Last Friday, Senator John McCain shocked the world by announcing that little-known Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was his choice as vice presidential candidate for the Republican party. If you were like me, you couldn't help but notice that Sarah Palin -- a very attractive, 44-year-old mother of five -- looked an awful lot like some familiar TV faces, like 30 Rock's Liz Lemon. In fact, at least one Hollywood writer recognized in Sarah Palin's being plucked from virtual obscurity was like one of his creations. Rod Lurie, the writer/producer of Commander in Chief, joked that he and Gena Davis should be asking for royalties if Palin emerges as McCain's VEEP, especially if she becomes president like Davis's character did on that ABC drama series.
Here are the main TV characters that come to mind when you think about Palin:
Liz Lemon, 30 Rock
On first glance, a lot of people thought McCain had chosen Tina Fey as his running mate. Really, look fast. Of course, Tina's politics are a little more left than McCain, but her 30 Rock character is another story. She could be lured to the dark side, especially with Jack Donaghy egging her on. The main difference between Liz and Sarah, though, is the kiddie situation. Liz can't keep a plant alive, never mind a baby. Palin, by comparison, is not just a hockey mom. She's just revealed that she's now soon to be a grandmother; her 17-year-old daughter is preggers.
Maggie O'Connell, Northern Exposure
Okay, imagine Palin with a short, pixie cut and she's a dead ringer for Maggie O'Connell, Janine Turner's character on Northern Exposure. It's that whole Alaska vibe, the self-reliant woman, the no-nonsense style. On Northern Exposure, Maggie was a pilot, a landlady and eventually became the mayor of Cicely, a city not much smaller that Wasilla, Palin's town when she was a mayor. If Northern Exposure were still on the air, Maggie would be the governor!
Julia and Suzanne Sugarbaker, Designing Women
Politically, Julia Sugarbaker was a lefty. The complete antithesis of Sarah Palin on a plethora of issues, which was a reflection of actress Dixie Carter as well as the creators of Designing Women, Linda Bloodworth Thomason and her husband Harry Thomason. They latter two were -- and still are -- tight with the Clintons. They put together the Hillary Clinton biography shown at last week's Democratic National Convention. On the other hand, Delta Burke's character, Julia's sister Suzanne, could be a Palin twin. Both are beauty queens and love firearms. Suzanne actually wound up in Congress in a Designing Women spinoff called Women of the House. So blend the two Sugarbakers into one and you have a liberal Sarah Palin.
Karen Walker, Will & Grace
Megan Mullally's character on Will & Grace was not very political; she was too busy drinking, having sex, spending money and popping pills. Still, something about her look is present in Ms. Palin. And with all the rumors swirling about Palin's personal life -- the investigation into the firing of the state trooper and the possible misuse of power -- sounds like Karen's antics. Hmm...do you think Palin's has a Spanish maid?
Laura Roslin, Battlestar Galactica
Well, she was the president on Battlestar Galactica. Mary McDonnell's chief executive has the hair, the glasses, the stature, just like Sarah Palin. Hopefully, Palin won't ever face the tough, life and death wartime challenges President Roslin faces on BSG.
Mackenzie Allen, Commander in Chief
Rod Lurie was right about this one. Gena Davis's character on Commander in Chief is more than a little similar to Sarah Palin. Allen rose to office as an unlikely choice for the VEEP role by Teddy Bridges. The series opened with the president dying of a cerebral aneurysm and his VP taking over. She's consider unqualified -- like many are saying about Palin -- because she's only been president of a college. The Speaker of the House, Nathan Templeton, played by Donald Sutherland, spent much of the series trying to convince her to resign from office because she was never supposed to be anything other than a stunt to win votes. Much like Palin is, if you believe the pundits who claim she was chosen to lure disaffected Hillary Clinton voters to the Republican choice.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-01-2008 @ 5:46PM
pantrygirl said...
Don't forget Annie's assessment of a potential Peggy Hill look-a-like.
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9-01-2008 @ 6:01PM
StillBash said...
Uhm... Peggy Hill...
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9-01-2008 @ 7:37PM
Allison Solow said...
You're right -- I should have added Peggy Hill. She's very Sarah Palin, although she clearly doesn't have her knack for getting pregnant!
9-01-2008 @ 6:30PM
Trey said...
I'm not a massive 30 Rock fan (reminds me of a cruelly-cancelled, funnier Fox comedy), but I'd love some dialogue next season to be Jack Donaghy suggesting ideas for Liz Lemon's next career move and number 3 on the list to be:
'Assume a new identity and become a Senator's running mate in a bid for presidency, thereby establishing Gneral Electric at the heart of Government'
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9-01-2008 @ 7:39PM
Patrick said...
