have already established what you are,” Shaw replied. “Now we are merely haggling over the price.”
I wonder if knee pads are included with her millions per episode…sorry, I apologize, but what other expertise does she have to get such a gig?
Whew boy! Just read in the “Modesto Bee” that Sarah Palin will speak at a fundraiser ($500 a ticket) dinner and dance at California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock California in connection with their 50 year anniversary.
Turlock is in Stanislaus County where Obama led the popular vote in the last presidential election, but where conservative big farmers and Christian Right Wing Fundamentalist Big Box Churches hold a lot of political power.
Maybe this is a ploy to get some of these folks with money to pony up funds to support the University in hard times After the first 200 tickets, her profected $100,000 speaking fee is covered (although not the private jet for her entourage and their accomadations-in and out? there are no luxury hotels in Turlock, maybe luxury guest houses?) and something might be left over for the University.
Maybe, but the politics are bizarre. More likely she will imidate any LIB’RLS in the regional education system and encourage gun waving to keep Obama types away from REAL AMERICAN’S CONTROL of the Central Valley.
I expect her to say water should be used now to water big agrifarms and to hell with the salmon and wetlands and conservation for the next drought. I expect her to say that valley farmers and business owners don’t want no socialist unions or dogooder bleeding heart terrorists cutting into their right to get every cent of profit out of their illegal workers before they deport them back south of the border.
Great stuff. And while she’s at it maybe she can get the University shut down as a socialist waste of taxpayers money.
GO SCARAH!
Once “The Learning Channel” starts airing her series, it will be renamed “The Lemming Channel” because the only viewers will be her ‘bots. heh heh.
ahhhhh…if only we’d known then during her Oprah interview…. so..how’s that fighting for Alaska thing goin’ for ya, Ms Sarah “Hollywood” ????
Where can I sign the petition re: SP? I wrote the Discovery channel and voiced my opinion of their decision to promote this worthless, half-guv, self-promoting, greedy, willing to do anything to make a $, intellectually deficient, cretin. I for one, always enjoyed the programming on Discovery, but definitely will boycott their sponsors, products, and programming from now on. I’m sure that my one voice will have little or no impact, but it makes me feel better for doing it. I especially detest the noise that Chicken Little Boehner, Loosy Goosy Kantor and Turkey Lurky McConnell are making and she thinks that their right, you know the ” Look Out the Sky is Falling” trio since health care has passed. Oh well people like her will always manipulate those gullible, non-thinking folks who worship guns, hunting, and America. And besides she’s so cute, bet there isn’t a male among them who doesn’t think about getting her between the sheets. I bet she’s as dull there as everywhere else. Just a thought.
@ The QM
“Where can I sign the petition re: SP? ”
Here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/21/boycott-the-discovery-channel-networks
The QM, and all – The petition is over 2,700 signatures now. They revised the goal from 10,000 signatures, which is what it was this morning, to 50,000 now. Tell all your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers! Does anybody know the details about how all these petition-signers’ comments are going to get sent to the ‘powers that be’ at Discovery Channel?
Also, please bombard the Discovery Channel’s “opinion line” at (571) 262-4899. There are no hoops to jump through…you simply record your thoughts about this abomination.
Here is my comment left at Discovery Channel:
At a time when the nation’s schools are dropping science classes from their curriculums and laying off science teachers, it is unfathomable to me that you are promoting a money-grubbing, anti-science, the-only-good-wild-animal-is-a-dead-wild-animal-helicopter-”hunter”, quits-halfway-through-her-term-of-office creationist, Sarah Palin, to host a series about Alaska. I will no longer watch ANY programs on ANY of your channels, and I will particularly protest to and boycott all advertisers before, during and after her programs. There will be a lot of us doing this, and the list of advertisers will be available on the web without having to watch her programs. I’ve had the privilege and joy of spending time in Alaska since my son moved there to work as a reporter. You could produce a magnificent series about The Last Frontier’s natural glories – only with host(s) who are science-savy and intellectually honest (yes, the world is far more than 6,000 years old). The US is already internationally known for the poor quality of its science education, and for having dumbed down its populace over the decades. Your choice to promote Palin (who just this week was inciting people to violence on her website with her exhortations to “RELOAD” and marking Democratic congresspeople with crosshairs/rifle sights) exacerbates both of those matters. You really jumped the shark on this one!
