By: Jeffrey Ressner

Like her thanks-but-no-thanks for that bridge to nowhere, Gov. Sarah Palin’s much-hyped appearance on “Saturday Night Live” tomorrow night may turn out to be somewhat less than advertised.

The Republican vice-presidential candidate, who has been unmercilessly mocked by SNL alum Tina Fey over the past month, told the press on Friday that she was appearing on the show this weekend, but she had yet to see any pages of the script. NBC wouldn’t even confirm that she would be on the show.

Usually, guests on “Saturday Night Live” participate in script discussions throughout the week prior to their appearance, and also take part in run-throughs or rehearsal prior to Friday night.

“We’re not talking,” said a spokesman for SNL late Friday afternoon when asked for any details about Palin’s possible participation on the program.

In an interview with radio talk show host Neal Boortz Friday morning, Palin said appearing on SNL would give her the chance to “rise above the political shots that we take.” She told Boortz, however, that she hadn’t seen a script, adding “They haven’t even hinted about what that script is going to say.” Presidential candidate John McCain said on Tuesday that Palin would be appearing on the program as well.

On her campaign plane later Friday, Palin said, “Oh man, I’m excited for tomorrow night,” repeating that she hadn’t seen a script yet. “This really would be wearin’, tearin’ on you, so an opportunity to show that sense of humor and that side of all of this, I look forward to it."

Tomorrow night’s SNL is scheduled to feature guest host Josh Brolin, the star of the just-released George W. Bush biopic “W.” It’s unknown whether or not Fey, who also stars, writes and produces the NBC comedy series “30 Rock,” will return to SNL in her Palin persona.

Given the lack of details and the hush-hush quality of NBC over Palin’s possible participation, it seems likely that her appearance will be relegated to a few lines in a skit, perhaps just a quick catchphase like “You betcha” or the show’s familiar opening tagline, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night”—which would explain why the network hasn’t raised audience expectations.

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