December 20, 2013

Opinion: "Duck Dynasty" Was Already an Embarrassment to A&E, Precisely Because It Wasn't Embarrassing
— Ace

I don't watch the show, and I know nothing about A&E's corporate culture, but this sure sounds plausible to me.

Duck Dynasty is not the show that they wanted, it is the show that got away from them.

It seems what the producers intended and what A&E envisioned with the show is much different than the show that they ended up with, but they didn't do anything about it because it was so wildly popular and so wildly profitable. But even with all the money, they have never really been comfortable with what happened.

This is what happened. The whole idea of the show was to parade these nouveau riche Christian hillbillies around so that we could laugh at them. "Look at them," we were supposed to say. "Look how backward they are! Look what they believe! Can you believe they really live this way and believe this stuff? See how they don't fit in? HAHAHA"

When the producers saw the way the show was shaping up, different than they envisioned it, they tried to change course. They tried to get the Robertson's to tone down their Christianity, but to their eternal credit they refused. They tried to add fake cussin' to the show by inserting bleeps where no cussword was uttered. At best, they wanted to make the Robertson's look like crass buffoons. At worst they wanted them to look like hypocrites.

They desperately wanted us to laugh at the Robertsons. Instead, we loved them.
A&E wanted us to point fingers at them and laugh at them. But something else happened entirely. Millions upon millions of people tuned in, not to laugh at them, but to laugh with them.

They didn't know their places.

Posted by: Ace at 08:13 AM | Comments (330)
Post contains 313 words, total size 2 kb.

1 1st

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, it's what you pray for in your Christmas Stocking! at December 20, 2013 08:14 AM (kXoT0)

2 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a malignant traitor.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at December 20, 2013 08:14 AM (PYAXX)

3 No doubt. The MSM and the left hate America

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 20, 2013 08:15 AM (t3UFN)

4 Yep, they wanted a Honey Boo Boo and got ... I don't know ... the Waltons with Beards?

Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 20, 2013 08:15 AM (ZPrif)

5 4 Yep, they wanted a Honey Boo Boo and got ... I don't know ... the Waltons with Beards? --- We're still suffering through the Depression, too!

Posted by: The Robertson Family at December 20, 2013 08:16 AM (/Crba)

6 They were sure happy to take a cut of the merchandising, though.  Sounds like a bad excuse to me.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at December 20, 2013 08:17 AM (gJyfA)

7 DD does nothing for me but Mrs928 likes it.

Posted by: toby928© Texan by birth, Moron by the grace of Ace at December 20, 2013 08:17 AM (QupBk)

8 I have never watched Honey BooBoo or DD, but, I get why people love them.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, it's what you pray for in your Christmas Stocking! at December 20, 2013 08:17 AM (kXoT0)

9 Thread needs more bacon.

Posted by: akula51[/b][/i][/s] at December 20, 2013 08:17 AM (EiDLD)

10 >>They desperately wanted us to laugh at the Robertsons. Instead, we loved them. As someone who grew up in California, spent 25 years back East, and now lives in northern Louisiana and luuuuuvs the people here, I'm really enjoying this.

Posted by: Mama AJ at December 20, 2013 08:17 AM (SUKHu)

11 Completely plausible explanation. Assholes.

Posted by: MDH3 at December 20, 2013 08:17 AM (GKyUC)

12 The phrase "doesn't advance the narrative" comes to mind, doesn't it?  A&E kinda miscalculated their demographic.

Does this mean we need to start saying the the Boy King Narcissus is a stuttering clusterduck?

Posted by: Keith Arnold at December 20, 2013 08:17 AM (DMtT+)

13 Is it sunny and 70 everywhere else?

Posted by: traye at December 20, 2013 08:17 AM (3pIev)

14 Department in charge of target demogpraphics blew it.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 20, 2013 08:18 AM (GjYxB)

15 I know nothing about A&E's corporate culture, but this sure sounds plausible to me. I had heard this somewhere before, so I wouldn't completely discredit it. The fact is that it only matters in a "what will A&E do" sort of way. If it's true, they'll cut ties and try to pretend it's about "bigotry." If it's not true, they'll realize that the Robertsons have them by the nuts, and they'll come out with some spin about "even though blah, blah, we've decided to reinstate blah, blah, hope this opens a dialog blah, blah."

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at December 20, 2013 08:18 AM (PYAXX)

16 Massive apostrophe fails there, Nat'l Catholic Register.

Posted by: BlueStateRebel at December 20, 2013 08:18 AM (7ObY1)

17 Those beards are just too hairy, who would want to cuddle up with those horrid duck men?

Posted by: PJ boy pouting at December 20, 2013 08:18 AM (hpgw1)

18 On the Upper West Side in NYC and other hoitytoity neighborhoods up and down the 2 left coasts they last at the Military and anyone who doesn't fall in line lock step behind them

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 20, 2013 08:18 AM (t3UFN)

19 I hadn't heard that they "bleeped out" words that weren't swears to make them look like they were swearing. That's messed up.

Posted by: Lincolntf at December 20, 2013 08:18 AM (ZshNr)

20 The only thing any of these people know about "flyover country" is how many tax credits they can get for filming there.

I find it funny that the coasts extol the right for not traveling or being worldly, yet have no idea about their fellow citizens true views or lifestyles.

Posted by: Clownf*cker at December 20, 2013 08:18 AM (q/kmn)

21 They tried to get the Robertson's to tone down their Christianity, but to their eternal credit they refused. That's funny. Not Ace funny, just funny.

Posted by: Regular Moron [/i] at December 20, 2013 08:18 AM (6Nqkf)

22
They desperately wanted us to laugh at the Robertsons.

-----


Just like I laugh at the Sea Shepherds on Whale Wars.


One of the few reality shows I will watch.

Posted by: fixerupper at December 20, 2013 08:18 AM (nELVU)

23 Sooo the A&E dumbasses thought it would be like something that the fat unfunny turd Garrison Keillor would come up with only they played it straight and people liked it?  Shocking.

Posted by: Captain Hate at December 20, 2013 08:18 AM (LNl4P)

24 All social commentary and controversy aside, I still think the 'Hunting Poodle' episode of Duck Dynasty was one of the funniest things ever to appear on television, hands-down.

Posted by: troyriser at December 20, 2013 08:19 AM (2jF2B)

25 AandE wanted a Honey Boo Boo freak show with hillbilly hicks that it's sophisticated audience could laugh at.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 20, 2013 08:19 AM (A7zvX)

26 A&E is a joint venture of Hearst media and Disney. Do I need to say anything else? Disney owns ABC and ESPN. PC be their name.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 20, 2013 08:19 AM (0FSuD)

27 This is what happened. The whole idea of the show was to parade these nouveau riche Christian hillbillies around so that we could laugh at them. "Look at them," we were supposed to say. "Look how backward they are! Look what they believe! Can you believe they really live this way and believe this stuff? See how they don't fit in? HAHAHA" Which just shows to go ya what a bubble these people live in.

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at December 20, 2013 08:19 AM (bCEmE)

28 Never seen the      show (never seen a 'reality' show), but if they wanted to make fun of them, this very kerfluffle would be right up their alley, and they   wouldn't be trying to kill the show.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at December 20, 2013 08:19 AM (gJyfA)

29 The only thing any of these people know about "flyover country" is how many tax credits they can get for filming there.

*mild ragestroke*

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at December 20, 2013 08:20 AM (ZKzrr)

30 Precisely.

Does no one recall the pitch a few years ago to do a "reality" Beverly Hillbillies?

This was the refined attempt at that.  And I happen to think the outcome of this particular attempt at fake outrage from the usual suspects will be along the lines of what we saw with Chik-Fil-A.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 20, 2013 08:20 AM (RubvK)

31 I hadn't heard that they "bleeped out" words that weren't swears to make them look like they were swearing. That's messed up. I'd heard the rumor. I don't follow the show or most news about it, so I don't know, but I wouldn't put it past them.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at December 20, 2013 08:20 AM (PYAXX)

32 They desperately wanted us to laugh at the Robertsons. Instead, we loved them. A&E wanted us to point fingers at them and laugh at them. But something else happened entirely. Millions upon millions of people tuned in, not to laugh at them, but to laugh with them.


The Progressively Liberal Cause is a jealous god and will tolerate no positive opinions of alternative faiths.  

Posted by: ConservativeMonster at December 20, 2013 08:20 AM (ohV1B)

33 There really are two Americas out there... The Hollywood / DC / New York Bubble.... who drives politics and media... And the rest of us... The 'In' set live in a different economy, and have way different lives, because in the Story of the Ant and the Grasshopper.... they are the Grasshopper. They produce nothing but Words (either legal, or entertainment).... and live off the productivity of the Ants who live in fly over country... But somehow... they have convinced the ants that they are Needed... and not just a parasite.

Posted by: Romeo13 at December 20, 2013 08:20 AM (lZBBB)

34 Posted by: troyriser at December 20, 2013 12:19 PM (2jF2B)

That one was good.  But the funniest had to be the one where Si needs new glasses...

I thought I was going to pass out I was laughing so hard at the very beginning of that one...

Posted by: GMan at December 20, 2013 08:20 AM (sxq57)

35 Since the cable TV went away 3 1/2 years ago all I know about DD is what I see on the web and in stores. They sound like people I grew up with. I don't doubt A and E thought they would pull off a taunting. Glad it ran away on them.

Posted by: backhoe at December 20, 2013 08:20 AM (ULH4o)

36 I endorse this theory.

Posted by: Andy at December 20, 2013 08:20 AM (okxCp)

37 I remember first seeing ads for DD on A&E. I thought to myself how dumb.,this looks like a stupid tv show. Somewhere along the line I watched an episode of it & fell in love with the show. Wonderful humor, good characters & an escape from reality for 30 minutes. I hope A&E reinstates Phil

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at December 20, 2013 08:21 AM (HVff2)

38 The black woman on Red Eye last night (didn't catch her name) pretty much nailed it. This isn't about what Phil said, it's about the Commies' need to destroy Capitalism and Christianity. The Robertsons (or "Robertson's" as the linked article would have it) embody both, and therefore, had to be destroyed.

