AP Photo/The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, Robert DeBerry

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announces that she is stepping down from her position as governor in Wasilla, Alaska, on Friday. The former Republican vice presidential candidate made the surprise announcement, saying she would step down July 26 but didn’t announce her plans.

By John Katsilometes

Published Wednesday, March 3, 2010 | 2:42 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, March 3, 2010 | 3:02 p.m.

Shecky Palin — I mean, Sarah Palin — cut it up pretty good on the "Tonight Show With Jay Leno" Tuesday night. For his second show since returning to his original "Tonight Show" slot after NBC's failed plan to move Conan O'Brien into the 11:30 p.m. position, Leno invited Palin on as a guest and to perform some a couple of minutes of stand-up.

"I have been really busy," she conveyed, operating without a prop or any discernible scribbling on her palms. "I've picked up a gig in Las Vegas, at the 'Legends' show, playing Tina Fey."

Word from the production is essentially, "Sure! Bring her on!" "Legends in Concert," formerly at Imperial Palace, is currently staged at Harrah's six nights a week, two shows per night (dark Saturdays).

You'll find Palin's standup routine here, in Part 2 of a link to the routine from a Washington Post story. Palin's comment about Vegas and "Legends" arrives with about 2:30 remaining.

Judge for yourself the quality of her act, but at least give credit to Palin for staying with it until the end, unlike her term as governor of Alaska. BA-DUM-BUM! Thank you, tip your waitresses, try the veal. Or in this case, the moose ...

Steve Marcus

Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron reacts after being named Miss America at the 2010 Miss America Pageant at Planet Hollywood.

Don't Miss America

Take it, or not, from this pageant authority: TLC's decision to opt out of its contract to broadcast the Miss America Pageant, in and of itself, doesn't mean the pageant's future at Planet Hollywood is in doubt. Obviously, if there is no TV contract, there is no pageant, and therefore no pageant in Las Vegas or anywhere else.

However, the most recent pageant from the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing arts drew 4.5 million viewers, the highest viewership total since the pageant was moved to cable in 2006. There are reportedly at least four interested parties in talks with Miss America Organization chief Sam Haskell (this includes networks and cable outlets), and the pageant has always managed to find a TV home. Remember that TLC came on board, or "on runway" in this instance, after Miss America and CMT broke ties in 2008.

A larger issue is the "when," of the pageant. Word is that Miss America officials are considering returning the Super Bowl of Sash to around, or on, Labor Day weekend. But I do feel the pageant will return to Planet HarrahWood. The new management team from Harrah's, which took over PH last week, was pleasantly surprised at the response the pageant sparked back in January.

As for the pageant's possible rescheduling, aside from the October 2001 pageant, Miss America was traditionally held in September from its inception in 1921 until 2004, always in Atlantic City. A move back to September would cut short the reign of current Miss America Caressa Cameron by about four months. But I feel all the show needs is a new TV deal, and she will return.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.