A&E Wants Palin's Show; She Wants $1M an Episode

Just a day after reality show debuts, the drama arrives

(NEWSER) - A leading Alaska conservationist calls Sarah Palin's Alaska "a travesty"—and not because it's, well, a reality show starring Sarah Palin. He claims the former guv got too close to protected brown bears in last night's premiere, and says she was "clearly irresponsible." A clip from the premiere shows Palin and hubby Todd having an up-close-and-personal moment with some bears (including, yes, mama bears) while fishing. "It's clear from the video that she violated the guidelines" of Wolverine Creek, says the director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance. More»

She rock climbs! She builds fences! She encounters mama bears!

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin's Alaska debuted last night, complete with the inevitable references to mama grizzlies and the fence she built to block her pesky journalist neighbor. Some of the best, funniest, and/or cringe-inducing moments, depending on your POV:

• The mama bear: Palin, of course, made sure to dole out some wisdom about her favorite animal. Female bears have a "nature that humankind can learn from," especially when it comes to caring for their cubs and doing "anything and everything, laying down her life for her kids."

One 'Sarah Palin's Alaska' guest star: Kate Gosselin

(NEWSER) - The fall TV season really starts on Sunday, Nov., 14, when the first episode of Sarah Palin's Alaska airs. "It takes a special individual to thrive in Alaska," says the head of TLC, the network best know for inflicting the Gosselin family on America. Not coincidentally, Kate Gosselin of Kate Plus 8, another TLC brainchild, will guest star during the eight-part series. "The Palins recently shared their Alaska with the Gosselin family, and that camping trip will be part of an episode," the exec tells the New York Daily News . More»

Johnston's will give you a better idea of Alaska...and him

(NEWSER) - If Levi Johnston's reality show gets picked up...and said genius network decides to air it at the same time as Sarah Palin’s series…you’ll be faced with a veritable Sophie’s Choice. But Levi thinks you should pick his show, because “mine is the real Alaska,” he tells Radar . “We’ll be out there doing the real thing. Out in the woods getting snowed on and rained on. Sleeping in a little tent, doing motocross.” More»

Todd-centered snowmobile series leaving networks cold

(NEWSER) - Has America had enough of the Palins? Sarah Palin and producer Mark Burnett have been trying to sell a follow-up series to TLC's Sarah Palin's Alaska focusing on Todd Palin's career as a snowmobile racer—but networks aren't buying, according to the Hollywood Reporter . TLC owner Discovery Communication has passed, and A&E—which lost a bidding war with TLC for Palin's earlier show—has also said no, sources say. More»