Posted by: BlueStateRebel at December 20, 2013 08:21 AM (7ObY1)

39 The DD dude that got fires said in an interview they bleeped out fake cuss words. I saw that interview. A&E has, I believe, denied it.

Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 20, 2013 08:21 AM (ZPrif)

40 It was very, very, very clear that the GQ guy was digging for a gaybash. Ooooh the hick from LA doesn't like buttsex, the horror!

Posted by: Lauren at December 20, 2013 08:21 AM (hFL/3)

41 And didn't I hear something recently about one of the big Hollywood producers being outed as an Iseali spy, and he said he could do whatever he wanted, so long as he made the studios money?

Life's a big shit sandwich, and it's easier to eat the more bread you have.

Posted by: Clownf*cker at December 20, 2013 08:21 AM (q/kmn)

42 got fired

Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 20, 2013 08:22 AM (ZPrif)

43 Screw A&E, in the head, with a hammer. I curse most of the time like a drunken sailor, despite the best efforts of my kids and my wife to get me to calm down, but I like to think that I'm still a Christian man and do the best I can despite my faults. I agree with the writer completely -- A&E expected Honey Boo-Boo (her and her clan of ignorant trailer denizens being an example of some of the worst of us, short of watching an episode of COPS) but A&E *did* get the Waltons with beards and camo -- a good, hard-working family, led by a self-made man (who happens to have a Masters in Education, if I'm not mistaken, although that is hardly an endorsement) who believes in the Almighty and strives to be a good father, role model, and provider for his family.

In conclusion: SCREW A&E.

Carry on

Posted by: Miller at December 20, 2013 08:22 AM (ET6+B)

44 not fires, but fired

Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 20, 2013 08:22 AM (ZPrif)

45 Just like I laugh at the Sea Shepherds on Whale Wars. "She smelled like a hamster"

Posted by: eleven at December 20, 2013 08:22 AM (Hy7dS)

46 This horse is dead, Jim. And I'm a doctor not a veterinarian.





Posted by: Jamensun Hothgar at December 20, 2013 08:23 AM (BwFOl)

47 If it's not true, they'll realize that the Robertsons have them by the nuts, and they'll come out with some spin about "even though blah, blah, we've decided to reinstate blah, blah, hope this opens a dialog blah, blah." Last night, I saw a Duck Dynasty Chia Head advertised on TV. Kohl's has a big merchandising display. A and E are screwed. When you owe the bank $100,000, the bank owns you. When you owe the bank $100,000,000, you own the bank.

Posted by: AmishDude at December 20, 2013 08:23 AM (T0NGe)

48 It's the funniest show on television I don't watch.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 20, 2013 08:23 AM (P1WNR)

49 A & E cancelled 'Nero Wolfe', what I thought was an excellent adaptation of one of my favorite authers,  after one and a half seasons. According to Tim Hutton, who produced and acted in the series, the show had the highest ratings in A & E's line-up, but the network bigs wanted to go more toward the reality show audience. Like Duck Dynasty, for instance.

Now they don't like Duck Dynasty because its reality isn't their reality. How the hell do people keep these highly paid jobs, when their mental processes obviously parallel that of low-fat cottage cheese?

Posted by: Sort-of-Mad Max at December 20, 2013 08:23 AM (DLu2s)

50 t was very, very, very clear that the GQ guy was digging for a gaybash. And, to Phil's eternal credit (heh), he responded as his faith and conscience dictated, rather than "contemplating the consequences." Of course, it helps that- as others have noted- A&E needs the Robertsons far more than the Robertsons need A&E.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at December 20, 2013 08:23 AM (PYAXX)

51 Not only did the Robertson's not turn into a hillbilly joke, they also showed the contrast between pajamaboy beta males that the liberals love and real men. It's the worst possible nightmare for A&E in terms of the narrative.

Posted by: reality man at December 20, 2013 08:23 AM (Cs9Ps)

52

Call it the Pauline Kael moment.  Just as she supposedly said she didn't understand how  Nixon was elected, as nobody she knew voted for him, the suits at A-ampersand-E really don't know people outside the NY/DC/LA axis.

 

"Country" means, to them, either quaint picture-postcard towns where you can find just the most precious artisanal bread and a divine antique store, or the place where the gauche yahoos who wave the Stars and Bars and cook meth in their sheds live.

 

They expected the Robertsons to be yahoos precisely because all they  have ever seen are yahoos.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at December 20, 2013 08:23 AM (zF6Iw)

53 Duck Commander was one of the best selling Hunting Series ever produced. Been watching their waterfowl hunting videos for well over a decade. Those guys kill a lot of birds.

Posted by: garrett at December 20, 2013 08:24 AM (qavLX)

54 DD was originally on a hunting channel, Outdoors? Anyway, A&E picked it up after Ice Truckers and Real Alaska took off. As you point out, they now have a tiger by the tail. They even brought them to NYC this fall for the ad awards and paraded them around NYC media shows, each one trying to mock them, with no success. You don't build a multi million dollar business, duck calls, being stupid. The Yankees are going to have to suck some dick to make up, or they will go somewhere else in a flash. How you like the taste of duck shit?

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 20, 2013 08:24 AM (0FSuD)

55 I'm sure, as has been said, they wanted another Honey boo Boo show full of laughable mutants that the Coasts could feel superior to.

Posted by: Null at December 20, 2013 08:24 AM (xjpRj)

56 Assholes. I've also never watched the show. But this fake controversy irritates the shit outta me.

Posted by: Y-not at December 20, 2013 08:24 AM (zDsvJ)

57 Rons can understand the problem. Consider the poor bastard that marries a drop-dead gorgeous woman with a  HUGE rack, but is a   complete bitch.  Quite the conundrum.

Posted by: Roy at December 20, 2013 08:24 AM (VndSC)

58 Honey Boo-Boo (her and her clan of ignorant trailer denizens being an example of some of the worst of us

The proggs use them to bash us, but they all voted SCOAMF.

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at December 20, 2013 08:24 AM (ZKzrr)

59 The subjects of most every reality show - and my wife watches most of them - are meant to be the running equivalent of a Jerry Springer guest in the early 90s, the person you look at and go "I'm glad I'm not them". Even when they're successful, or married to someone that is, they're full of strife and friends/family drama (c.f. Real Housewives, Dog the Bounty Hunter). Or they're exceptionally high-strung (c.f. Dance Moms). The Robertson clan fits none of these bills. They're just from flyover country, and so for the cultural left, they're meant to be yet another example of conservative anthropology. Yet that same flyover country has embraced them.

Posted by: Kevin in ABQ at December 20, 2013 08:25 AM (XrGnJ)

60 First thought:  Is this the first time Ace linked National Catholic Register?

Second thought: A+E got played like a banjo. A+E corporate ought to host their own reality show.  Like "Our Little World Got A Whole Lot Bigger"

Posted by: mrp at December 20, 2013 08:25 AM (HjPtV)

61 Sounds plausible to me. They thought they were going to get another Jersey Shore or the one that was done in WV where a majority of people seemed to watch just to feel superior. Never seen the show but I do not get the outrage. What were they expecting a devout Christian to say about sin?

Posted by: JackStraw at December 20, 2013 08:25 AM (g1DWB)

62 The first James Bond movie was intended to skewer the character, Connery changed that for them

Posted by: Mbruce at December 20, 2013 08:25 AM (0YWG9)

63 Chick-Fil-A.  Hobby Lobby.  Duck Dynasty.  Papa John's.  And of course, every gun and ammo manufacturer out there.

Seems to me that the most successful business paradigm out there in the Obama economy goes like this:

(1) Publicly stand up to the DC leviathan.
(2) Wait for the outrage from the left and their threatened boycotts.
(3) Americans rally to the hero.
(4) Profit!

It's like the underwear gnome paradigm, except without the undefined middle steps.  I approve.

Posted by: Keith Arnold at December 20, 2013 08:25 AM (DMtT+)

64 Is it sunny and 70 everywhere else?

Posted by: traye at December 20, 2013 12:17 PM (3pIev)

 

It is here in Florida, assuming that's not where you are.  Or are you?

Posted by: Insomniac at December 20, 2013 08:26 AM (DrWcr)

65 I remember first seeing ads for DD on A&E. I thought to myself how dumb.,this looks like a stupid tv show. Somewhere along the line I watched an episode of it & fell in love with the show. Wonderful humor, good characters & an escape from reality for 30 minutes. Same here. Started watching in season two. Went back & did a season 1 marathon.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 20, 2013 08:26 AM (GjYxB)

66 "She smelled like a hamster"

Posted by: eleven at December 20, 2013 12:22 PM (Hy7dS)


----

THAT was hilarious...


Posted by: fixerupper at December 20, 2013 08:27 AM (nELVU)

67 13 Is it sunny and 70 everywhere else?

Posted by: traye at December 20, 2013 12:17 PM (3pIev)



*throws a snowball at traye*

Posted by: pookysgirl at December 20, 2013 08:27 AM (kMnHs)

68 They thought Moonshiners.  They swung and missed.

Posted by: CUS at December 20, 2013 08:27 AM (wcLJG)

69 "How the hell do people keep these highly paid jobs, when their mental processes obviously parallel that of low-fat cottage cheese? " There's a great story about how Farscape ended up canceled on what was then The SciFi Channel. A new bigwig came in and said "Well, Farscape is ok, but is there any way we can make it more like South Park?" Uh...um...animated? Pop culture references? Not in space?

Posted by: Lauren at December 20, 2013 08:27 AM (hFL/3)

70 >> Is it sunny and 70 everywhere else? And 83% humidity.

Posted by: Mama AJ at December 20, 2013 08:27 AM (SUKHu)

71 Is it true that this GQ interview was set up by the NETWORK? If so???? Wow.... just.... wow.... talk about a self inflicted wound... Or were they TRYING to damage their own most viewed show?

Posted by: Romeo13 at December 20, 2013 08:27 AM (lZBBB)

72 The only thing any of these people know about "flyover country" is how many tax credits they can get for filming there.

