Sarah Palin can see Russia from her house and as it turns out, back up Vladimir Putin on the flute. The bit of magic all played out on Wednesday's "Tonight Show," thanks to sketch-master Jimmy Fallon.
Fallon introduced the bit by saying he had special footage of a call Putin had made right after the Russian leader spoke with President Obama about the ongoing Ukraine situation. That call? To the woman who had predicted Putin would invade Ukraine ... all the way back in 2008.
Cut to: A split screen of Fallon-as-Putin in a thin blond hairpiece and gray suit, sitting on a plush sofa. He pressed a button on his phone and reached Sarah Palin, comfortably sitting in her own fur-lined chair.
Palin urged him to get troops out of Ukraine, so he called her "Captain Buzzkill." They talked about how in her part of the world, they shoot bears (which might explain her chair's lining) while Putin said he preferred going mano-a-paw with the creatures.
"I come from strong genes," said Putin. "President Obama comes from mom genes." He also volunteered that he'd recently learned how to play "Happy" by "big tall hat man" (Pharrell), and pulled out his balalaika to prove it to her. Palin got into the spirit of things with her flute, and the two shared a brief, surreal duet.
Finally, Putin wondered if he should invade Alaska. "I wouldn't if I were you, Vlad," said the onetime vice-presidential candidate. "You may be able to take down a bear, but you're no match for a Mama Grizzly."
And, of course, Palin could see him coming from her house, if she liked.
"Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" airs weeknights on NBC at 11:35 p.m. Palin's "Amazing America" premieres on April 3 at 8 p.m. on The Sportsman Channel.