Levi Johnston: Cinderfella or Media Mimbo?

Levi Johnston, former Governor Sarah Palin's former, almost son-in law is getting more face time these days than eczema. The 19 year old from Wasilla, Alaska is making the most of his fifteen minutes of fame. With interviews on Larry King Live and a spread in Playgirl, Levi Johnston's pulling out all the stops in his grab at celebrity.

Levi was thrust into the spotlight at the 2008 Republican National Convention when Sarah Palin chummed the waters with the announcement that her 17 year old daughter, Bristol, was pregnant and Levi, also 17 at the time, was the father.

A high school dropout and son of a soon-to-be convicted drug dealer mother, Levi took advantage of the opportunity for fame and fortune with a media blitz even the Germans would be proud of. Shortly after the birth of their son, Tripp, Levi and Bristol Palin split and the feud between the Johnston and the Palin clans was on.

With his newly formed entourage including a bodyguard named Tank and a personal injury lawyer with a porn star name in tow, Levi hit the circuit and he hit it hard. He made appearances on every show that would have him. Thanks to the bottomless pit that is the cult of celebrity in America he was a sought after commodity. In April 2009 alone, he appeared on The Tyra Banks Show, The Early Show and Larry King Live.

Needing to do more than an ad for Wonderful Pistachios to get that breakout press coverage, Levi did what any good wannabe does; he bared it all and posed for Playgirl Magazine. After weeks of "will he or won't he?" give the full Monty teasing, the final result left readers crying foul. His privates remained just that as his man bits were strategically covered by hands, towels and even a hockey stick. Two minutes in the sin bin for interference!

Another poor career move was Levi's choice of dates for the Teen Choice Awards. Instead of taking cougar, Kathy Griffin, Levi should have asked Carrie Prejean. Think of the pseudo-supercouple they could make. LeviJean was seen at Spago's last night slurping noodles like Lady and the Tramp.

Levi's in over his head in Hollywood. The supernova light cast by true stars washes out little red dwarfs like Levi. As Katherine Thompson of The Huffington Post noted when Levi attended the GQ "Men of the Year" party, "no one cared".

If Levi follows the typical formula, we'll see a reality show about his impending custody battle with Bristol Palin. Baby Wars: Children of the Court. He's already shopping a memoir for a book deal, so could a Lifetime Movie of the Week be far behind?

A good looking kid with no discernible talent, Levi's got a tough row to hoe if he wants to stay alive in the public consciousness. If his handlers, managers and Russian Psychics really have what's best for him in mind, they should stay with the horse that brung him: politics.

Sure he's young, but teenage elected officials aren't unheard of. John Tyler Hammons was elected mayor of Muskogee, Oklahoma late year at the tender age of 18. Put a pretty blonde on his arm (I hear Meghan McCain's available) and he's a shoe-in.

People love a small town boy makes good story. It's not too late for Levi Johnston to turn himself from celebuwant into the feel good story of 2010. Politics is the perfect arena for a good-looking, attention-seeker with no other prospects. After all, if Sarah Palin can do it, anyone can.

Sources:

Katherine Thomson, "GQs Men of the Year Party" Huffington Post

"Levi Johnston: My Family's Not White Trash" CBS News

"Levi Johnston: I didn't think it was going to get this rough", Larry King Live