*mild ragestroke*

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at December 20, 2013 12:20 PM (ZKzrr)

Or "Authenticity"--new movie, August, Osage County, was actually filmed here in Oklahoma--Barnsdall and Bartlesville.  Barnsdall has an oil well on the main street.  The cinematographer did not like its location, he wanted it at the other end of the street, so they build a fake oil well at one end of the street and filmed "around" the real oil well.  I found this hysterical.  My great-uncle was a pharmacist at the old drugstore on the main drag of Barnsdall and my great-aunt taught voice and piano.  I have about a dozen family members in Bartlesville.  My parents are buried there.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, it's what you pray for in your Christmas Stocking! at December 20, 2013 08:28 AM (kXoT0)

73 The Yankees are going to have to suck some dick to make up, or they will go somewhere else in a flash. The war of Southern Butthurt lives on.

Posted by: garrett at December 20, 2013 08:28 AM (qavLX)

74 These media people are so used to their cultural indicators being a proxy for intelligence, that they think anyone who doesn't display those indicators is dumb. Of course, I could bring up "He went to Harvard Law School" as an example of this, but you know where I stand on such things.

Posted by: AmishDude at December 20, 2013 08:28 AM (T0NGe)

75

Time and time again, conservative leaning entertainment does well and time and time again, the liberal entertainment industry does its best to keep from making more.

 

So why is it that we, the free market, capitalists, do not take advantage of this hole in the market and bring to the masses what they have asked for time and time again.... and make some money in the process.

 

I think the technical term for doing this would be win - win.

Posted by: AndrewsDad at December 20, 2013 08:28 AM (C2//T)

76 Isn't that the producers fault??They could have clearly edited it to make them look like buffoons, but they didn't. Reality tv is really up to the editors, if they followed anyone around for 24/7 they could easily get enough cuts to make someone look like a villain. Reality show competitions do it all the time.

Posted by: Adam Smith's Invisible Pimp Hand at December 20, 2013 08:28 AM (WdbF7)

77 One of the cutest shows was went Phil took his grand daughters fishing. The quote. "Best way to make a girl a redneck, take her fishing" The girls were 8-10? and cute as a button. They cleaned and ate the fish. Phil, "We always eat what we catch" Spoken like a true Southern.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 20, 2013 08:29 AM (0FSuD)

78 64 Chick-Fil-A. Hobby Lobby. Duck Dynasty. Papa John's. Now we can add Skyjacker suspensions. The President of Skyjacker Suspensions was on Fox & Friends to support Phil Robertson. Hate suspensions! Get your Hate suspensions here!

Posted by: BlueStateRebel at December 20, 2013 08:29 AM (7ObY1)

79 I think on this one, A and E tried hitting itself in the eye with a doorknob then called the cops.

Posted by: Clownf*cker at December 20, 2013 08:29 AM (RQDhf)

80 That one was good. But the funniest had to be the one where Si needs new glasses... I thought I was going to pass out I was laughing so hard at the very beginning of that one... When Si got a new duck hunting dog......

Posted by: rickb223 at December 20, 2013 08:29 AM (GjYxB)

81 What the hell, A&E inserts beeps for no reason? Dude, the Ancient Aliens guys have more intellectual integrity than that. I don't watch the show and know very little about it or the Robinsons. That being said, I will engage in my own speculation. The Robinsons knew exactly what A&E wanted. They knew exactly how they were supposed to be portrayed. They went ahead with the show anyway because they knew what the response would be. You don't get that rich by being idiots. It's not like they're Congresscritters or something.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Mmmm. Blondies with whipped cream. at December 20, 2013 08:29 AM (VtjlW)

82 It would be nice to get confirmation for one of these rumors. I have been largely ignoring this for other reasons, but it doesn't *not* matter, if that makes sense. There is a blurry, annoying line between socially enforcing cultural standards and just being an insular cultural thug. There is a particular group of people who love to jump over that line, however, and while they're not alone they're a shining example. Kind of reminds me of the news form last year about the media company buying up gun magazines and closing them. Or campus speech codes, grossly unpopular anti-American Hollywood movies, or for that matter the push to railroad America into Obamacare despite massive opposition. "Screw you we know what's best, and we're going to give it to you good and hard even if we have to lie, cheat, and steal to do it."

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of Somethingorother at December 20, 2013 08:29 AM (qyfb5)

83 Or were they TRYING to damage their own most viewed show?

Tinfoil hat time, but maybe they're trying to discredit the faith displayed in the show.  Maybe they thought that they could still get to the "look!  They really are ignorant hicks!" this way...which is the result they wanted.  It seems to be blowing up in their faces though.

I still want the gays from storage wars fired though...

Posted by: GMan at December 20, 2013 08:29 AM (sxq57)

84   Never seen the show but I do not get the outrage. What were they expecting a devout Christian to say about sin? 
Posted by: JackStraw at December 20, 2013 12:25 PM (g1DWB)

Exactly what he said.   This isn't about genuine outrage, this is about shaming traditional Christian beliefs and pushing America towards more "tolerant" and Liberal-compatible beliefs.

Posted by: ConservativeMonster at December 20, 2013 08:29 AM (ohV1B)

85 I don't have major-league cable.  (My "basic cable" gives me the local channels, the Weather Channel, WGN and WTBS, and [it seems] 17 shopping channels I have no interest in.)

So I 've never seen "Duck Dynasty," and I assumed it would be just the kind of thing A & E envisioned -- "Look at the stupid hillbillies!  LOL!!!"  But apparently not.

Maybe Loozyana has produced one good thing besides Faith Ford and fried shrimp.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at December 20, 2013 08:29 AM (BDU/a)

86 I thought I was going to pass out I was laughing so hard at the very beginning of that one...
Posted by: GMan at December 20, 2013 12:20 PM

My favorite was the episode in which Phil and Uncle Si subbed for Willie at a grade-school Career Day. Phil taught the kiddies about cleaning (dead) ducks, and Si told them about 'Nam.

The kids' reactions were beyond funny.

Posted by: MrScribbler at December 20, 2013 08:30 AM (veRXo)

87 I loved Farscape with all the love and fervor in the two universes.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, it's what you pray for in your Christmas Stocking! at December 20, 2013 08:30 AM (kXoT0)

88 78 One of the cutest shows was went Phil took his grand daughters fishing. The quote. "Best way to make a girl a redneck, take her fishing" The girls were 8-10? and cute as a button. They cleaned and ate the fish. Phil, "We always eat what we catch" Spoken like a true Southern. Posted by: Nip Sip at December 20, 2013 12:29 PM (0FSuD) Did you see the one where he was teaching them to shoot? Promised them a dollar for every can they hit. Little one hits a can and reminds Gpa of the dollar he promised.

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at December 20, 2013 08:30 AM (bCEmE)

89 Just like I laugh at the Sea Shepherds on Whale Wars.


One of the few reality shows I will watch.

Posted by: fixerupper at December 20, 2013 12:18 PM (nELVU)

 

Yeah, same here. That is some funny shit. I don't think it was meant to be funny, but it's some of the funniest shit I have ever seen. ( Whale Wars )

Posted by: The Jackhole at December 20, 2013 08:30 AM (nTgAI)

90 Never watched since I figured it was another "point and laugh at the dumb yokels" show like Honey Booboo (which I didn't watch either). I'm thrilled the Robertsons turned the tables.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette, assault Hobbit at December 20, 2013 08:30 AM (GDulk)

91 So why is it that we, the free market, capitalists, do not take advantage of this hole in the market and bring to the masses what they have asked for time and time again.... and make some money in the process. Because we don't have the money necessary to bribe the FCC to allow us to set up a TV station.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at December 20, 2013 08:30 AM (PYAXX)

92 I doubt very much that is the case. First, the show's editors could easily have edited stuff to make them look dumb or goofy. Second, while I don't doubt many at A&E don't like the Robertsons or their beliefs, A&E wants ratings and this show got ratings. If anything, they'll use this whole thing as marketing to make the ratings even higher. As we all know, liberals' beliefs always stop short of their personal convenience or pocketbooks. That is why none of the far-left celebs live out any of their professed beliefs. they don't give away their money, they use tax shelters, they leave enormous "carbon footprints", they treat the "little people" like crap, etc. The same is true of every A&E officer, employee and owner. they want the ratings and the money. I cannot see them throwing away millions for their "beliefs". those beliefs are always for the other guy. The other guy should pay more in taxes. The other guy needs the gov't regulating him. The other guy should be forced to hire x, y and z. The other guy should use less fuel, not fly in airplanes, have a smaller house/car.

Posted by: monkeytoe at December 20, 2013 08:31 AM (sOx93)

93 "These media people are so used to their cultural indicators being a proxy for intelligence, that they think anyone who doesn't display those indicators is dumb. "

Exactly, AmishDude. In that crowd it's OK to utter the most inane babble, as long as it's pronounced in the proper college drawl. Throw in a few 'Um's and 'Ah's and you're just obviously a deep-thinking brilliant mega-genius.

Posted by: Sort-of-Mad Max at December 20, 2013 08:31 AM (DLu2s)

94 "Well, Farscape is ok, but is there any way we can make it more like South Park?"

Let's get that guy to run, say, our national energy policy.

[Note:  He probably is running our national energy policy.]

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 20, 2013 08:31 AM (ltdV/)

95 I find that many people are okay with Christians, as long as the believers don't take their religion too seriously. People, who take their religious beliefs seriously enough to let them influence the way they live their lives, make many people feel uncomfortable.

Posted by: nerdygirl at December 20, 2013 08:31 AM (AtSBz)

96 Their propaganda attempt failed.

Posted by: D-Lamp at December 20, 2013 08:31 AM (bb5+k)

97 Not only did the Robertson's not turn into a hillbilly joke, they also showed the contrast between pajamaboy beta males that the liberals love and real men.

It's the worst possible nightmare for A&E in terms of the narrative.

Posted by: reality man at December 20, 2013 12:23 PM (Cs9Ps)

 

Real men don't do tricked-out RVs with widescreen football on cable when they camp, sorry. That was some real borderline beta-male shit going on right there.

Posted by: troyriser at December 20, 2013 08:32 AM (2jF2B)

98 What were they expecting a devout Christian to say about sin?

Sin is not living up to your own expectations or some shit.

I'm a Christian!  There's a picture of me going to church once last year!!

Posted by: Barry SCOAMF at December 20, 2013 08:32 AM (ZKzrr)

99 That is some funny shit. I don't think it was meant to be funny, but it's some of the funniest shit I have ever seen. ( Whale Wars ) Never thought I'd cheer for a Japanese Whaling Vessel...