Lee 323 – thanks for the address. I left this comment there:
The US is already internationally known for the poor quality of its science education, and the economic fallout of the Bush era is forcing our public schools to drop science classes and layoff science teachers. Yet your channel is promoting an anti-science, anti-education, anti-environment spokesperson for the great state of Alaska. You are giving credibility, to put it bluntly, to an intellectual midget. What next, a creationist to present a series on Charles Darwin? You could not more grossly insult the intelligence of the audiences you have had for your programs. We will be boycotting your channels, as well as your advertisers. And here’s a clue – the world IS more than 6,000 years old.
Wow. There are a lot of good messages sent to the Learning channel.
Here is mine
I have watched sadly as The Learning Channel has changed through the years from a challenging and thoughtful source of information and knowledge into a mishmash of meaningless and irrelevant programming. It seems this downward spiral is hitting its nadir with the announcement that Sarah Palin (who is NOT a governor) is going to be contributing to programming. This media personality has proven time and time again to be incoherent, poorly educated and a denier of any shred of factual information that she deems an obstacle to her personal agenda. I am shocked. And I will skip ANY programming on TLC in light of this exhibit of poor judgment on the part of the network.
Long time lurker, first time poster. I am stunned that TLC is going forward with this program and will not watch any of the affiliate networks as long as they continue showing the crazy lady. Have to agree with the other posters, think they are getting bombarded with emails – took quite a long time to access the site and to send the email. This is my letter I sent and I have to admit, it did make me feel so much better :O) Have a good night all and together we can make a difference.
I would like to start by saying your affiliates have some of my favorite programs on TV and some of my most Tivo’d programs on TV. That being said, I will be boycotting all of your channels for as long as you are running the Sarah Palin programs. The idea of Sarah Palin as a spokesperson for Alakan nature/wildlife is appalling. This is a person who is in support of eliminating Alaska of all wolves & bears. This is a person who supports den kills of wolf pups & aerial hunting. This is a person who supports mining & drilling regardless of the affect on the land around it. How you think she can represent any type of nature program on your network is beyond me. You have at the minimum lost me as viewer in the short term and I will have to seriously consider if I watch future shows if this is truely your commitment to quality programs. I just started watching your Life series and found them amazing. I really hope I don’t have to stop. Please reconsider your choice of using Sarah Palin because I truly do not want to have to stop watching your programs. Thank you for your considertion.
My letter to Discovery:
As a regular viewer of the Discovery Channel, I was both shocked and saddened to learn that Discovery has opted to pursue ratings at the expense of quality programming by contracting for “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.” Ms. Palin has repeatedly demonstrated her disregard for precisely the kind of rigorous scholarship and factual accuracy that Discovery has long represented. Over the time she has been on the national radar she has not only relayed false and divisive information, but has continued to do so, even after it has been proven demonstrably false. This is not what I expect when I turn on the Discovery Channel, although now it seems to be precisely what I SHOULD expect. I will not be watching the show, and I will be exploring other options for educational programming.
I signed the petition, how long does it take for it to show up???
This will bear about as much resemblance to reality as Burnett’s “Survivor” does. You would not believe how much post production work goes into making the “wilderness” locations look like they’re out in the middle of nowhere. Digital editing is a wonderful thing. Maybe they can use it to add a brain to SP in post production. (Oh, that’s right: they’re technicians, not magicians.)
@ here_in_PA
My comment showed up immediately…. but I logged out of the site and then logged back on to check for it.
I know there are far more pressing matters in the world right now than SP being the cover girl for yet another hijacking of reality, but….
What’s bothersome about this is the way she treats Alaska as a stage prop for her career, and the way she and her media machine (they’re kind of inseparable now) will use “Alaskan” themes and mythology to set up subconscious thematic hooks for future political use, to reach the crowd viscerally rather than rationally. Basically, figure out what your target focus group thinks the “dream value” of Alaska is, then provide the imagery and associate SP with it so subliminally that people will react positively to her in the future without even knowing why.
