We Watch "Sarah Palin's Alaska" So You Don't Have To
Closing Thoughts:
This episode was probably the weakest one so far. The novelty of seeing Palin's family do "Alaskan Stuff" is wearing off. Unless they are doing something truly exciting, or any of the much anticipated Palin family drama seeps out past the TLC editing room, the fact that the episodes are staged and choreographed only becomes more and more apparent.
Palin remains the only real narrator of the series. None of her other family members seem to have anything to contribute, suggested that either the show didn't want to focus on them, or that they merely went along for the ride and never quite got on board with Palin's plan to use the show as a spring-board for her branding efforts going into 2011 and 2012.
Update at 9:59pm
To wrap up the episode, Palin and Track decide to bond. Palin tries to make conversation and notes that this whole episode was just a regular Palin family 4th of July. (Salmon stew has always been on the menu in the Palin household!) Track doesn't express agreement, and seems not to have gotten the memo that he is supposed to play along and seem as enthusiastic about the show as his mom is.
Update at 9:54pm:
Todd tells us that they have caught 3,000 pounds of fish. His face beams at this news with more happiness then we have seen in this episode so far.
Update at 9:48pm:
Willow looks a little bored and anxious at her Palin family birthday party, but that can be entirely because she is turning 16 and not only because the TLC cameras are in the living room.
Willow, our new reality TV star informs us on the confessional camera: "I don't like birthdays, I don't like attention on me." Good to know you have a whole episode dedicated to you!
Update at 9:43pm:
Again, the disconnect between what Palin's children say and what Palin says is pretty remarkable. Todd takes over the fishing operation and Track expresses unhappiness with this, marking how his dad is "paranoid", and how he always wants to do things "his way." Track is not enjoying this experience.
Yet Palin again seems over look this little detail! Again, she focuses on how Track feels a lot of pressure to live up to his dad. Was the fact that Todd is actually unhappy with her son's efforts something she wanted to gloss over?
Update at 9:39pm:
It turns out that Track has never ran his own fishing operation before! The entire Palin family is gaining all sorts of new life skills from this TV show.
Todd informs that audience that he is not used to not being in control of his own fishing site and we get the sense that Track is not meeting up to his father's expectation.
Palin's efforts at providing constant narration are commendable, though they sometimes fall flat. As she, Todd, and Piper are riding the boat out to meet Track, Palin tries her hand at Alaskan humor:
Palin: Ask me anything, I'm the Cliff Claven of Alaska! Do you know who Cliff Claven is?
Piper: No.
Palin: Never mind.
Palin self reference watch: As she is scrubbing down the fishing boat, Palin makes sure to remind us (ironically!) that this sort of work is "all diva."
Update at 9:32pm:
We then fly over to Todd's family, which we learn is actually native eskimo. It turns out that this family also has a child (Matthew) who has Down syndrome. Palin brings up this topic up in a completely non-chalantly matter as they cut the smoked fish.
However, this digression is short as we return to Todd and Track "bonding" over fishing.
Once again, the main drama is that Track and his friends have not cleaned up the shed with all the fishing gear.
Update at 9:10pm:
Willow is having a Birthday Party! And its on the 4th of July. We also learn that in Alaska, the Palin's make fish head stew for birthday parties.
We are then treated to Willow filleting the fish head. Though Willow herself notes that "I've never done this before" and that none of her friends do this.
Maybe making an Alaskan fishhead stew for the birthday is just a Palin family tradition that happens when the TLC crew is in town.
Palin points out she would rather that Willow be cutting off fish heads instead of texting, or even partying!
I wonder if Palin will ever tell Willow "it build character"
Update at 9:10pm:
As they wait for the fish to enter the nets they've set, Todd berates Track a little for being irresponsible with the trailer. From this we learn that Track and Todd "don't always see eye to eye".
Track won't comment beyond that, but Palin speaks on behalf of her son to tell us that these fishing trips are good for Track and Todd's father-son-relationship. Though as usual, it is Palin doing the narrating and Palin who is setting up these little family outings.
Unfortunately, they didn't get much salmon in this first round of fishing.
Update at 9:00pm:
We finally learn were Bristol's name comes from, she is named after "Bristol Bay", which we learn is also the salmon capital of the world.
But the focus of the first few minutes is going to be on Track and Todd doing actual fishing.
Todd is very intense in these opening minutes, and he is not happy that Track and his friends have damaged his fishing trailer.
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The ratings for Sarah Palin’s Alaska have recently been taking a nosedive. Since we at FrumForum reportedly obsess over everything and anything Palin, we feel the need to do our part to step up and support the burgeoning reality TV careers of Sarah, Todd, Bristol, Willow, Piper, Track, Trig, Tripp, and anyone else who signed a release.
With that we introduce: We Watch 'Sarah Palin’s Alaska' So You Don’t Have To. We will watch episodes of Sarah Palin’s Alaska as they air, and provide our up-to-the-minute commentary on both the awe-inspiring scenery in Alaska, as well as Palin’s remarkable ability to find culture-war fodder in all her outdoor activities. As Palin recently said on twitter:
“Tomorrow-"Sarah Palin's Alaska" we slay salmon. A bunch of 'em. (Watch the Left's reaction to that, if harvesting halibut freaked them out!)”
Because if there is one thing liberal elites can’t stand, it is fishing.
Tonight’s episode promises both excitement (salmon fishing!) and emotion (cousins with Down syndrome.) Will Willow successfully gut the fish? Will Palin use her cousin with Down syndrome to tout pro-life talking points? Tune in, and follow our liveblog at 9pm ET to find out!