Posted by: garrett at December 20, 2013 08:32 AM (qavLX)

100 This mind reading of A&E executives definitely confirms my pre-conceived notions of what they must be like. Fuck those guys! It's been a secret plot against the duck guys the whole time - wake up sheeple!!!1!

Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at December 20, 2013 08:32 AM (+lsX1)

101 Quick, someone send Dingy Harry a bouquet and get-well card signed by the Tea Party.

The Beverly Hillbillies topped the ratings in it's time, too.

Posted by: bill sometimes bill from canada at December 20, 2013 08:33 AM (orgxw)

102 I find that many people are okay with Christians, as long as the believers don't take their religion too seriously. People, who take their religious beliefs seriously enough to let them influence the way they live their lives, make many people feel uncomfortable.



Posted by: nerdygirl at December 20, 2013 12:31 PM (AtSBz)

 

 

Liberals hate anyone with real morals or conviction. It's something they fundamentally lack and they hate themselves for it.

Posted by: The Jackhole at December 20, 2013 08:33 AM (nTgAI)

103 Whenever I see a post like this, which I agree with completely, I can't help but wonder.

WHY do you live in New York, Ace?

Posted by: Dave in Fla at December 20, 2013 08:33 AM (xZQaE)

104 if they followed anyone around for 24/7 they could easily get enough cuts to make someone look like a villain. Reality show competitions do it all the time. The difference there is that contestants on those "reality shows" are absolutely in it for themselves. They want to "win" and you do things differently- even if you're a good person. So it is easier to cut together "villainy" from that source. The Robertsons- capitalists all- don't need to "win" anything. They already won. So they can just go about their day living as they see fit.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (PYAXX)

105 I still want the gays from storage wars fired though... Posted by: GMan at December 20, 2013 12:29 PM (sxq57) I'd like to see someone buy some shit on storage wars, then try to FIND the owners... Every Treasure they find... is taken from someone else...

Posted by: Romeo13 at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (lZBBB)

106 A&E- Asshats and Elitists.

Posted by: Dirty Old Man at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (Yv5v6)

107 Link to full episodes and clips on A 'n E's web site: http://tinyurl.com/kzeuldx Which might give money to A 'n E if there are ads, but would also show support for the Robertsons.

Posted by: Mama AJ at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (SUKHu)

108 Real men don't do tricked-out RVs with widescreen football on cablewhen they camp, sorry.

You have obviously never tailgated in SEC country.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (ltdV/)

109

Whale Wars... one of the only reality shows I watch.

 

3 or 4 years ago, I made sure my then 10 year old son watched it with me just to see his reaction.  He loves animals so I thought he would be pro Sea Sheppard.  At the end I simply said, "well what do you think"  He replied, "I am shocked they we able to get the boat our of the harbor without sinking"

Posted by: AndrewsDad at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (C2//T)

110 Haven't watched DD since an early episode where the menfolk went out to gather wild honey and (to A&E's mind) hilarity ensued. To me, it appeared to be another "let's poke fun at these Southern hayseeds" shows and I was having none of it. I lived in South Carolina for five years and rural Virginia for another two years, and the people with whom I worked were dignified, educated, polite and proud. I am thoroughly sick of Big Entertainment's "Nyuk, Nyuk, Goobers" mentality. My oh so liberal and edjimacated stepdaughter tries to pull that shit with me and I'll have none of it. If the Robertsons broke out of A&E's bigoted game plan, good for them! Move on to a more respectful venue and continue to kick Big Entertainment's ignorant asses.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars [/i] [/b] [/s] at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (HsTG8)

111 >>>If it's true, they'll cut ties and try to pretend it's about "bigotry."

Yes put your money printing machine on the curb near the street with a sign saying "Free! Take Me To Your Network!" On it.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (GMaWX)

112 @89 No wish I had. You know they write a plot for the each show, but then it sometimes goes off on it's own. I find the semi sexual innuendos between ms Peggy and Phil hilarious AND true. Si can fuck up any plan when he gets a mind too.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (0FSuD)

113 6 They were sure happy to take a cut of the merchandising, though. Sounds like a bad excuse to me. Posted by: Vashta Nerada at December 20, 2013 12:17 PM (gJyfA) People in the entertainment industry sell their souls and their beliefs for money. Witness the ultra liberal, semi socialists who are always griping about our evil corporate system, who also sucking every dollar out of it that they can get their greedy mitts on.

Posted by: nerdygirl at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (AtSBz)

114 >>>This mind reading of AE executives definitely confirms my pre-conceived notions of what they must be like. Fuck those guys! It's been a secret plot against the duck guys the whole time - wake up sheeple!!!1! you doubt it that much, huh?

Posted by: ace at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (/FnUH)

115 What they were trying to get was one of those "travelogue to darkest Africa" type of pieces that the MFM regularly files about exotic-to-them places like Indiana and Tennessee and Oklahoma.  Long-timers will remember the infamous Olive Garden piece that James Lileks tore to shreds, but there have been others.

Posted by: Ian S. at December 20, 2013 08:34 AM (B/VB5)

116 The original promos showed them as modern day beverly hillbillies. Those promo themes lasted about three episodes. This Phil guy knew how they network wanted to portray them and he played them for fools. He's a "lie in wait" guy. A duck caller. And A and E was his duck. Not to destroy them, but to use them for his other hobby of converting people. 

Posted by: UWP at December 20, 2013 08:35 AM (2hQRj)

117 86 I don't have major-league cable. (My "basic cable" gives me the local channels, the Weather Channel, WGN and WTBS, and [it seems] 17 shopping channels I have no interest in.) Be glad. The shopping channels actually pay the cable company to be on.

Posted by: AmishDude at December 20, 2013 08:35 AM (T0NGe)

118 Another really good reality show is Alaska-The Last Frontier. The Kilcher family better watch out, they could be next for the DD treatment. They (gasp) HOMESTEAD! And (swoon) HUNT! And (press back of hand to forehead and fall genty onto fainting couch) Do everything for themselves because they DON'T EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT TO DO ANYTHING FOR THEM!

Posted by: BlueStateRebel at December 20, 2013 08:35 AM (7ObY1)

119 You know, most folks have been saying that A&E has the legal right to suspend him, but do we know that to be the case? Surely there's a detailed contract that lays out the conditions under which the relationship can be terminated, especially given that there's a family involved and his family members won't want to be bound to their contracts after dad got the shaft. I'm just really curious about it. This case is NOT like cases of employees publicly embarrassing their employers or being unable to be effective in their jobs because of their beliefs. For example, I think that arts org in San Fran had more cause to let go their employee over his/her (I forget which) support of Prop 8 than A&E has in this case. (Altho truth be told I don't think signing a petition or making a $50 donation to a ballot initiative is such a "public" thing, so I think he should have fought his termination.) In this case, where's the evidence of damage done by Robertson to the program he was hired to do? Have advertisers dropped out? Has viewership gone down? Has the premise of the show been damaged? It's not like the guy suddenly came out as a PETA supporter or something. Days like this I wish I'd become a lawyer. (I denounce myself.) It'd be fun to make A&E's lives a living hell.

Posted by: Y-not at December 20, 2013 08:36 AM (zDsvJ)

120 It was very, very, very clear that the GQ guy was digging for a gaybash. Ooooh the hick from LA doesn't like buttsex, the horror! Posted by: Lauren at December 20, 2013 12:21 PM (hFL/3) Also reminds me - always, *always* question the intentions of a "journalist." If they're obviously trying to set you up, point it out. An interview is a conversation, don't be passive.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of Somethingorother at December 20, 2013 08:36 AM (qyfb5)

121 This is just another example of the pretentious people who live in major cities thinking that people who value open space and clean air and peace and quiet are somehow inferior rubes. I live about 20 miles outside of Philadelphia and the budget battles in Harrisburg are a constant source of irritation, as Philly always has its hand out. They really think the rest of the state actually owes them something. Their real estate taxes are so low as to be nonexistent and therefor their schools are always broke. My real estate taxes are through the roof, probably 20 times the average Philly resident yet Philly peeps want mine to be higher to pay for their non-performing schools. I'm the knuckle-dragging Neanderthal. Right.

Posted by: Regular Moron [/i] at December 20, 2013 08:36 AM (6Nqkf)

122

This rings true to me.  I never started watching the show to begin with because I assumed it was just another "let's all laugh at those dumb Southerners!" shows.  And I grew up in the South so I hate those shows. 

 

There has been a lot written recently that this sort of show is pretty much all there is on cable now.  There was an excellent piece by someone about the cancellation of Mike Rowe's "Dirty Jobs" show (I believe by A&E) because that show also got away from them; they thought it would make people laugh at the poor slobs who clean pig stalls and such, but in fact Mike Rowe ended up celebrating these people and showing that they are some of the happiest people in the world, which actually made the A&E suits uncomfortable. 

Posted by: rockmom at December 20, 2013 08:36 AM (Q4elb)

123 Never thought I'd cheer for a Japanese Whaling Vessel...

Posted by: garrett at December 20, 2013 12:32 PM (qavLX)

How conflicted do you think I was when French intelligence blew up the Rainbow Warrior?

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 20, 2013 08:36 AM (ltdV/)

124 13 Is it sunny and 70 everywhere else?

Screw you.

Posted by: Icebound Iowan at December 20, 2013 08:37 AM (Hoy9u)

125 Every Treasure they find... is taken from someone else... From someone else who didn't pay their storage bill. Usually for 3+ months. Just sayin'.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at December 20, 2013 08:37 AM (PYAXX)

126 109 Real men don't do tricked-out RVs with widescreen football on cablewhen they camp, sorry. I saw that show and it was funny as hell. It was opening duck season and si or phil were in the RV giving the rest of them crap because they were getting eaten up by bugs. It's warm in LA during duck season. THAT was a true redneck happening!