If you put yourself in a media mogul’s sort of mindset, the strategy is pretty straightforward. And if there’s any of that kind of backing, they’ll want it to succeed (or at least exceed low expectations, which also counts as success, politically.) So the program probably won’t end up being much like John &Kate plus 8, or whatever it is. More likely, it’ll be some slick travelogue-y cross between Robert Service and Charles Kerault (with apologies to the late Mr. Kerault.)
But– while she’ll happily manipulate the idea of Alaska to her own advantage, she does not own it, any more than she owns the spirit of the Yukon River, or the wind-blown snow, or a mid-morning winter sunrise in the southern sky over the Alaska Range, or the golden resonance of the June-time sun… or the dance of the aurora borealis, or the mud on the flats.
Although, I will say, she is an awful lot like a mosquito.
The more I think about this, the angrier I get. I spent 10 years in Inuvik and now 10 in the Yukon. I grew up in NW Ontario and Churchill, MB. Our North (Alaska, Yukon, NWT and Nunavut) is one of the most inspiring, powerful and magical places in the world. And that harpy gets to talk about it? She relates to the land like a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder and its wildlife as something to exterminate.
And I am sick of seeing her picture in Whitehorse Daily Star. And sick of hearing her talking about eating moose! Man, you Mudpuppies are a hearty bunch! How you have managed to keep it together and do such great work is amazing!
SAVE ANWAR!
I was signature # 2861:
“I disagree with your decision to make a “documentary” show about Alaska from Sarah Palin’s point of view. She is the worst representative imaginable for Alaska, given her complete disdain for the proven science behind human-made global warming and environmental conservation. She believes it is the right of human beings to stamp out (via more habitat-destroying oil projects and the killing of essential top predators) the rare biological diversity that is Alaska, and of ALL networks I would have thought would be opposed to this, it would be Discovery. She is in fact the antithesis of one of your most beloved channels, Animal Planet. Perhaps while you are in Alaska you can take the time to document her love of killing majestic wolves from planes and air THAT on Animal Planet…if you want to claim to promote reality, then you must document ALL of it. You promote shows that detail the beauty of nature and the revelations of science, yet you are also endorsing a divisive quasi-politician with no curiosity in her natural surroundings other than how it can line her pockets. She may not be a part of this sham in the role of a politician, but there is NO other association anyone outside her home town has of her. Shame on you, Discovery!”
Wow…2,800+ signatures since March 24th! I soooooo hope this works!
@farawayeyes — We’re all sick of her. And I’m not even an Alaskan. If I were, I’d be furious that this shallow, glad-handing dingbat was going to be the spokestwit for my whole large and rather spectacular state.
Actually, I’m furious anyhow. I grew up in an America where you could be famous for being extraordinarily good, or extraordinarily bad, or extremely talented; but they hadn’t yet invented being famous for being famous. I’ve never gotten used to it.
BTW, I don’t think ANWR is in any immediate danger. It survived W and a Repo Congress, and we’re a long way from that.
I just clicked on AKM’s link at the bottom of her post, and got into the Discovery Channels ‘viewer’s opinions’ area easily. Of course, it is nearly 1AM right now. I wish we could all send 100 comments to that site each day. What really made me sick to my stomach is that “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” was already set up on their menu. It wouldn’t be there if this thing was just in the planning stages, would it?
I know…I’m in denial. Nearly reaching panic stage, and now with McShame’s whitewashing of the gunsight thing, I think I need an intervention. I’ve allowed Sarah Palin to steal a huge chuck of my life. I think this weekend I’ll go look at some California poppies & purple lupine on the gloriously vibrant, undulating soft hills of the Grapevine coming down into Bakersfield.
And pleeeze call the Discovery Network @ (571) 262-4899 to submit your opinions. I have emailed the man who started the petition to let us know when all of our comments will get conveyed to the Discovery network.
Also, too…I’m confused. Did Southern California go into Daylight Savings Time, and Alaska didn’t? The screen shows I posted at about midnight, but here it’s 1AM.
