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| Sarah Palin hosts Today – Tuesday 3 April | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| 7am: Good morning. Today, Sarah Palin will find herself in as yet unchartered territory – as the co-host of a television breakfast show. The former Alaska governor will be appearing on NBC's Today show, with the network promising Palin will "reveal a different side of her than you've seen before". | 7am: Good morning. Today, Sarah Palin will find herself in as yet unchartered territory – as the co-host of a television breakfast show. The former Alaska governor will be appearing on NBC's Today show, with the network promising Palin will "reveal a different side of her than you've seen before". |
| A sub-plot to Palin's appearance comes courtesy of Today's breakfast time rival – ABC's Good Morning America, where Palin's 2008 nemesis Katie Couric just so happens to guest hosting too. | A sub-plot to Palin's appearance comes courtesy of Today's breakfast time rival – ABC's Good Morning America, where Palin's 2008 nemesis Katie Couric just so happens to guest hosting too. |
| It was during an interview with Couric in September 2008 that Palin famously talked of her foreign policy experience in terms of having dealt with Russia when "Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America". It was during the same interview that Palin was also unable to name a single newspaper, making this morning's foray into the media all the more intriguing. (Politico has a lovely round-up of the five best Couric-Palin moments here). | It was during an interview with Couric in September 2008 that Palin famously talked of her foreign policy experience in terms of having dealt with Russia when "Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America". It was during the same interview that Palin was also unable to name a single newspaper, making this morning's foray into the media all the more intriguing. (Politico has a lovely round-up of the five best Couric-Palin moments here). |
| In a telephone interview on Today on Monday Palin was asked by regular host Matt Lauer – the wag – whether she had been reading some newspapers, suggesting there could be some intriguing moments during this morning's show. | In a telephone interview on Today on Monday Palin was asked by regular host Matt Lauer – the wag – whether she had been reading some newspapers, suggesting there could be some intriguing moments during this morning's show. |
| "That's a fine how do you do," Palin responded, according to the Wall Street Journal's live blog of the brief interview. "That's a great start. Here we go." | "That's a fine how do you do," Palin responded, according to the Wall Street Journal's live blog of the brief interview. "That's a great start. Here we go." |
| The former governor added that she hoped not to "bore viewers with too much in-depth political talk," before throwing in a typically breathless caveat: | The former governor added that she hoped not to "bore viewers with too much in-depth political talk," before throwing in a typically breathless caveat: |
| "But there are so many issues going on with energy prices and some national security issues that have to be addressed and I think no matter what it is that we discuss it's going to turn into a bit of a political discussion because it's just absolute paramount right now that people are paying attention to what's going on in our country in order to make good decisions to get it back on the right track guys." | "But there are so many issues going on with energy prices and some national security issues that have to be addressed and I think no matter what it is that we discuss it's going to turn into a bit of a political discussion because it's just absolute paramount right now that people are paying attention to what's going on in our country in order to make good decisions to get it back on the right track guys." |
| We'll be watching it live on a television in the Guardian's New York nerve centre, so follow here for all your Palin news, AS IT HAPPENS. And tweet me @AdamGabbatt if you fancy. | We'll be watching it live on a television in the Guardian's New York nerve centre, so follow here for all your Palin news, AS IT HAPPENS. And tweet me @AdamGabbatt if you fancy. |
| 7.05am: We're off! In the show's intro Palin is billed as being here to give her take on the Republican primaries, as well as trying her hand at co-hosting. | 7.05am: We're off! In the show's intro Palin is billed as being here to give her take on the Republican primaries, as well as trying her hand at co-hosting. |
