Bristol Palin's reality show bombs with viewers and critics

Looks like Bristol Palin might be heading back to Alaska sooner than expected.

"Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp," the new Lifetime reality show that follows the daughter of former VP candidate Sarah Palin as she moves to L.A. with her young son Tripp, debuted to dismal ratings last night. The premiere attracted a mere 726,000 viewers; by comparison, mama grizzly Sarah's TLC show "Sarah Palin's Alaska" debuted to 5 million viewers last year, and the "Dance Moms" episode that preceded "Life's a Tripp" last night on Lifetime earned 1.8 million viewers. "Tripp" didn't even rank among the top 100 cable programs of the night in the coveted adults 18-49 demographic.


[Video: Watch Bristol Palin's Showdown With a Heckler]

And that viewer disinterest is right in line with the scathing reviews Bristol's show received from critics. (Finally, a show viewers and critics can agree on!) Most reviews called the show dull and overly staged, with the Washington Post writing: "Even if you have a lasting grudge against all things Palin, there’s no payoff here. It’s a new low for anyone who makes the mistake of watching." Time magazine characterized the show as "flailing to provoke us and getting our attention, then fumbling for anything to say once it gets it," and the San Francisco Chronicle called it "not very interesting, and you probably wouldn't watch if she wasn't who she is." Apparently, you probably wouldn't watch in any case.

Watch Sarah Palin give Bristol some motherly advice in this "Life's a Tripp" clip:



"Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp" airs Tuesdays at 10 PM on Lifetime.