Haven’t posted in a while, but I had to leave this comment for TLC:
I don’t understand why she is getting this attention. Certainly there are many more qualified, educated, honest, and respectable women who would be much more interesting to watch and listen to. I have lost my respect for this channel. SO disappointed.
They can forget about paying overseas rights and save their money. No one overseas will ever watch this woman.
Shame on The Learning Channel. But maybe, like McCain, they forgot to vet her and have no idea how ignorant she is nor how she loves destroying her beloved Alaska in the name of money, ambition, a huge house and a lot of strip malls. Not to mention fishing and drilling. What have I left out? Oh yeah, sport.
NMJ – Your letter is excellent, and it covered everything that’s wrong with a Palin “Alaska” show. If I were an Alaskan, particularly a woman, I don’t know what I’d do, besides be absolutely ballistic. Yeah, she goes ‘fishing’ with her French-manicured nails & makeup, and her adorable little Carrharts. I wear Carrharts, but only when I’m up in northern Michigan with my friends, running logs (fallen ones, and legal to have) through a splitter, knee-deep in snow.
Me being a dog-adorer, I read somewhere that the Palins don’t have dogs. Is this true, that no one in the ‘household’ (using the term loosely) would take care of one?
simple question: what happens when 200-600 million year old mountains have to be acknowledged by miss sarah with her 6,000 year old earth belief ?
oh quills @87, there will be sooooo many not-so-simple questions along that vein that Mr. Burnett will have to deal with. Age of the earth and geology, polar bear and whale statistics, mining and gas and oil interests, Alaska native culture and peoples, fishing and hunting practices … We all know there is no working with Ms. Palin – if she and Burnett ever have a disagreement, someone’s will will have to prevail. Burnett’s choices are to have a totally contentious and miserable time creating this project even close to how he envisions it, or letting Sarah primarily have her way and not caring about the quality of the product, just his bucks.
Not sure which way it will go, but I know I won’t be watching it.
Interested Alaskans, keep track, if you can, on how many jobs, albethem temporary, this project brings to the State. Are they going to hire any local folks for crew or fly ‘em all in at great expense?
I sent this to Discovery view comments…
For the last 34 years I have lived in, and loved Alaska, and I am greatly concerned that you would even consider giving educational airtime regarding nature in Alaska to Sarah Palin, a political entity with radical ideas and a personal agenda.
1. She has publically professed her belief that the world is only 6,000 years old and that humans lived on earth at the same time as dinosaurs;
2. She proclaimed that she is doing God’s work, and she uses violent language about “reloading,” and “targeting” those she disagrees with, as well as using icons which look like rifle cross-hairs to “target” legislators with whom she does not agree.
3. During some of her speeches she has made jokes denigrating conservation efforts relating to Alaskan animals;
4. She believes in, and has participated in, hunting wolves from the air, disregarding evidence that discredits the practice as an effective means of managing wildlife;
5. And most importantly, for you, is that the use of this person as a personality connected with educational programing, calls into question the educational validity of your other programs.
Alaska is full of wonderful characters who have spent their lives working to enhance, sustain, and publicize the wonders if the natural world in Alaska. You should find one of them.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/21/boycott-the-discovery-channel-networks
Please sign the petition to boycott Sarah Palin.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/21/boycott-the-discovery-channel-networks
I signed the petition.
Winky McQuittyPants’ Alaska: (as she reads from her HillBilly Teleprompter) Starring the Nikiski NutJob and the Kenai Rally, Second Amendment Founder and Wife Beater/Choker, Schaeffer Cox, Baby Eddie Burke speaking at a Tea Bag Rally, Wolves and Bears gassed with their cubs, Rick-Defender-Of-The-Corrupt-Rydell and his “parasitic snowfall” (his wordy wordz, not mine) while giving his “Tonto Talk” about subsistence management, Jerry Prevo and the Witch Doctor laying hands on Ann Coulter, Randy Ruedrich, Murkowski and the NoWhere thingy, et al.
Sponsors: Sheep’s Clothing and Magic Mirrors On The Wall.
Theme Music: Dueling Banjo’s
No need for idiot cards here…..just write on HillBilly Teleprompter: Walk on.