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 20, 2013 08:37 AM (0FSuD)

127 Now, the men in my birth family and consequently the men to whom I am attracted are all Real Men.  They did not have the armpit hair beards, but, they lived their values--hunted, fished, loved their families through thick and thin, treated everyone--especially women with dignity and respect and worked every dayum day of their lives.  That is the stuff that lasts--the real stuff--the stuff that money can't buy.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, it's what you pray for in your Christmas Stocking! at December 20, 2013 08:37 AM (kXoT0)

128 Tinfoil hat time, but maybe they're trying to discredit the faith displayed in the show. Maybe they thought that they could still get to the "look! They really are ignorant hicks!" this way...which is the result they wanted. It seems to be blowing up in their faces though.

---

Judging by the wailing and gnashing of teeth on social media yesterday....  I think there were ALOT of folks in LGBTQA (yes, I learned they added ANOTHER letter to the anagram, "A' for Allies) community who were SHOCKED at  the amount of support for Phil on display.    I think they are taken quite aback to learn the "popular" support for gay issues may be a mile wide but only an inch deep.

Posted by: fixerupper at December 20, 2013 08:37 AM (nELVU)

129

"Look how backward they are! Look what they believe! Can you believe they really live this way and believe this stuff? See how they don't fit in? HAHAHA"

 

Except that they DID fit in, because there are millions of more people in this country who side with the Robertsons than who side with the effete New York nancy-boys who run A&E.

 

I am firmly convinced that the current "support" for gay marriage and the gay agenda in general is a mile wide and an inch deep.  It's driven more by fear of being ridiculed, fired, shut out of social circles, etc. than it is by any genuine agreement that gays ought to have their personal choices codified into national law.

Posted by: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus at December 20, 2013 08:37 AM (YYJjz)

130 Reminds me of the reports that Jay Leno has at least ten solid offers to choose from after the bigs at NBC let him go from the Tonight Show. Yeah, Jimmy Kimmel, there's some entertainment dynamite for you!

I'm beginning to think that we should erect a statute to the guy who invented sniffable cocaine; if it wasn't for him, Hollywood might be able to do some serious damage with all the capital they've amassed, beyond what they've destroyed already.

Posted by: Sort-of-Mad Max at December 20, 2013 08:37 AM (DLu2s)

131 Funniest show on tv, that's not saying much but still. Plus Jep's wife is hawt.

Posted by: Adam Smith's Invisible Pimp Hand at December 20, 2013 08:38 AM (WdbF7)

132 Remember 'Forrest Gump?' That was supposed to be a 'lookit the retard' movie that did amazingly well because conservative people took to it as a tale of honesty, faithfulness, and virtue winning out over the empty and crass. So embarrassed was Hollywood over that that Zemekis had to accept the Oscar by making a speech to deny trying to make that movie.

Posted by: --- at December 20, 2013 08:38 AM (MMC8r)

133 O/T but.... ‏@TopBrassVodka 16m Chuck Norris Trumps Jean-Claude Van Damme With "Epic Christmas Split" Parody—Watch! http://eonli.ne/19htbqt

Posted by: Y-not at December 20, 2013 08:38 AM (zDsvJ)

134 And all this time, I thought cable-TV reality shows' sole reason for existence was as a full-employment program for misfit freaks.  Well, that's what I get for letting the wife watch Project Runway.

Posted by: Keith Arnold at December 20, 2013 08:39 AM (DMtT+)

135 Wow Ace. I don't believe you ever made a more concise, accurate, or insightful post. Dead nuts on.

Posted by: maddogg at December 20, 2013 08:39 AM (xWW96)

136 I heard Harry Reid died or something. Also Subway sounds good for lunch.

Posted by: UWP at December 20, 2013 08:39 AM (2hQRj)

137 I watched the first few shows by chance. Obvious it was A&Es answer to Swamp People. AKA -- look at these stupid Cajuns who make a living without wi-fi and praying to God. Duck Dynasty was presented as a show about stupid rednecks who made a fortune selling duck calls to other stupid rednecks. It got away from them. The people on the show worked their ass off to build a business from less than zero, made it work and then made a fortune. Then they pray every night with family at dinner. To A&E -- this was a foreign planet they wanted to show to the rest of normal America who read their iPads at Starbucks & vote for black liberals to maintain social elite status. This was a comedy for A&E where everyone could laugh at the ignorant characters -- not with them. Never occurred to A&E duck dynasty peeps represent the majority.

Posted by: ajlfour at December 20, 2013 08:39 AM (VO28W)

138 Those dastardly Unintended Consequences strike again....

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, TX (@Teresa_Koch) at December 20, 2013 08:39 AM (PZ6/M)

139 As we all know, liberals' beliefs always stop short of their personal convenience or pocketbooks. That is why none of the far-left celebs live out any of their professed beliefs. they don't give away their money, they use tax shelters, they leave enormous "carbon footprints", they treat the "little people" like crap, etc. In his new book, Charles Murray addresses this. He says that the upper class and upper middle class have abandoned the 60s values they professed to believe in and live a Ward and June Cleaver lifestyle. It's the lower middle class and lower class who don't get married who don't stay in school, etc.

Posted by: AmishDude at December 20, 2013 08:40 AM (T0NGe)

140 at no point did I think the media wouldn't come after them over the prayer at the end of each show. it's what this is all about.

Posted by: X at December 20, 2013 08:40 AM (KHo8t)

141 7 DD does nothing for me but Mrs928 likes it. Posted by: toby928© Texan by birth, Moron by the grace of Ace at December 20, 2013 12:17 PM (QupBk) They have this dry, quiet sense of humor that isn't what you expect from people who look like that. They're very clever people.

Posted by: nerdygirl at December 20, 2013 08:40 AM (AtSBz)

142

And so that means that A&E (and ilk) are haughty, smug... even elitist...  and that their whole "caring" veneer is at best, insincere.  Who'd a thunk?

Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at December 20, 2013 08:40 AM (BZAd3)

143 BREAKING: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been hospitalized for emergency surgery to remove a prepubescent boy from the tip of his penis.

Posted by: --- at December 20, 2013 08:40 AM (MMC8r)

144

ace: I know nothing about A&E's corporate culture, but this sure sounds plausible to me.

 

ace, everything you need to know about their corporate culture was summed up in their first public statement.  They claimed that  they've been major supporters of GLAAD and associated causes since their founding.  I'm pretty sure A&E has been around since at least the mid-80s, when anything more than tolerance of homosexuality was a fringe view.  So, they either were always rabid leftists, or they are ret-conning their own history due to now being rabid leftists and wanting to sound like they have always been rabid leftists.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at December 20, 2013 08:40 AM (sQ0LB)

145 @135: That's been in the sidebar all day.  And yes, it's worth watching.

Posted by: Ian S. at December 20, 2013 08:40 AM (B/VB5)

146 the MFM regularly files about exotic-to-them places like Indiana and Tennessee and Oklahoma.

To be fair, there's a lot of Indiana that really is bizarre. 

Posted by: Barry SCOAMF at December 20, 2013 08:40 AM (ZKzrr)

147 ON the other side of the coin? This could be a Professional Wrestling promo. The bad guys, AE give it up and boom rating go up. Just saying, new season starts in three weeks and it's already filmed.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 20, 2013 08:41 AM (0FSuD)

148 Just like I laugh at the Sea Shepherds on Whale Wars.


One of the few reality shows I will watch.

Posted by: fixerupper at December 20, 2013 12:18 PM (nELVU)

 

That show really kicked ass once Stan Marsh took the helm.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 20, 2013 08:41 AM (DrWcr)

149 I'd like to see someone buy some shit on storage wars, then try to FIND the owners... Every Treasure they find... is taken from someone else... Posted by: Romeo13 at December 20, 2013 12:34 PM (lZBBB)
Bullshit. There are legal processes in place in every jurisdiction that mandate how and when the contents of a storage unit may be sold. If it's up for sale, it's because someone didn't pay the storage fees. When you rent a storage unit, you are told that if you don't pay, then the unit will be locked and the contents sold. The only thing that's been taken is the money that the unit owner could have been making renting that unit to someone else.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Mmmm. Blondies with whipped cream. at December 20, 2013 08:41 AM (VtjlW)

150 I watch segments of "Prospectors" because of Amanda, the chick from West Virginia may talk funny, but she's a looker with a great rack and she looks like she could rip Pajama Boy's head off and shit down his neck

Posted by: kbdabear at December 20, 2013 08:41 AM (aTXUx)

151 Off fascist scrunt sock.

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at December 20, 2013 08:41 AM (ZKzrr)

152 Did not watch DD but did watch "Girls". Coincidence?

Posted by: nip at December 20, 2013 08:41 AM (jI23+)

153 I only read the comments. ;-)

Posted by: Y-not at December 20, 2013 08:41 AM (zDsvJ)

154 92 So why is it that we, the free market, capitalists, do not take advantage of this hole in the market and bring to the masses what they have asked for time and time again.... and make some money in the process. December 20, 2013 12:30 PM (PYAXX) Because the stuff with more conservative and/or christian messages still has to be entertaining. And, unfortunately, most of the purposefully conservative stuff I've seen put out is not entertaining. Atlas Shrugged, Idiocracy, Red Eye. None of that is stuff I'm spending time watching. Limbaugh made millions NOT solely because he is conservative. He also had to be entertaining. He is entertaining. That is where the left fails on talk radio - their talk radio people were never entertaining - they were just preachy and nasty.

Posted by: monkeytoe at December 20, 2013 08:41 AM (sOx93)

155 Posted by: Y-not at December 20, 2013 12:36 PM (zDsvJ) Title 7 says you cannot fire someone for Religious beliefs that do not affect their job performance. And its a HIGH bar of proof when you talk about affecting Job performance... And I don't see how correctly quoting the Bible, can get you on a 'morals' charge....

Posted by: Romeo13 at December 20, 2013 08:41 AM (lZBBB)

156 You have obviously never tailgated in SEC country.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 20, 2013 12:34 PM (ltdV/)

Or Oklahoma University or Oklahoma State University or Texas...those rigs will make your eyes bleed.  There was one that was near where we parked at OU that had a Bentley for tooling around Norman and the bus itself was Country Music star big and fancy.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, it's what you pray for in your Christmas Stocking! at December 20, 2013 08:42 AM (kXoT0)

157 145 BREAKING: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been hospitalized for emergency surgery to remove a prepubescent boy's fist from Harry's ass from the tip of his penis. FIFY

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 20, 2013 08:42 AM (0FSuD)

158 The idealized world worker Cover Oregon videos are what the totalitarians would force us to watch, if .gov had it's way.

