Levi Johnston, who has the dubious distinction of being the most notorious unwed father in the world, is running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, as part of a reality show that is being pitched to the networks.
Johnston, who also goes by the pseudonym “Rickey Hollywood,” is most famous as being the father of Bristol Palin’s young son and a professional pain in the posterior for the entire Palin family, especially Sarah, former governor of Alaska, current media personality and political force of nature, and potential candidate for President of the United States.
According to Variety:
“Johnston will run for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska — yes, the same job that propelled Sarah Palin to governor of that state (and later, the vice presidential nomination) — in a new reality project being pitched by Stone and Co.
“‘Loving Levi: The Road to the Mayor’s Office’ will center on Johnston’s newfound fame as the baby daddy to Palin’s grandson, Tripp.
“Johnston will trade on that notoriety to make his run for Wasilla City Hall — when he’s not pursuing a career in Hollywood, of course.
“Stone and Co. are already shooting the show’s pilot and have started pitching the show to networks.”
The problem is that the next election for Mayor of Wasilla is not until 2012, a year when people are likely to be focused on a more important race, that for President of the United States. Sarah Palin may be one of the candidates for that office.
The saga of Levi Johnston began when he impregnated Bristol Palin, the daughter of the then-governor of Alaska. Johnston and Bristol were engaged to be married during the 2008 campaign. The engagement was called off soon after the election of President Barack Obama. Levi Johnston spent the next year or so giving interviews trashing the Palins, posing nude for Playgirl, and pursuing an as-yet-unsuccessful media career.
The story took a twist when Levi Johnston formally apologized to the Palins earlier this year for his misbehavior and got engaged to be married to Bristol again. The engagement soon was broken – again.
The theory is that Johnston’s apology, engagement, and broken engagement was just a publicity stunt to jump-start his faltering media career. Hence the run for office and the reality show.
Mind, a reality show based on a real run for office by a serious candidate would likely be very interesting, provided that a candidate would be incautious enough to allow such a thing. Alexandra Pelosi, the documentary filmmaker daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, made a charming film called “Journeys with George,” about George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign.
But Levi Johnston? As Mayor of Wasilla? This proves that Johnston both hates and admires the woman who would have been his mother-in-law. After all, imitation is the best form of flattery.
Sources:
Levi’s on the stump, Michael Schneider, Variety, August 9th, 2010
Levi Johnson Apologizes to the Palin Family, Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, July 7th, 2010