| Palin's already playing it for laughs, feigning drowning in newspapers as Today host Matt Lauer cuts across to her. One of them appears to be the Financial Times, although the former Alaska governor has not named a publication as yet. | Palin's already playing it for laughs, feigning drowning in newspapers as Today host Matt Lauer cuts across to her. One of them appears to be the Financial Times, although the former Alaska governor has not named a publication as yet. |
| 7.12am: In the show's first main segment, Matt Lauer sits down to a one-on-one interview with the former Alaska governor, and asks her if Mitt Romney – who looks odds-on to sweep the three Republican primaries taking place today – is a candidate who can inspire voters. | 7.12am: In the show's first main segment, Matt Lauer sits down to a one-on-one interview with the former Alaska governor, and asks her if Mitt Romney – who looks odds-on to sweep the three Republican primaries taking place today – is a candidate who can inspire voters. |
| Palin points out that the process isn't over yet, and that other candidates could win the required number of delegates. (It's possible, although very unlikely). | Palin points out that the process isn't over yet, and that other candidates could win the required number of delegates. (It's possible, although very unlikely). |
| But Palin reckons whoever wins the Republican nomination would be better than the current president. | But Palin reckons whoever wins the Republican nomination would be better than the current president. |
| "Anybody but Obama," Palin says. "I honestly believe anybody running on a GOP ticket would be better." | "Anybody but Obama," Palin says. "I honestly believe anybody running on a GOP ticket would be better." |
| Lauer tries to tease Palin into leaning towards an outsider by asking if she would like to see someone come into the race at the convention stage, such as Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, "or a Sarah Palin". | Lauer tries to tease Palin into leaning towards an outsider by asking if she would like to see someone come into the race at the convention stage, such as Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, "or a Sarah Palin". |
| Palin ducks the question, waffling about how people should not put too much faith in politicians. | Palin ducks the question, waffling about how people should not put too much faith in politicians. |
| 7.23am: Palin is asked about Mitt Romney picking his vice-presidential candidate. Should he choose someone with more experience than she had? | 7.23am: Palin is asked about Mitt Romney picking his vice-presidential candidate. Should he choose someone with more experience than she had? |
| The question doesn't go down that well. Palin says she would put her record up against any of the other VP candidates last time. (She'd been governor of the 47th most populous state in America for a full 18 months, remember.) | The question doesn't go down that well. Palin says she would put her record up against any of the other VP candidates last time. (She'd been governor of the 47th most populous state in America for a full 18 months, remember.) |
| "It doesn't matter if that person has national experience or not, they're going to get clobbered by the lame stream media," Palin says. | "It doesn't matter if that person has national experience or not, they're going to get clobbered by the lame stream media," Palin says. |
| "There will be a double standard applied no matter who it is." | "There will be a double standard applied no matter who it is." |
| Palin concludes that whoever wins the Republican nomination should not "play it safe." | Palin concludes that whoever wins the Republican nomination should not "play it safe." |
| The candidate should select someone who will "go rogue" and "shake it up". But who could do such things? | The candidate should select someone who will "go rogue" and "shake it up". But who could do such things? |
| 7.29am: Today co-host Ann Curry tweets from NBC HQ: | 7.29am: Today co-host Ann Curry tweets from NBC HQ: |
| Behind the scenes @todayshow this morning as Sarah Palin joins the "lamestream media": yfrog.com/ki8y0qij | Behind the scenes @todayshow this morning as Sarah Palin joins the "lamestream media": yfrog.com/ki8y0qij |
| — Ann Curry (@AnnCurry) April 3, 2012 | — Ann Curry (@AnnCurry) April 3, 2012 |
| 7.38am: "There is a serious point to be made about the business of morning television here," writes my colleague Matt Wells. | 7.38am: "There is a serious point to be made about the business of morning television here," writes my colleague Matt Wells. |
