Sarah Palin to Appear on Very Special 'According to Jim'

Tina Fey isn't the only one that can play Sarah Palin

By: David Frank
Published: Thursday, October 2nd 2008 at 4:51 AM

Los Angeles, CA – Watch out Jim, it might just be "According to Sarah." In another shocking move by the McCain-Palin presidential campaign, Governor Sarah Palin will guest star on an upcoming episode of "According to Jim."

"My friends, I'm proud to be to be on a maverick ticket comprised of my maverick self and soon-to-be maverick sitcom superstar," stated Senator John McCain at a Florida campaign rally Wednesday. "She is the most qualified politician, my friends, and arguably the brightest comedian in the nation to go toe-to-toe with the comedic genius of Jim Belushi. My friends, Barack Obama is not ready to star in primetime sitcoms."

During a short and rare exchange with the press, Governor Palin responded to criticism on whether she has the comedic credentials to share the stage with funnyman legend Jim Belushi. "Of course I do. We here in Alaska have TV. We're not some foreign country or something. From our couches we see many clips of 'Friends,' and I believe that Republicans in Washington have got to look at track records and see who's more apt to be considered also. But again, it's got to get people to understand what John McCain's been talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to do things better. But it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. I spoke with Jim Belushi the other day and gave him my commitment, as John McCain's running mate, the first thing I said to him was, if you bless us by electing me and John McCain to serve this great nation for you, you may have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink when it comes to job creation and the umbrella of said creation. You have to second-guess what their efforts would be if they believe that what you are seeking, also? That strategy that has to exercise all options in order to stop the Seinfelds and Simpsons and stopping them over there. That's what we as Alaskans believe and call new energy."

Many conservatives praised the latest McCain-Palin campaign strategy, calling it bold and exactly what TV viewers have waited for since 'Home Improvement' left the air in 1999. "This is a brilliant play by the McCain campaign. On sitcom television, with its tight 22 minute scripts, Americans can see the real Sarah Palin," said conservative pundit Pat Buchanan on MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews." "Oh and she's feisty," Buchanan later added.

Explaining the calculation behind Governor Palin's sitcom gig, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds told CNN's Wolf Blitzer, "We believe a large cross-section exists between the remaining 5% of undecided voters and 'According to Jim' viewers. These are the patriotic, non-elitist, real Americans who correctly only get their daily news from bubble-gum wrappers. They love their sitcoms composed of predictable, generic dialogue and broad comedy. Which means they should love Governor Palin, who is the most qualified person in the country to guest-star on an ABC sitcom."

Most Democrat commentators just sighed loudly and threw their hands up when interviewed throughout the day. The only comment from the Obama-Biden campaign came from Obama running mate Senator Joseph Biden during a brief conversation with reporters that almost led to yet another gaffe as Biden has become known for, "'According to Jim'? Really? That piece of sh– that show is still on the air?"

ABC has yet to release an official synopsis of the Sarah Palin "According to Jim" episode. However, word from anonymous sources indicate Governor Palin will play Jim Belushi's feisty new neighbor who challenges him for the office of Exalted Ruler in the local Moose Lodge social club. Jim and his male cohort in sitcom hijinks, Andy, react by smearing her reputation because she's a girl.

While it is not uncommon for presidential candidates to visit the late-night talk show circuit or even an episode of "Saturday Night Live," this will mark the first time a candidate on a presidential ticket has guest starred on a national sitcom since George H.W. Bush appeared on a very special episode of "Charles in Charge" in 1988.

In a brief phone interview with Sarah Palin we asked her what her favorite sitcom was she said, "I watch most of them again with a great appreciation for the networks and the actors." When asked if she could name any specific shows she said, "All of them, any of them that have been on the television in front of me over all these years."