Poolside with Sarah Palin

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin takes the stage to speak to the American Conservative Union's annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington February 11, 2012. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- I shook hands and chatted with Sarah Palin poolside at the Beverly Hilton. The Television Critics Association tour moves in mysterious ways.

Palin was on hand at the NBC party because her husband Todd is participating in the reality show Stars Earn Stripes, which also will air on Global in Canada. I knew Todd was at the shindig, because he had participated in a panel. But when someone whispered in my ear that Sarah had entered the fray, I went on the hunt.

I had my phone in my hand when I realized I was walking directly behind Sarah Palin. When I stopped to put my phone in my pocket and dig out my digital recorder, that was long enough for a security guard to move toward me and say, "Not behind, please, not behind."

So I walked around front and patiently waited. As I watched, a woman approached Palin and in the course of their conversation, the woman touched Palin on the arm. The security guard moved in and said, "No touching, no touching." I immediately thought of George Bluth at the prison in Arrested Development.

Eventually my chance came. I introduced myself and shook Todd's hand. Then as I turned to Sarah, I thought, 'Uh-oh, do I shake her hand? What about the no-touching thing?' Luckily, Sarah graciously extended her own hand and we shook on it.

I asked Sarah if she ever knew her family had so much star power.

"I'm very, ve! ry proud," Sarah said. "It's such a good show that Todd's a participant in, because it's such a worthy cause, to shed a light on what the military's all about.

"One of our mottos is to live life vibrantly and that is what we're doing in participating in different forms and formats that have been presented us."

But you knew all along Todd was tough enough for a show like Stars Earn Stripes, right?

"Yeah," Sarah said with a smile. "Todd and I have been together for 32 years and I knew he could handle it and do well."

I asked Todd if Stars Earn Stripes was tougher than he thought it would be.

"No question," Todd said. "But when you have the support around you, your military op, and the other celebrity contestant in that mission, when you put your life in your partner's hand, you have that much faith in them."

I suggested that's the strength of not being alone.

"That's right," Todd agreed. And Sarah paused for a moment, seeming to really consider what I'd said, and then slowly nodded approvingly.

Then it was over.

As I walked away, a fellow reporter who had been in the vicinity, said, "They really seemed to love you."

My reporter friend then added a very funny theory about why that might be.

But you know what? I'll leave that alone for now, because I had a nice talk with the former Republican candidate for vice-president of the United States, Sarah Palin.