Actually... Dixie Carter is very much a Republican. She made appearances at GW's convention in 2000 as a supporter... she just played a "Know-it-all Liberal" on tv.
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9-01-2008 @ 7:43PM
Patrick said...
From Dixie Carter's Wikipidia:
Carter is also a registered Republican who describes her political views as libertarian [2]. She was interviewed by Bill O'Reilly along with Pat Boone at the 2000 Republican National Convention. This affiliation often put her at odds with what she was expected to say as Julia Sugarbaker during her years on Designing Women.
Julia was nicknamed "the Terminator" for her cutting tirades; many of the earliest monologues were witty and full of common sense, and Julia also espoused very liberal thoughts, especially as the series progressed, at one point toasting Bill Clinton on air. Carter, who had established a singing career and been featured as the headliner in many concerts, made a deal with the show's producers; for every liberal tirade, she'd get to sing a song in an upcoming episode. Carter once kiddingly described herself as "the only Republican in show business", a reference to the perception of Hollywood as being full of liberals
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9-01-2008 @ 8:17PM
MacGuffin said...
Mariska Hargitay could play the VPILF if -- God forbid - - McCain wins the presidency.
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9-01-2008 @ 10:13PM
Darren said...
Elizabeth Lochley (Tracy Scoggins) from Babylon 5. Hands down.
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9-01-2008 @ 11:11PM
Danny Smith said...
I've checked out the choices on here so far and there is three that I can agree on so far. Liz Lemon (dead ringer; maybe they'll do something about it on the show IF she gets in; I don't know if there is time for a quick rewrite before Election Day.); Karen Walker (Megan Mullally has really got her smile); and Elizabeth Lochley (Tracy Scoggins is normally made to look like this, but would buy the selection of this character). I would have to see Mary McDonnell in a similar hairstyle (or vica-versa) before I could decide on her. The others I just don't buy.
Now for something that is on the border of ON SUBJECT (you brought up Tina Fey), it looks to me like an SNL curse will be broken. I talking about the curse of a presidental candidate (not impersonators) appearing on SNL BEFORE THEY WERE ELECTED (check the exact wording; I'm not talking AFTER ELECTED) which started with Gerald Ford (remember; he was not ELECTED) and kept going with the likes of Ralph Nader, George McGovern, etc. Both candidates appeared on SNL this year, so unless the person who get voted in this year is NONE OF THE ABOVE, the curse is over. So it seems to me the one that has the advantage is Obama, because he was on there the least amount of minutes (the curse will try for every second it can get). Correct me if I'm wrong.
Just a thought.
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9-03-2008 @ 10:08AM
The Pepto Pimp said...
Danny, I didn't even know SNL was still on the air, let alone know that they'd both hosted.
Are you Danny Smith from Family Guy, Yes, Dear and 3rd Rock? If so, great work.
9-02-2008 @ 12:47AM
Meghan said...
For the doubters on the Roslin/Mary McDonnell resemblence, check out this comparision:
http://community.livejournal.com/battlestar_blog/1232463.html
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9-02-2008 @ 1:36AM
Johari said...
I think it's hilarious that more people don't realize the similarities between Palin and Peggy Hill. More importantly, John McCain bears a resemblance to Cotton Hill.
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9-02-2008 @ 4:12AM
Alex K. said...
I think she looks like Elaine from "Seinfeld".
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9-02-2008 @ 9:32AM
chadwick said...
She's smart, tough and got the hot for teacher look. Go Palin go!
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9-02-2008 @ 10:05AM
cdawg said...
am i the only one who thought immediately of Lorraine Braco?
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9-06-2008 @ 4:45AM
Jacqueline Harrington said...
Where's Hank and Ladybird?
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9-13-2008 @ 12:40PM
Pat said...
Ginnifer Goodwin - Marge of HBO's Big Love looks exactly her!!! I can't believe no one else can see it. Pat
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9-13-2008 @ 12:43PM
Pat said...
Ginnifer Goodwin, Margene from Big Love is Sarah Palin.
http://www.hbo.com/biglove/cast/character/margene_heffman.html
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9-16-2008 @ 1:08PM
Mindy said...
I'm with you, Pat. I've been saying this for weeks - my husband disagrees. I added a comment with photo - I see it so clearly!
9-16-2008 @ 1:04PM
Mindy said...
I am SO with Pat - I can't even watch Big Love without making the Goodwin/Palin connection! I think this photo may make the point clearer:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2062064384/nm1045423
Just swap the sunglasses for Palin's "schoolmarm" specs...
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