A Clockwork Oregon.

Posted by: 13times at December 20, 2013 08:42 AM (fGPLK)

159 The far left has won the culture war overwhelmingly and they are now shooting their prisoners.

Posted by: Drew in MO at December 20, 2013 08:42 AM (cGlgB)

160 This all reminds me of old Sam Walton in his biography. He talked about how reporters were surprised to find him driving his old pick up (with the dog Roy) instead of a chauffeured limo. And that there weren't any hoochie coochie girls down by the swimming hole pool.

Posted by: Serendipitydoodah, Santa's mindful webworker at December 20, 2013 08:43 AM (A9hpr)

161 Maybe all you PanicOutragers are being trolled by A and E. They saw how Chick-Fil-A cleaned up in response to an attack and engineered the whole thing. PanicOutrage predictably ensues. You all buy the Phil and Si Chia Pets as a symbol of solidarity and protest. A and E and the whole DD clan gets paid.

Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at December 20, 2013 08:43 AM (+lsX1)

162 We found them to be uppity.

Posted by: A&E management at December 20, 2013 08:43 AM (SO2Q8)

163 Episodes like this always bring out the lefty atheists who are self-appointed experts on Christianity. "But your Bible says you have to love everyone! Judging is evil!"

Posted by: brak at December 20, 2013 08:44 AM (NaTky)

164 ace, everything you need to know about their corporate culture was summed up in their first public statement. They claimed that they've been major supporters of GLAAD and associated causes since their founding. I'm pretty sure AE has been around since at least the mid-80s, when anything more than tolerance of homosexuality was a fringe view. So, they eitherwere alwaysrabid leftists, or they are ret-conning their own history due to now being rabid leftists and wanting to sound like they have always been rabid leftists.

 

Posted by: Conservative Crank at December 20, 2013 12:40 PM (sQ0LB)

 

Or, they are just paying protection money to the Progressive Mob.  It's impossible to tell these days.  As Rod Dreher writes today, GLAAD pretty much exists only to throw galas for itself and make pronouncments about who is "in" and who is "out." 

Posted by: rockmom at December 20, 2013 08:44 AM (NYnoe)

165 I loved Farscape with all the love and fervor in the two universes. Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, it's what you pray for in your Christmas Stocking! at December 20, 2013 12:30 PM (kXoT0) It was fun while it lasted, I fear we shall not see its like again. I mean, seriously, it was completely mad. Beautiful, but mad, bonkers, wonko. Captain Bialar Crais in a police uniform with high heels mad.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of Somethingorother at December 20, 2013 08:44 AM (qyfb5)

166 Do entertainers' contracts (or athletes or whoever) supersede the sorts of employment regs to which most of us are subjected? I really don't know. I'm sure that A&E can put all sorts of additional requirements onto the DD guys that most employers couldn't. For instance, they might be contractually obligated to keep their beards long. Stuff like that. But I honestly doubt that A&E can demonstrate "damage" to their product or even their company by Robertson's remarks.

Posted by: Y-not at December 20, 2013 08:45 AM (zDsvJ)

167 159 145 BREAKING: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been hospitalized for emergency surgery to remove a prepubescent boy's fist from Harry's ass from the tip of his penis. FIFY --- Ma'am, we're calling to report that your son had an accident at a bathroom on the New Jersey Turnpike. He was apparently found with a gerbil up his ass and sucking a Cub Scout's dick!

Posted by: Ralph Cifaretto at December 20, 2013 08:45 AM (/Crba)

168 Maybe all you PanicOutragers are being trolled by A and E. I don't think so, mostly because this show is way afield of A&E's usual offerings, and way WAY off from the typical 'reality TV' cesspool.

Posted by: --- at December 20, 2013 08:45 AM (MMC8r)

169

I see this all the time in my law practice.   A client doesn't have a college degree and they speak with a drawl maybe, and they started off their working life at age 20 or so as a roofer or an electrician's apprentice or a machinist or something like that, and then they worked hard and got promoted, and the next thing you know they're 55 and they've got 1,000 employees and five side businesses developing properties all over the country, and they still speak with a drawl, but they also have $30 or 40 million in the bank and a private jet.   And they get in meetings with slick Ivy League lawyers and no one quite figures out why they always seem to come out with a really good deal, or why they drive such tough bargains.

 

I guarantee you that what will happen here is that the Robertsons emerge from this "scandal" with higher ratings and a newly-renegotiated contract paying them a much higher percentage of the profits.   And the Ivy League suits who work for A&E will wonder how it all happened.  

Posted by: The Regular Guy at December 20, 2013 08:45 AM (qHCyt)

170 Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Mmmm. Blondies with whipped cream. at December 20, 2013 12:41 PM (VtjlW) Did I say it was Illegal??? I said its what I'd LIKE to see... because there are times when that stuff gets lost by the family when someone dies... or as happened to one of my Men... his shit got sold while he was on deployment... TAD... when the Military screwed up his disbursement... Could make some great TV... because I'm sure there are Sob stories out there on some, if not a lot, of this stuff.

Posted by: Romeo13 at December 20, 2013 08:46 AM (lZBBB)

171 120 You know, most folks have been saying that A&E has the legal right to suspend him, but do we know that to be the case? Surely there's a detailed contract that lays out the conditions under which the relationship can be terminated, especially given that there's a family involved and his family members won't want to be bound to their contracts after dad got the shaft.

First, if they still pay him whatever is in the contract, they can do whatever else they want. I'm not certain about it, but I believe I heard they are still paying him.

Second, I  assume that each family member has their own separate contractual agreement with the network. If that's true, then the others would be in breach of contract for striking in support of Phil.

Third, contracts almost always contain language that covers unacceptable behavior and actions that could embarrass the parties. The language can't specifically cover every possible circumstance, so these are things that often get argued by the lawyers. But still, it would be covered.

Bottom line, the network will, and can, do as it wishes, within limits. But the other bottom line is that the performers can make things terribly difficult if they wish, and when things become unworkable, the parties may just choose to cancel it all out and go their separate ways. A&E already has a black eye over this. If the show can't go on as it has, I'm sure they'd want to just put this behind them as quietly as possible.

Posted by: Cornfed at December 20, 2013 08:46 AM (Hoy9u)

172 Yeah, I love those people. They are the same one's claiming that advocating Socialism is the epitome of a Christ-like quality. Facepalm.

Posted by: The Obsidian Owl at December 20, 2013 12:46 PM (tWmgi)

 

Yep, they missed the whole "My kingdom is not of this earth" part.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 20, 2013 08:47 AM (DrWcr)

173 In Jonah Goldberg's NR article today he states that he "disagrees with RobertsonÂ’s take on homosexuality".  I tweeted Jonah and asked what specifically he disagrees with - I don't expect an answer.

Posted by: Not an Artist at December 20, 2013 08:48 AM (uRumV)

174 Limbaugh and Beck were first entertainers, and only second conservative talk guys. Limbaugh and Beck grew up like Howard Stern did, wanting to be on the radio. Doing sports, doing news, being a disc jockey, anything. I think one reason there hasn't been a young Rush come along is because the younger guys coming along grow up wanting to be Rush ... and not an entertainer.

Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 20, 2013 08:48 AM (ZPrif)

175

I so hope that the family sticks together. All or none. have them tell the netowork...

Oh and by-the-by before we condescend to return to your crappy basic cable channel, we'd like a letter of apology to Phil from the president of the network and for whoever made the decision to suspend him fired.

And then you will blow us.

 

Posted by: Buzzsaw90 at December 20, 2013 08:48 AM (SO2Q8)

176 My favorite was the episode in which Phil and Uncle Si subbed for Willie at a grade-school Career Day. Phil taught the kiddies about cleaning (dead) ducks, and Si told them about 'Nam.

----------




I thought I was going to pee my pants over that one!  LOL

Posted by: grammie winger at December 20, 2013 08:48 AM (P6QsQ)

177 I see this all the time in my law practice. A client doesn't have a college degree and they speak with a drawl maybe, and they started off their working life at age 20 or so as a roofer or an electrician's apprentice or a machinist or something like that, and then they worked hard and got promoted, and the next thing you know they're 55 and they've got 1,000 employees and five side businesses developing properties all over the country, and they still speak with a drawl, but they also have $30 or 40 million in the bank and a private jet.  Posted by: The Regular Guy at December 20, 2013 12:45 PM (qHCyt)

Yep, my neighbor out at the lake sold his business when he was ready to retire and bought himself a Rolls Royce just for grins to celebrate.  He sold that car four years later for $4,000 more than he paid for it and then bought another Rolls.

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, it's what you pray for in your Christmas Stocking! at December 20, 2013 08:48 AM (kXoT0)

178 A&E is jointly owned by ABC-Disney and the Hearst Corporation. Corporate cultures usually start at the top.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 20, 2013 08:48 AM (g1DWB)

179 I am firmly convinced that the current "support" for gay marriage and the gay agenda in general is a mile wide and an inch deep. It's driven more by fear of being ridiculed, fired, shut out of social circles, etc. than it is by any genuine agreement that gays ought to have their personal choices codified into national law. Most people have a "why not?" attitude to it. You start suing bakers and overturning polygamy laws and all of a sudden, it doesn't look like a consequence-free choice.

Posted by: AmishDude at December 20, 2013 08:48 AM (T0NGe)

180 I didn't think DD was something I'd be interested in until I tuned in an episode and found it pretty damn funny. Jase's comedic delivery is perfect and Si...well Si is fucking golden. Sadly it was only a matter of time before the moral busybodies found something they could latch onto. How dare those hicks become more popular than anything the bien pensants were conceiving or producing.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at December 20, 2013 08:49 AM (Qt/d2)

181 Wow, the idea that the guy doing the interview for GQ would have a pro-gay agenda, where would anyone ever get that idea. I mean, GQ! Hard to get more dead-butch manly than that bunch. Really, did you see their article on using a really abrasive scrub on your face, and how you should just ignore the incredible pain and do it for the benefit of the soft, silky skin that results? Right up there with Jack London!

