So much for Sarah Palin’s hopes for becoming a big network reality TV star.
Much was made of Palin’s visits to the major broadcast networks a few weeks ago, when she and producer Mark Burnett pitched an Alaskan-themed travelogue that Palin would narrate. At the time, industry skeptics balked at the notion that such a show would ever be bought by a broadcaster– and it looks like the skeptics were right.
According to Variety, Discovery and A&E are emerging as the two networks most likely to fork over cash to help Palin launch her 2012 presidential campaign. (The de facto assumption is that the Big 4 clearly were not significantly interested enough in the project or they would be actively bidding.)
The publication’s On the Air blog claims the show would cost an eye-popping $1 million per episode for either network — a major commitment for an unscripted series.
A sale could be made by week’s end, Variety reports.
Meanwhile, if Palin actually manages to sell her 2012 infomercial to a network, we’re counting on Rahm Emanuel’s brother Ari to immediately put together a Hawaii-based reality show narrated by President Obama.