Bigger, better, redder, whiter and bluer -- that's the promise of a second season of "Amazing America with Sarah Palin," premiering Jan. 15 on the Sportsman Channel.
Season one of the show took field hosts to "amazing" locations around the country to visit with Americans from a wide range of backgrounds -- a beloved Alaska musher, a doomsday prepper, weapons craftsmen, duck call enthusiasts, tactical trainers, treasure hunters and more. Although each segment was introduced by the former Alaska governor and one-time vice presidential candidate, in most cases Palin herself didn't feature heavily in the show's action. That didn't seem to hurt its appeal.
Confession: This writer loved the heck out of it. Apparently, so did the network's other subscribers.
"In its first season, Amazing America with Sarah Palin helped propel Sportsman Channel to triple-digit growth among households and key male demographics," the network said in a promotional statement issued Thursday.
Season two appears poised to turn the Palin factor up to 11. The first season generally steered clear of politics, focusing instead on values like ingenuity and stick-to-itiveness. But in its promotional statement rolling out season two, Sportsman Channel embraces Palin's conservative cred, touting a Jan. 29 appearance by Ted Nugent.
"Ted Nugent is not only a rock-n-roll icon, but a true American outdoorsman who practices what he preaches," Palin said in the Sportsman Channel statement. "His outspoken candor regarding America and our civil liberties is a breath of fresh air. I'm so excited he's joining me for an episode this season."
For his part, Nugent in the statement describes Palin as "a strong, courageous freedom fighter for 'We the People' in this diabolical culture war.
"I am proud to stand with her," Nugent is quoted as saying.
Joining the lineup of field hosts is Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, who has become an advocate for substance abuse awareness and recovery since revealing during her reign as Miss USA that she struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse and receiving a widely publicized "second chance" from Donald Trump, co-owner of the Miss Universe pageant organization.
Two other field hosts -- Benny Spies and Mark Christopher Lawrence -- apparently will not be returning, but there's good news for fans of season one: Comedian Jerry Carroll has signed on for season two, according to the Sportsman Channel. Carroll talked with Alaska Dispatch News last spring about his experiences doing the show.
"They'd send me an email: 'You need to be at the airport day after tomorrow,'" he said in May. "'Are you claustrophobic? Are you scared of fire? Good. You're going into the engine room of a burning ship.'"
"Amazing America with Sarah Palin" premiers Jan. 15 at 9 p.m. Eastern time on the Sportsman Channel. Check your cable provider's listings for local broadcast time. GCI offers the Sportsman Channel as part of its sports package.