| Out of the three main broadcast networks, NBC is the lead. But ABC's Good Morning America, under its British executive producer James Goldston, who was recently promoted to oversee all of ABC's news programming, has been snapping at NBC's heels. | Out of the three main broadcast networks, NBC is the lead. But ABC's Good Morning America, under its British executive producer James Goldston, who was recently promoted to oversee all of ABC's news programming, has been snapping at NBC's heels. |
| NBC's Palin stunt displays a nervousness at ABC's decision to parachute in Katie Couric to guest-host Good Morning America. NBC is currently negotiating a new deal for its star host Matt Lauer (who's already on $17m a year), and there are reports that his co-host Ann Curry's position is not secure. Gawker put it directly: 'Ann Curry Will Be Fired As Co-Host of the Today Show Because Everybody Hates Her'. | NBC's Palin stunt displays a nervousness at ABC's decision to parachute in Katie Couric to guest-host Good Morning America. NBC is currently negotiating a new deal for its star host Matt Lauer (who's already on $17m a year), and there are reports that his co-host Ann Curry's position is not secure. Gawker put it directly: 'Ann Curry Will Be Fired As Co-Host of the Today Show Because Everybody Hates Her'. |
| All this matters because morning TV is big business in the US. The New York Times media reporter Brian Stelter, interviewed on NPR just now, said: "These morning programs are highly profitable. One reaon for that is they go on for so long. For the Today show, there's a premium associated with being No 1. There's not just a psycological benefit, but also a finanical benefit associated by being No 1. They are the most important financial pieces for these networks." | All this matters because morning TV is big business in the US. The New York Times media reporter Brian Stelter, interviewed on NPR just now, said: "These morning programs are highly profitable. One reaon for that is they go on for so long. For the Today show, there's a premium associated with being No 1. There's not just a psycological benefit, but also a finanical benefit associated by being No 1. They are the most important financial pieces for these networks." |
| 7.47am: Today moves on, to an interview with Famous Singer Carnie Wilson. We learn that Wilson has undergone her second weight loss surgery. | 7.47am: Today moves on, to an interview with Famous Singer Carnie Wilson. We learn that Wilson has undergone her second weight loss surgery. |
| Wilson, who unfortunately is being interviewed by Ann Curry instead of Sarah Palin, says she now feels "the sensation of being full quickly". | Wilson, who unfortunately is being interviewed by Ann Curry instead of Sarah Palin, says she now feels "the sensation of being full quickly". |
| But furthermore, Wilson is now not eating sugar. Or flour. AND she's teaching her children, and laying the groundwork for herself for her future. | But furthermore, Wilson is now not eating sugar. Or flour. AND she's teaching her children, and laying the groundwork for herself for her future. |
| Gastric bands all round! | Gastric bands all round! |
| 7.54am: Palin hasn't really done any hosting yet. We've had her larking around with some newspapers, blustering through an interview with Matt Lauer, and shown writing something on the palm of her hand backstage, but there's been a distinct lack of any actual hosting. | 7.54am: Palin hasn't really done any hosting yet. We've had her larking around with some newspapers, blustering through an interview with Matt Lauer, and shown writing something on the palm of her hand backstage, but there's been a distinct lack of any actual hosting. |
| Hasn't anyone told the Today producers that Palin is a professionally trained broadcast journalist? Bloody lamestream media. | Hasn't anyone told the Today producers that Palin is a professionally trained broadcast journalist? Bloody lamestream media. |
| 7.59am: BREAKING: Palin in paper-reading shocker. | 7.59am: BREAKING: Palin in paper-reading shocker. |
| Imagine if this photo had been around in 2008. Palin could have socked it to Katie Couric. I can't make out which is on top, but it looks like the Wall Street Journal. | Imagine if this photo had been around in 2008. Palin could have socked it to Katie Couric. I can't make out which is on top, but it looks like the Wall Street Journal. |
| 8.04am: The gang – Roker, Curry, Lauer and Palin – are hanging about outside NBC's studio, as is the custom. | 8.04am: The gang – Roker, Curry, Lauer and Palin – are hanging about outside NBC's studio, as is the custom. |
