Sarah Palin to appear on Jay Leno show

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will join Jay Leno on his second night back as the host of the Tonight Show.

So Sarah Palin is going on Jay Leno. Yep, NBC announced Leno's first week line-up today. And Palin is on night number two.

Shouldn't be that much of a surprise. Leno needs ratings bad. Worse than Olbermann-bad. Leno's gotta show he can score. And who can bring in the numbers? Sarah Palin.

Yes you will

Oh, you'll watch. Who won't?

Her supporters will tune in because to them she can say no wrong. She's the political messiah.

Her detractors will because they want to see what happens. They're just hoping for a Hindenburg.

For ratings, she's hot -- like that old Buster Poindexter song (which is impossible to get out of your head once you think about it. Sorry).

Line up

Palin will appear next Tuesday night alongside American Olympics hero Shaun White. In fact, two other Olympians will join Jay his first week back. He's got Lindsey Vonn and Apollo Ohno too.

And a few other superstars like Matthew McConaughey, Jamie Foxx, and Meredith Vieira. Meredith Vieira?

Vieira's appearance kind of surprised TIME magazine's TV blogger James Poniewozik too.

"But Meredith Vieira of the Today show on his first Friday? No offense, but that's like going to the prom with your sister," he writes.

Not that there's anything wrong with going to the prom with your sister...

Jay cake walking

And going on the Leno show should be a cake walk. When does he get controversial? (Not counting when his new show bombs so badly that reruns of Punky Brewster CSI: Miami beat it so Conan O'Brien gets thrown off the air so he can have his old show back).

But if Palin were going on Letterman. Now that would be a night to remember. That would be awesome TV. They really can't stand each other. You remember all the drama last year. Not that we endorse conflict or anything. But fireworks are fun to watch.

Nothing against Leno but you know what's going to happen. It'll all be safe.

He'll mention something about Palin consulting her hand at the Tea Party convention. Because Palin has a good sense of humor, she'll probably have something written on her palm as a joke.

They'll likely talk about the Family Guy flap. He'll ask her about Todd's Iron Dog race. And they'll discuss the 2012 presidential election.

It's going to be safe. At the same time, it should kill for ratings.

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