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I'm Stephen Metcalfe, and this is the Slate Culture Gab Fest.

You can see my ego from Russia edition.

It's Wednesday, November 17, 2010.

On today's program, Sarah Palin's Alaska on the TLC Network. This is some reality TV, Julia.

The Learning Channel Channel?

The Learning Channel. I don't even know if that's what TLC stands for anymore, whether it's like KFC and it's just its own entity.

It's the Learning Channel Channel Network, I think, is what it is. The British indie jihadi comedy, yes, it's true, four lions. And Frank, the voice with Jody the voice, Rosen. Joining me today are Slate's deputy editor Julia Turner. Hello, Julia. Hi, Steve. And our film critic, Dana, Dana, how's everyone doing today?

Pretty well. I'm anticipating pie. Dana, is there pie? Is there pie? Do you think there's pie?

I don't know. I got here a little bit late, and I was distressed that there's not already pie being jammed into pie holes. But it's here, right? I didn't know. I didn't bring it. I just bought gum instead. All right. Well, Sarah Palin's Alaska premiered two huge ratings on Cable TV this past Sunday. Palin, need we say, it was the vice presidential

candidate turned what we hardly know how to define this woman other than omnipresent in the public

imagination. She's either a heroine or a bett noir depending on your point of view. Julia, did

Sunday go any way to clearing up the mystery of this native Alaskan dingbat?

I don't think it clarified anything,

but it was a wildly satisfying show to watch.

I mean, I don't know that I can watch it anymore

because I don't want to spend that much more time

in Sarah Palin's company,

...