| To be fair to the Today gang, they do reference Palin's sports reporting experience, which Palin says was "back in the stone age". | To be fair to the Today gang, they do reference Palin's sports reporting experience, which Palin says was "back in the stone age". |
| Palin says she is looking forward to discussing Jessica Simpson during her co-host-ship, which we are continuously told is coming up. Palin thinks the former pop singer has attracted harsh criticism for gaining weight during her pregnancy. | Palin says she is looking forward to discussing Jessica Simpson during her co-host-ship, which we are continuously told is coming up. Palin thinks the former pop singer has attracted harsh criticism for gaining weight during her pregnancy. |
| Yep. | Yep. |
| 8.15am: To serious business. Palin has popped up on 'Today's professionals' (note she's still not hosting). | 8.15am: To serious business. Palin has popped up on 'Today's professionals' (note she's still not hosting). |
| So what of Jessica Simpson, and this pregnancy weight gain? | So what of Jessica Simpson, and this pregnancy weight gain? |
| Palin says if someone had questioned her weight when she was pregnant she "would have wanted to punch them in the neck", which seems an odd place to want to punch someone. | Palin says if someone had questioned her weight when she was pregnant she "would have wanted to punch them in the neck", which seems an odd place to want to punch someone. |
| But wait. The pressure to look thin, Palin muses, comes because "that Hollywood image is full of itty bitty people, people who are unrealistically tiny". | But wait. The pressure to look thin, Palin muses, comes because "that Hollywood image is full of itty bitty people, people who are unrealistically tiny". |
| 8.23am: As you may have heard, Ashton Kutcher is to play Steve Jobs in a biopic of the Apple guru's life. | 8.23am: As you may have heard, Ashton Kutcher is to play Steve Jobs in a biopic of the Apple guru's life. |
| Today's professionals shout across one another, in that style that is so pleasant to watch first thing in the morning, before Palin interjects. | Today's professionals shout across one another, in that style that is so pleasant to watch first thing in the morning, before Palin interjects. |
| Do any of them actually have experience of an actor portraying them, the former Alaska governor asks? | Do any of them actually have experience of an actor portraying them, the former Alaska governor asks? |
| However it turns out that Palin doesn't either, as she says she has not seen Game Change (in which she was portrayed by Julianne Moore). | However it turns out that Palin doesn't either, as she says she has not seen Game Change (in which she was portrayed by Julianne Moore). |
| Why has Palin not seen the film? "Because I don't want to waste my time on false narratives, on lies", which reminds me a bit of this interchange between English journalist media personality Malcolm Muggeridge and Monty Python's Michael Palin ahead of the release of the Life of Brian. | Why has Palin not seen the film? "Because I don't want to waste my time on false narratives, on lies", which reminds me a bit of this interchange between English journalist media personality Malcolm Muggeridge and Monty Python's Michael Palin ahead of the release of the Life of Brian. |
| 8.30am: We're back outside. Sarah Palin likens raising children to a "crapshoot". | 8.30am: We're back outside. Sarah Palin likens raising children to a "crapshoot". |
| Coming up: a chef will reveal some weight-loss recipes. | Coming up: a chef will reveal some weight-loss recipes. |
| Oh and Al Roker says there could be strong storms around Texas. | Oh and Al Roker says there could be strong storms around Texas. |
| 8.39am: Ann Curry and Sarah Palin are discussing how to raise teenage girls "who want to be strong, confident adults". | 8.39am: Ann Curry and Sarah Palin are discussing how to raise teenage girls "who want to be strong, confident adults". |
| "There's too much focus on reality star type celebrities," Curry says. | "There's too much focus on reality star type celebrities," Curry says. |
| Palin says it would be nice if reality shows would start putting on "strong, independent women". | Palin says it would be nice if reality shows would start putting on "strong, independent women". |
| "You know when we talk about the father's role in all of this, and the mother's relationship with her daughter," Palin begins, "there is a fine line between wanting to be your child's friend" and being a parent. | "You know when we talk about the father's role in all of this, and the mother's relationship with her daughter," Palin begins, "there is a fine line between wanting to be your child's friend" and being a parent. |
