The Awl yesterday had an enormously important piece by Maud Newton, “Sarah Palin’s ‘Planet Earth’ and the End Times,” in which she (Ms. Newton) uses her own experiences with the Pentecostal and Evangelical movements to decipher Sarah Palin’s recent moves, from running for vice president, resigning the governorship, to her coming documentary series, which is likely coming to the Discovery Channel. Now, perhaps Sarah’s become (or should have become, at least) irrelevant at this stage, but she likely isn’t. If nothing else, it’s a way to see other fundamentalist/Pentecostal public figures and their motivations.
When Sarah Palin began shopping around a “Planet Earth-type” reality series based in Alaska earlier this month, the media responded with its usual gleeful incredulity: Caribou Barbie on a fishing boat! The former governor is reportedly seeking upwards of $1 million per episode, and, with Discovery and A&E interested in the project, she just might get it. Not only are her antics the best thing for Internet pageviews since Paris Hilton invented the no-panties dismount, they\’re TV ratings gold. Jimmy Fallon said it best, “Any reality show about Sarah Palin will have to compete with that other reality show about Sarah Palin: the news.”
If you’re among those speculating about Palin’s intentions, I’m here to help. As a casualty of a tongues-speaking, faith-healing, demon-battling storefront church childhood, I keep track of Pentecostals and Charismatics the way some people stalk abusive exes, and I have a sick feeling that I can decode this new iteration of her mission for you.
Seriously, grab yourself a cup of coffee and read the rest. As someone who likewise grew up in similar circumstances, I can attest to the accuracy of the writer’s portrayal.
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