I signed the petition, I checked do not display my name and it was displayed. Ticked me off royally. How do I contact them to delete it???? Really didn’t want to create an account, now it looks like I have to. GGRRRRRRR Anyone else have troule signing it?
The name of this show really bothers me. Has anyone asked the people of Alaska what they think about a show called “Sarah Palin’s Alaska”? Since when did she become owner of the state ? Alaska is not hers and she has NO RIGHT to represent it. The people of Alaska should please come together in protest and let TLC know what they think about this show.
Oh, but there’s more…
Yep, if it sounds crazy, it’s because it is. Try to remember – the people who observe the crazy stuff and call it out, aren’t the ones who are twisted.
Interesting coincidence about the The ‘Planet Earth-type’ show. Very meaningful to entrenched Reformationist Christians. But maybe the Hollywood entertainment industry producers and the Discovery Channel management don’t know this. Certainly most of us average folk don’t know this stuff, right?
“While most of us naturally think of the popular documentary series, the touchstone for holy-rollers is Hal Lindsey’s The Late, Great Planet Earth, an incendiary fundamentalist text published in 1970 that forecast the imminent dawn of the End Times.
Lindsey purported to read the Bible in conjunction with the events of the day, and advanced a detailed prophecy: within a decade, the Antichrist would wrest control from the world’s governments, the Jews would flock to Israel, war would erupt in the Middle East, plagues would rain down, and Spirit-filled Christians would need to convert as many heathens as possible while preparing to be swept away in the Rapture.”
A very good and important read:
http://www.theawl.com/2010/03/sarah-palins-planet-earth-and-the-end-times
A couple of things to remember that Mrs. Palin said recently:
February 6, 2010, National Tea Party Convention, Nashville, TN
“And around the world, people who are seeking freedom from oppressive regimes, wonder if Alaska is still that beacon of hope for their cause.”
She goes on (the context of her remark): “The administration cut support for democracy programs, and where the president has not been clear, I ask, “Where is his clear and where is his strong voice support for the Iranians who are risking all in their opposition to Ahmadinejad?”
Does anyone know what that means? I don’t. But the first part is clear – she thinks that Alaska is a “beacon of hope” for people living in oppressive regimes around the world.
Huh. Okay?
Barbara Walters, November 2009
“More and more Jewish people will be flocking to Israel in the days and weeks and months ahead.”
This refers to a biblical prophecy about Jewish ingathering to Israel in advance of the Apocalypse.
What can TLC/Discovery Communications be possibly thinking?
No matter what your opinion is of politics and religion, ‘Mrs. Palin’s Alaska’ is not just an entertaining draw to us curious and voyeuristic viewers, like “Jon and Kate Plus Eight” or Ozzie Osborn’s family. Nor is it a travelogue or cool occupations like “Deadliest Catch”. So what the hell is it?
A facebook page has been started to boycott sponsors. here’s the link
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=112184642132204
Hi, I’m the Chairman of Green Education Network and also Co-Founder of new Sustainability Education Network at http://sen4earth.org. On Care2 we posted an article linked to a petition demanding Palin not appear on TLC, which had over 57,000 signers by mid-afternoon of first day.
Below is the message I sent to Discovery Communications (owner of TLC):
“I am enraged that Discovery’s TLC is putting Palin on a program about Alaska’s outdoors and wildlife. She is notorious for support of wolf-killing and opposition to protection of whales and polar bears, and she calls global warming “snake oil science” even as the polar ice melts! This greedy choice will cost Discovery dearly. Petitions in opposition are going like wildfire on Care2 and elsewhere. Green Education Network will be posting an article condemning Discovery’s TLC for this. My God, you operate Animal Planet! If the decision is not reversed Sustainability Education Network will be organizing a boycott of Discovery channels and their advertisers at http://sen4earth.org/articles, and they together with scores of other websites will ignite a wildfire of condemnations. Those who like Palin are not your audience. Those who care about wildlife and the environment despise her, and rightly so. I ferociously condemn your decision.”
To insure notification of any TLC boycott you may leave your email at http:sen4earth.org/articles