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Sarah Palin, as Matt Lauer teased her this morning, became "part of the lamestream media" when the former Republican vice presidential candidate began her highly publicized stint as a guest host on Today.
"I'm very excited to be here with all you New Yorkers and all you tourists," Palin said to the crowd moments later outside Rockefeller Center as she stood with Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker.
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Once inside the studio, Palin participated in a panel alongside Star Jones, Donny Deutsch and Dr. Nancy Snyderman on a variety of topics, including Jessica Simpson's pregnancy weight gain and the recent news that Ashton Kutcher would be playing Steve Jobs in a movie.
When asked what she would have done if she had been criticized for carrying around extra poundage while expecting, Palin said, "I would have wanted to punch them in the neck because it's none of anybody else's business."
On Ashton: "Do any of you have experience of people paid a lot of money to pretend they're you?" joked Palin, an obvious reference to both Tina Fey's and Julianne Moore's takes on the former Alaska governor.
Palin later joined Curry for a chat with Tori Spelling, where she told the pregnant star to enjoy every moment of it because "it goes by quickly."
Toward the end of the hour, Palin took part in a discussion about raising teenage daughters.
"You know, it would be nice if the marketplace would demand that some of these reality shows would start portraying some healthy, independent young women who are striving for a strong work ethic, doing the antithesis of so many things that we're seeing portrayed in reality shows today," she remarked.
And as her time with the Today show came to a close, Palin returned outside, where Lauer asked if she had enjoyed herself.
"Organized chaos," Palin quipped. "But it's been a great morning."
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