Surprise: Strife on the Set of Ill-Fated 'Parker Spitzer' Debacle

Gee, who'd ever expect problems on a show that features a disgraced Democrat and a faux conservative on a network with zero ratings? Ironically, the supposed conservative is upset her megalomaniac co-host is hogging the spotlight. Check your ego at the door, honey.

Eliot Spitzer's TV sidekick is so fed up with playing second fiddle to the hooker-loving ex-gov that she's threatening to walk, sources told The Post yesterday.

Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker actually stormed off the set of the "Parker Spitzer" show during a pre-taping a few weeks ago -- furious that her co-host is continually allowed to take charge of their nightly CNN chat-fest, the insiders said.

Although still fuming, Parker did return to wrap up the segment, they said.

But she's angry that the show's producers are allegedly doing nothing to play up her strengths on the ailing show, the sources said.

Some staffers said Spitzer -- the hard-charging, former state attorney general who resigned as governor in 2008 after admitting to patronizing prostitutes -- thrust himself up front and center right out of the gate, leaving Parker without a chance.

But other insiders said the Pulitzer Prize-winning Parker has only herself to blame.

While Parker -- a conservative, nationally syndicated newspaper journalist -- is widely respected, she's no TV personality, critics said.

"Her weaknesses are felt internally," a source said.

Meanwhile, Spitzer is exceeding everyone's expectations, a source said.

"He's smart, tenacious -- he turned out better than they thought," the source said.

Incensed over her lesser position on the one-hour show, Parker has now been privately grumbling that the show's executive producer, Liza McGuirk, isn't making the changes needed to boost Parker's image, the sources said.

Someone could soon be shown the door over the behind-the-scenes battling -- and over the fact that show has done so poorly in the all-important Nielsen ratings, the sources said.

Maybe Parker ought to get back to bashing Sarah Palin every night.