| The others agree. And then we're out of time. Raising children = covered. | The others agree. And then we're out of time. Raising children = covered. |
| 8.51am: Tweets! God is not happy: | 8.51am: Tweets! God is not happy: |
| Sarah Palin is terrible not only for 'Today,' but for today. | Sarah Palin is terrible not only for 'Today,' but for today. |
| — God (@TheTweetOfGod) April 3, 2012 | — God (@TheTweetOfGod) April 3, 2012 |
| I can retweet this because we're British interlopers: | I can retweet this because we're British interlopers: |
| The state of US media: Tori Spelling and Sarah Palin on live national TV discussing new twist on"Pigs in a Blanket" | The state of US media: Tori Spelling and Sarah Palin on live national TV discussing new twist on"Pigs in a Blanket" |
| — jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) April 3, 2012 | — jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) April 3, 2012 |
| And some analysis: | And some analysis: |
| Sarah Palin makes Herman Cain look like a foreign policy expert, Rick Perry look like a scholar and GW Bush like a linguist. | Sarah Palin makes Herman Cain look like a foreign policy expert, Rick Perry look like a scholar and GW Bush like a linguist. |
| — DC Debbie (@DCdebbie) April 3, 2012 | — DC Debbie (@DCdebbie) April 3, 2012 |
| 8.55am: Wilson Phillips take to the Today stage. Carnie Wilson – she of the two stomach staplings – is on the right hand side. | 8.55am: Wilson Phillips take to the Today stage. Carnie Wilson – she of the two stomach staplings – is on the right hand side. |
| The band are doing a cover of The Mamas & the Papas "California Dreamin'". | The band are doing a cover of The Mamas & the Papas "California Dreamin'". |
| Palin, Curry and Lauer join them on stage afterwards. They were singing along, apparently. | Palin, Curry and Lauer join them on stage afterwards. They were singing along, apparently. |
| 9.10am: And we're done. Palin is bidden farewell outside, Lauer prompting her to tell an amusing story that she had told him earlier. | 9.10am: And we're done. Palin is bidden farewell outside, Lauer prompting her to tell an amusing story that she had told him earlier. |
| It turns out that Palin had to change her outfit at the last minute before today's show. She had "pulled out the same pink jacket from a consignment shop" that she wore in an interview with Lauer four years ago. | It turns out that Palin had to change her outfit at the last minute before today's show. She had "pulled out the same pink jacket from a consignment shop" that she wore in an interview with Lauer four years ago. |
| Disaster was averted, Palin thanks the team, adding "you guys are awesome", before making her exit. | Disaster was averted, Palin thanks the team, adding "you guys are awesome", before making her exit. |
| 9.40am: So what have we learnt from today's Today programme? | 9.40am: So what have we learnt from today's Today programme? |
| • The Republican presidential nominee should not "play it safe" when it comes to choosing their vice president, according to Sarah Palin. The VP choice should be someone who will "go rogue" and "shake it up", Palin said. | • The Republican presidential nominee should not "play it safe" when it comes to choosing their vice president, according to Sarah Palin. The VP choice should be someone who will "go rogue" and "shake it up", Palin said. |
| • Palin does read newspapers. Or at least does pose with them when required. The Today cameras captured her surrounded by rags earlier this morning. In a separate photo she appeared to be consuming the Wall Street Journal. | • Palin does read newspapers. Or at least does pose with them when required. The Today cameras captured her surrounded by rags earlier this morning. In a separate photo she appeared to be consuming the Wall Street Journal. |
| • Jessica Simpson should not be condemned for having gained weight during her pregnancy, according to Palin. The former governor of Alaska said had someone queried her mass during her own pregnancy, she "would have wanted to punch them in the neck". | • Jessica Simpson should not be condemned for having gained weight during her pregnancy, according to Palin. The former governor of Alaska said had someone queried her mass during her own pregnancy, she "would have wanted to punch them in the neck". |
| • Carnie Wilson, of Wilson Phillips fame, has undergone a second bout of weight loss surgery. Wilson says she is no longer eating sugar, or flour. | • Carnie Wilson, of Wilson Phillips fame, has undergone a second bout of weight loss surgery. Wilson says she is no longer eating sugar, or flour. |