Sarah Palin has been a commentator on Fox News since January, but last night's premiere of "Real American Stories" — a magazine show focusing on "inspirational" narratives — marked her debut as a program host. Not surprisingly, the effort has proven controversial. A segment about rapper LL Cool J was dropped after he objected to an archived chat being repurposed for the show. On substance, Vanity Fair accuses the "Real American Stories" of being "marinated in jingoism" — typical of the show's largely negative critical reception. Palin's "generic" and "bland" presentation must have left her fans feeling "let down," says Alessandra Stanley at the NY Times. But there were some defenders: "Those who love Palin will love this," says Steve Krakauer at Mediaite. Aside from "occasional awkwardness" in her segues, she "thrives" in this format. See a clip from "Real American Stories" below:
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