Based on the premiere episode of "Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp," it is hard to tell if this series is a reality show or a political endorsement for a possible Sarah Palin White House run in 2016. Easily one of the most inane programs on the air right now, the show does little to enlighten viewers or even Bristol Palin herself.
Bristol and Willow's most bogus journey to Los Angeles.
When Sarah Palin joined John McCain on his 2008 presidential campaign, the former Alaskan governor stirred up some controversy. When daughter Bristol announced she was becoming a teen mom, that bit of news fanned the flames even more.
Tripp, Bristol's young son, is front and center in this new series. In the premiere episode, "Spreading My Wings; From Bad to Worse," Bristol wants to do charity work in Los Angeles, but she needs someone to help care for her son. Sister Willow reluctantly agrees to go, but the two revert to form in Hollywood, fighting and sniping at each other.
At one point, Bristol declares "Being a single mom is the toughest job. Living in Alaska, I have my whole family there to support me." So why is she complaining? Most young women in her situation are working multiple jobs and struggling to get by. Ms. Palin, in contrast, has enough money and time to dawdle over coffee drinks with Willow.
It's hard to believe that anyone can be as seemingly clueless as the Palin sisters. In the opening montage, Bristol talks about her time on "Dancing With the Stars" and her best-selling book. This daughter of Sarah Palin doesn't realize, though, that she would just be another teen mom if her own mother wasn't so notorious.
Bristol Palin's bar fight
Bristol's most awesome Hollywood adventure is done under the guise of doing charity work. "Until I can find an apartment, I will be staying at one of my parents' friend's houses," she enthused. That house, as it turns out, is a posh mansion behind a large security gate. Looks like apartment hunting will have to wait for several months.
On her first night of freedom from Tripp, Bristol and friends head to the Saddle Ranch Chop House for dinner and mechanical bull riding. Though she thinks she's blending in, an angry patron makes disparaging comments about Sarah Palin and Bristol's pre-marital activities with her ex, Levi Johnston.
Adopting a tough-girl attitude, Bristol goes toe-to-toe with the heckler. At first glance, she seems to be standing her ground, asking the patron if he hates her mother because he is a homosexual. Another patron declares "You're white trash from Wasilla."
Bristol had backup though. If you watch that scene carefully, there is a casually dressed man with an earpiece standing to the left of Palin, intervening as needed. When the F-bombs start flying, a blonde woman gently hustles Palin and crew to the parking lot and out of harm's way.
[The video contains language that might not be suitable for children.]
Things we didn't learn from Bristol Palin.
"Life's a Tripp" is guaranteed to make viewers shed brain cells. Even when Palin dishes up information, it is typically incorrect. To wit:
* When she talks about starting her charity work with Help the Children, Palin says "I hope it is going to be a good experience for me here because I sure could use a change of fortune here in LA." Really? Palin and her sister spend more on coffee drinks than most impoverished children get to spend on lunch. We never quite learn all of the things Help the Children does in Hollywood, either.
* Palin doesn't know what Skid Row is all about. The Help the Children coordinator, Stephanie Stegall, has to explain about homelessness in Los Angeles to the Wasilla native.
* Stegall points out that in Los Angeles County alone, there are approximately 52,000-53,000 homeless people. Palin comments that there are nearly that many people in her town. The Wasilla City Facts website puts the real population at just over 7,000 residents.
* Previews of upcoming episodes show Bristol Palin heading off to confront so-called absentee baby daddy Levi Johnston. As Radar Online points out, though, Johnston has been absent from his son's life because he did not want to become a part of "Life's a Tripp."
More fun and misinformation guaranteed in next week's installment.
