Ready for Prime Time

No commentator I have read or seen has yet mentioned it, but the ongoing internal drama initiated by McCain's whimsical selection of Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential choice hews uncomfortably close to the scenario of the pilot episode of the 2005 series "Commander in Chief." In that intriguing but problematic show, Geena Davis played an independently spirited congresswoman who was selected on a lark by a conservative Republican presidential candidate to add youth and luster to his ticket.

One wonders if McCain had ever seen the show, but perhaps he has as little time and patience to turn on the TV as he does to try surfing the Internet. In any event, he might not like the way the pilot proceeds, as the President suffers a fatal stroke and by the first half hour is a memory, leaving Geena to lead the nation. Geena then has to cope with the harsh realities of International affairs and ruthless domestic politics despite having hardly any experience, and only her common sense to lead her. Each episode contained some political problem needing solution, as well as a domestic crisis within her telegenic brood for family consumption.

Well so far we are only five days into the Palin candidacy and we have two large plot threads to unravel. Or, as TV Guide would have put it when it actually contained descriptive listings and not just gossip items, "Governor Palin has to struggle with her acceptance speech while dealing with the revelation of her daughter's pregnancy." But there will be more. Much more, if McCain pulls his upset. And conceivably more if he loses but Palin maintains a national profile and runs for higher office in the future.

Meanwhile the future writers of the "Palin Chronicles," or whatever the dramedy about her life will be called, have a plethora of story ideas just waiting for expansion. The possibilities just leap off the page. Hunky husband is tempted by Washington flesh pots while his Sarah deals with Bristol's morning sickness. Sarah is challenged to a one-on-one game of Horse by Bill Bradley. A gusher of oil pops out of the Palin backyard and she has to decide whether to drill in her neighborhood. President Sarkozy of France visits President Palin and tries to boff her in the Oval Office on the same day that she has to speak at her son's Career Day school event.

In fact, the Palin domestic life, with five kids, one pregnant, one with Down's syndrome, starts to resemble another TV chestnut, the sentimental "Life Goes On," starring Patty Lupone. Now it doesn't take a long look at either Palin or Lupone to see that there's a perfect fit. And if Palin loses and has to return to Wasilla, then we could have "Life Goes on" meets "Northern Exposure."

In casting the lead role, if Lupone is too occupied belting out "Gypsy" numbers, or is deemed too short to be a former high school basketball star, there is always the statuesque and athletic Geena Davis, whose show was entertaining enough and, being in recent eclipse, could probably use the work. Then there's the other '"separated at birth" lookalike Tina Fey, but she's currently busier than any President. The fact is that the Governor herself is more attractive than any of the actresses who could play her, except maybe Demi Moore. As for the title of the show, "The Sarah Palin Chronicles" would be perfect, if there weren't already a show called "The Sarah Connor Chronicles," abut another feisty young mother whose purpose is to save the world.

Not since that horrifyingly spooky episode of "The Lone Gunmen" in 2001 that detailed an Arab terrorist plot to fly buildings into the World Trade Center has there been a more precise example of life imitating art. And with the irrational voting public still wavering on its presidential choice, the scenario of "Commander in Chief" has a plausible chance of coming true.