Haven’t been on TV? No problem. Here’s the secret: Pitch yourself during holidays. Their requirement for having previous TV appearances will magically disappear. Be available when all the “A-list” guests and paid “contributors” are out of town for Christmas or July 4 or Memorial Day. This is especially good if you’re looking to get your foot in the door and prove yourself. I haven’t taken a vacation during a holiday for years. I was once on MSNBC for like four hours straight. And you want to know why? It was all because Sarah Palin decided to quit her job on July 3, 2009 — you know, right about the time Pat Buchanan and Michael Steele were crossing the Bay Bridge, headed toward Ocean City, Maryland.

At this point, it might be worth asking if you really want to do this — or if you’re ready to do this. The life of a TV pundit can be costly and humiliating. If you go on unprepared, you might make a fool of yourself. Plus, even if you’re great, it’s not really as fun as it seems. There’s a lot of prep and make-up and logistics for a four-minute spot that only a tiny percentage of the country sees. I have traveled 10 hours in a day to be on TV for 10 minutes. I was once bumped from a spot — I’m talking about being in the chair and in make-up — because there was a mountain lion loose in a San Diego neighborhood.