Then there was their 'Looking for Lattes in the Wilds of Schenectady' series. Gripping! The sequence where Conor wrestled the frozen creamer top for his soy milk! Right up there with 'Hound of the Baskervilles' for manly action!

Excuse me, I have to go exfoliate and moisturize..

Posted by: Sort-of-Mad Max at December 20, 2013 08:49 AM (DLu2s)

182

Whenever I see a post like this, which I agree with completely, I can't help but wonder.


WHY do you live in New York, Ace?

 

If he can make it there, he can make it anywhere!

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at December 20, 2013 08:49 AM (zF6Iw)

183 But still, it would be covered.

Is a contract that specifies something illegal enforceable though?

Posted by: GMan at December 20, 2013 08:49 AM (sxq57)

184 I believe Whale Wars' new season starts tomorrow. Operation Zero Tolerance should be hilarious.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 20, 2013 08:49 AM (P1WNR)

185 I said its what I'd LIKE to see... because there are times when that stuff gets lost by the family when someone dies... That is true. And I'd "like" to see stuff like that sometimes, too. But let's not forget why the stuff was up for auction in the first place. As for the guy whose stuff got sold while he was TAD- funny/sad story: while my dad was in Vietnam, my grand-dad sold dad's car. And moved. Dad was very non-plussed when he returned home.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at December 20, 2013 08:49 AM (PYAXX)

186 Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at December 20, 2013 12:43 PM (+lsX1)

----

Possible..... but unlikely.

There are HUUUUGE swaths in Entertainment and the News Media industry that will not abandon dogma no matter how low the ratings go.   I doubt A&E are any better than CNN in that regard.

Any benefit to A&E as a result of this kerfuffle will be entirely by accident.

Posted by: fixerupper at December 20, 2013 08:49 AM (nELVU)

187 No, DD and A&E didn't engineer this. That's stupid. GLAAD and GQ engineered this.

Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 20, 2013 08:49 AM (ZPrif)

188 Or Oklahoma University or Oklahoma State University or Texas...those rigs will make your eyes bleed. There was one that was near where we parked at OU that had a Bentley for tooling around Norman and the bus itself was Country Music star big and fancy. Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, it's what you pray for in your Christmas Stocking! at December 20, 2013 12:42 PM (kXoT0) I love watching the various Super RVs! type shows and I'm always struck by how the people buying them are usually self-made uber millionaires who are not quite Our Type Of People and yet they are not batting an eye about dropping a cool million or two in cash for a toy to tool around in. There was one couple who were jewelers. She was in a fur with some serious, serious emeralds going on and he looked like your generic good ol' boy unless you knew your hats and boots and knew what he was wearing probably cost at least as much as her fur. She mentioned how when they got married 25 years ago, they had their honeymoon on the beach because they'd been evicted a couple days before and had nowhere to live.
Twenty-five years later? I would conservatively estimate their worth to be over $50 million. Stupid hicks. Stupid hicks who could pay $2.5 million in cash and not miss it.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Mmmm. Blondies with whipped cream. at December 20, 2013 08:50 AM (VtjlW)

189 I'd like to see someone buy some shit on storage wars, then try to FIND the owners... Every Treasure they find... is taken from someone else... Posted by: Romeo13 ------------------ I actually did that. It's a long story, and would take a lot of space. I'll try to condense it. After some period of time, the contents of abandoned safe-deposit boxes are turned over to the state. The state has a proscribed procedure for attempting to find the owners. When all attempts fail, the state auctions off the contents of the boxes. I bought one, simply because after perusing the contents, I thought that I could find the owner. The contents were entirely personal items. Family 'heirlooms', but not valuable in the material sense. I spent a year and a half (this was pre-Internet) finding the child of the people who had owned the box. It was *not* easy, and I am surprised that I did it, but i did. Along with things of her parents (things like a 25 Year Lockheed service pin, WWI service medals), there baby items of hers, also Brownie/Girl Scout pins etc, even her baby ID bracelet. When I finally found her. She did not want them. I made it clear that I only wanted the price that I had for the box, which was maybe $50.00. I was stunned. I still have the stuff, because I can't bring myself to just throw it out.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at December 20, 2013 08:50 AM (aDwsi)

190 I tweeted Jonah and asked what specifically he disagrees with - I don't expect an answer.

Perhaps he finds a male anus as alluring as a vagina.

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at December 20, 2013 08:51 AM (ZKzrr)

191 The "tell" on how A+E corporate saw this show was the manufactured beeps.

Posted by: mrp at December 20, 2013 08:51 AM (HjPtV)

192 While in law school, I was in an Army reserve signal company. Had a sergeant in the company who was an older guy (hard to pin down, but closer to 50 than 30), kind of a sweet, mild-mannered gentleman really, but came across as slightly slow. One day there was a comic (The Far Side) in the paper referencing the Olduvai gorge. My CO said to show it to SGT so-and-so (actually, SSG), and I did so not really expecting the results I got -- a 5 minute dissertation on the gorge which nearly went off into all kinds of anthropology but we had to assemble. Turns out the guy pretty much knew a lot about a lot, but never showed it unless you gave him reason to. (My CO knew this.)

Posted by: SFGoth at December 20, 2013 08:51 AM (whpOu)

193 ...and this is why I cut the cable 2 years ago.  I'll watch it on Netflix and AE can bleep my bleep.

Posted by: tangonine at December 20, 2013 08:51 AM (x3YFz)

194 I am firmly convinced that the current "support" for gay marriage and the gay agenda in general is a mile wide and an inch deep. It's driven more by fear of being ridiculed, fired, shut out of social circles, etc. than it is by any genuine agreement that gays ought to have their personal choices codified into national law. Posted by: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus at December 20, 2013 12:37 PM (YYJjz) Liberals tend to win issues like this by simply sticking with it. They pound away on it day in and day out until the average (non political) person simply wants it to go away. Defending the status quo is extremely difficult. It's like a child having a meltdown. Sometimes you just want to give them the cookie or whatever they are demanding and not deal with it. That's the way it is with liberal causes and regular people. At some point, the people just want to be left alone and not have to hear about it anymore. So, more people probably are against legalizing gay marriage than the polls show, but they aren't passionately against it and they'd rather just give up on it if it will buy them some peace.

Posted by: monkeytoe at December 20, 2013 08:51 AM (sOx93)

195 178 Limbaugh and Beck were first entertainers, and only second conservative talk guys. Limbaugh and Beck grew up like Howard Stern did, wanting to be on the radio. Doing sports, doing news, being a disc jockey, anything. Was a big fan of Neal Boortz' radio show for years (I lived in Atlanta in the 1990s and got hooked). He often said that he was first and foremost an entertainer, and often described his job as "getting people to stay on the channel so his advertisers could sell them stuff". He had a great schtick, and that's why I listened to his show for 20 years until he retired.

Posted by: RightWingProf at December 20, 2013 08:51 AM (ceOhI)

196 193 Oooops, *prescribed

Posted by: Mike Hammer at December 20, 2013 08:51 AM (aDwsi)

197 >>They have this dry, quiet sense of humor that isn't what you expect from people who look like that. Polite and quietly funny. Yesterday I took a watch to a jeweler and asked if they replace watch batteries. "Yes, ma'am, every day of the week except Thursday." *pause while AJ figures out that it was indeed Thursday* "Oh, ha ha."

Posted by: Mama AJ at December 20, 2013 08:51 AM (SUKHu)

198 Phil, "We always eat what we catch" Watch out A&E!

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at December 20, 2013 08:51 AM (qZr+9)

199

I've never seen the show and now I'm torn.  I've heard it's hilarious and I'd love to support the Robertsons, but I don't want to give A&E another set of eyeballs.

 

I sure hope DD goes to another network.

Posted by: MacGruber at December 20, 2013 08:51 AM (S+el1)

200 A&E can can kiss my crusty bung-hole.




Posted by: dananjcon at December 20, 2013 08:52 AM (wmU4G)

201 On Facebook yesterday, when I pointed out that A&E exists to please its share holders--like all other corporations--even conservatives were hollering "no they exist to please their customers," meaning the viewers. The ignorance is frightening.

Posted by: baldilocks at December 20, 2013 08:52 AM (36Rjy)

202 No matter what cutting Duck Dynasty does to A&E's bottom line, the executives are not going to go to swank cocktail parties and have to explain themselves.  They would much rather be with the cool kids and lose money.

I love the backfire, it reminds me of Archie Bunker. America was supposed to laugh at him and subsequently push the country into a more liberal and sophisticated place.  Turns out, America liked Archie Bunker more than the liberal elites.

Posted by: McAdams at December 20, 2013 08:52 AM (sj/bs)

203 This is funny -- someone sent this link to me: https://twitter.com/WeWillHateThis/status/413917765477494784 "If you agree with Phil Robertson, tweet #IPreferVagina ; if you disagree with him, tweet #IPreferAnus. Let's see which trends higher!" I don't do Twitter, so I'm posting it here for those who do!

Posted by: zombie at December 20, 2013 08:52 AM (+cx5n)

204 Eh, Duck Dynasty won't have any problem relocating to a different network. Change names, or something. I've never seen it. But reruns stream on Netflix, I think. Dump A&E. Sue A&E for punitive measures against Robertson's constitutional rights. Anyway, a man saying that he prefers a female's vagina to a man's anus is not "hate speech" or anti-gay. And as far as "sin" goes, laying off a man because he says a particular "sin" isn't his cup of tea? Get real.

Posted by: panzernashorn at December 20, 2013 08:52 AM (MhA4j)

205 >>AE can can kiss my crusty bung-hole. There's been way too much talk of man ass around here lately.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 20, 2013 08:53 AM (g1DWB)

206 AE can can kiss my crusty bung-hole.




Posted by: dananjcon at December 20, 2013 12:52 PM (wmU4G)

 

Vagina > your crusty bunghole.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 20, 2013 08:53 AM (DrWcr)

207 Most people have a "why not?" attitude to it. You start suing bakers and overturning polygamy laws and all of a sudden, it doesn't look like a consequence-free choice. --- This is where the creeping fascism of the GLAAD types starts rubbing people raw. People may or may not support Prop 8 out in California, but the horseshit with people harassing Mormons who donated to the Pro-8 campaign pisses people off.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 20, 2013 08:53 AM (/Crba)

208 One thing we don't know is what A&E is able to charge for their ratings. All ratings are not created equal. WWE Raw is one of the top shows on cable every week and has been for 20 years now --- yet WWE famously can't charge nearly as much for ad rates as other shows with worse ratings. Because it's considered low-class and the audience that watches has below average incomes. CNBC gets very low ratings but is able to charge huge amounts for ads cause it's tiny audience is very rich and prestigious.

Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 20, 2013 08:53 AM (ZPrif)

209 How backward could they be? They all have college degrees and even two of the sons have graduate degrees. I've heard that it was a "business decision" by A&E. But since it is their only really popular program and it is a cash cow, I don't see how losing them is a sound business decision.

Posted by: Oregon at December 20, 2013 08:54 AM (h4eud)

210 TV shows aren't all about ratings. They are all about revenue. And ratings are only useful as a path to revenue.

Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 20, 2013 08:54 AM (ZPrif)

211 205 On Facebook yesterday, when I pointed out that AE exists to please its share holders--like all other corporations--even conservatives were hollering "no they exist to please their customers," meaning the viewers. The ignorance is frightening. --- The two can intertwine. They directly please their shareholders by making money. But it's kind of hard to make money if you antagonize your customer base.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 20, 2013 08:54 AM (/Crba)

212 Big Anus is ruining this country.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 20, 2013 08:55 AM (P1WNR)

213 208 Dump A&E. Sue A&E for punitive measures against Robertson's constitutional rights. Posted by Panzerhorn /// Dude. Full stop. A&E did not violate Robertson's constitutional rights.

Posted by: SFGoth at December 20, 2013 08:55 AM (whpOu)

214 It's a funny show.  My liberal wife loves it, believe it or not.  I think people like it because the Robertsons genuinely seem to like each other and act like real people.  They rib each other constantly, but when push comes to shove, they back their family 100%.  Also, they are masculine with superb beards. 

Posted by: Witchfinder at December 20, 2013 08:55 AM (E1Cat)

215 213 How backward could they be? They all have college degrees and even two of the sons have graduate degrees. I've heard that it was a "business decision" by A&E. But since it is their only really popular program and it is a cash cow, I don't see how losing them is a sound business decision.

Posted by: Oregon at December 20, 2013 12:54 PM (h4eud)

You're making the mistake of thinking progcommies are rational.

Posted by: tangonine at December 20, 2013 08:55 AM (x3YFz)

216 I haven't read the whole thread but... How much longer could the show have gone on? They were starting to run out of highjinks. I wonder if this wasn't a mutual decision to go out with a bang--- A&E gets to say "Look, we stand up for our principles, gays!" The Robertsons get to say "Look, we stand up for our principles!" Both get the benefit of the rush on DD merchandise, and both get to leave DD at the top of its game, without the slow petering-out that most shows eventually do. /cynicism

Posted by: Jenny Hates Her Phone at December 20, 2013 08:55 AM (Ql2mW)

217 204AE can can kiss my crusty bung-hole.

Posted by: dananjcon at December 20, 2013 12:52 PM (wmU4G) ---- We prefer those to vaginas actually.

Posted by: A&E management at December 20, 2013 08:55 AM (SO2Q8)

218 Did I say it was Illegal??? I said its what I'd LIKE to see... because there are times when that stuff gets lost by the family when someone dies... or as happened to one of my Men... his shit got sold while he was on deployment... TAD... when the Military screwed up his disbursement... Could make some great TV... because I'm sure there are Sob stories out there on some, if not a lot, of this stuff. Posted by: Romeo13 at December 20, 2013 12:46 PM (lZBBB) You said that everything was taken from someone else. That sure as hell implies that the person doing the taking is doing something wrong.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Mmmm. Blondies with whipped cream. at December 20, 2013 08:56 AM (VtjlW)

219 Turns out, America liked Archie Bunker more than the liberal elites. You know, that show is unwatchable today. Just horribly bad and dated. Norman Lear was a talentless hack, and never had a success that wasn't milked from a better British show.

Posted by: --- at December 20, 2013 08:56 AM (MMC8r)

220 Silence! I keel you!

Posted by: Achmed at December 20, 2013 08:56 AM (aDwsi)

221 So, guys, does this mean we should stop work on the ski ramp and fake shark for Duck Dynasty?

Posted by: Duck Dynasty's Props Department at December 20, 2013 08:57 AM (DLu2s)

222 I punch A&E

Posted by: Torque at December 20, 2013 08:57 AM (x3YFz)

223 Big Anus is ruining this country.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 20, 2013 12:55 PM (P1WNR)


Thats funny.

Posted by: Berserker- Dragonheads Division at December 20, 2013 08:58 AM (FMbng)

224 The last time WWE renegotiating their TV deal they were forced to accept a low-ball offer from USA, because USA was the only network to make an offer. Nobody else wanted them even though they had one of the highest rated shows on TV. Raw was on Spike and Spike let them go and replaced them with much lower rated shows. Cause they wanted to brand Spike as a more upscale network and they thought having WWE on the channel made them look poor and trashy.

Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 20, 2013 08:58 AM (ZPrif)

225 I punch AE Posted by: Torque ---------------------- Torque - Man.., I think you need to clarify that a little. Given the topic.

Posted by: Achmed at December 20, 2013 08:59 AM (aDwsi)

226 They did the show to spread the word. They were already very wealthy.

Posted by: thunderb at December 20, 2013 08:59 AM (rS0M6)

227 Big Anus is ruining this country.


Posted by: Dr Spank at December 20, 2013 12:55 PM (P1WNR)

Thats funny.

Posted by: Berserker- Dragonheads Division at December 20, 2013 12:58 PM (FMbng)

 

No it's not.

Posted by: Bawney Fwank's prolapsed rectum at December 20, 2013 08:59 AM (DrWcr)

228 You know, that show is unwatchable today. Just horribly bad and dated. I agree, I always thought it was awful, even when I was a kid and didn't understand the oh, so clever cultural statements it was making. Norman Lear was a talentless hack, and never had a success that wasn't milked from a better British show. The best thing Norman Lear ever produced was the Jeffersons theme song.

Posted by: AmishDude at December 20, 2013 08:59 AM (T0NGe)

229 227 Big Anus is ruining this country. Posted by: Dr Spank at December 20, 2013 12:55 PM (P1WNR) Thats funny. Posted by: Berserker- Dragonheads Division at December 20, 2013 12:58 PM (FMbng) And scary.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 20, 2013 08:59 AM (h4eud)

230 205 On Facebook yesterday, when I pointed out that AE exists to please its share holders--like all other corporations--even conservatives were hollering "no they exist to please their customers," meaning the viewers. The ignorance is frightening. Posted by: baldilocks at December 20, 2013 12:52 PM (36Rjy) I understand your point, but both are correct to a certain extent. If you aren't pleasing your customers (i.e., selling stuff and making money), you are very unlikely to be able to please your shareholders. I mean, yeah - if all the shareholders wanted to lose money and do something stupid, then yes, customers be damned do what the shareholders want - they own the business. But, my guess is most shareholders want to do what makes the customer happy (at least happy enough to sell something to them). So, making the customer happy does, to a large extent = making the shareholder happy. Of course, if you made the customer happy by selling stuff to him at a loss, that would be a different story.

Posted by: monkeytoe at December 20, 2013 08:59 AM (sOx93)

231 from "all American" Duck Dynasty to Kenyan/American Obama Dynasty... what gives with his supposed half brother Mark showing up again since Mark's brief appearance in the media as Obama's near-twin in China? AS IF BARRY AIN'T ENOUGH OBAMA to make us all sick... And why would Mark's stepfather be Soetero just like Barack's stepdad? Now THAT is queer shit topped with abuse. Daily Mail http://tinyurl.com/llpgv2x

Posted by: panzernashorn at December 20, 2013 08:59 AM (MhA4j)

232 Late to the game, as usual:

This is an interesting theory. I agree it sounds quite plausible. The weak part is that the author has got zero factual evidence to support it.

Posted by: OregonMuse at December 20, 2013 08:59 AM (xm1A1)

233 Can you see the Robertsons colluding with A&E for a fake controversy?  That seems radically out of character.  If they want to leave, they'll do it on their terms, and probably burn a pile of cash on the desk on their way out the door to prove a point.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at December 20, 2013 08:59 AM (sQ0LB)

234 Never thought I'd cheer for a Japanese Whaling Vessel... - I see Putin pardoned the Greenpeace scrum. I was hoping they were going to be bucked in Siberia for Christmas.

Posted by: WalrusRex at December 20, 2013 08:59 AM (/gNyv)

235 216 Big Anus is ruining this country. Posted by: Dr Spank at December 20, 2013 12:55 PM (P1WNR) Them and Anal Jihad. Which of course, leads to Big Anus. O.k. I denounce myself.

Posted by: RightWingProf at December 20, 2013 09:00 AM (ceOhI)

236 Posted by: Oregon at December 20, 2013 12:54 PM (h4eud) Its interesting that the 'business decision' was completed during ONE phone call, from GLAAD. They caved at the outset... this was not a thought out decision according to press accounts... It was pure Panic.

Posted by: Romeo13 at December 20, 2013 09:00 AM (lZBBB)

237 Big Anus is too big to fail, and in need of a bailout.

Posted by: Barry Soetero at December 20, 2013 09:00 AM (DrWcr)

238 You wanted R-E-A-L-I-T-Y TV, and then when it got too "real" for ya, you started whining. TOO FREAKING BAD! Freedom of Speech means that someone can stand on a street corner and yell at the top of their lungs something that you and I might find offensive, AND THAT I BE GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY!

Posted by: Pelosi Schmelosi at December 20, 2013 09:01 AM (2mR8s)

239 Leftists always claim that we're hypocrites because "Jesus was about helping the poor"

He was about helping them with YOUR OWN MEANS, not by taking other peoples money, keeping a large portion of it for yourself and handing what's left over to the poor. He never said anything about working your ass off so that the poor could have a 60 inch tv without working for it

It's like the 2nd Amendment "experts" on the left who claim that the right to bear arms is for the National Guard, not for citizens

Posted by: kbdabear at December 20, 2013 09:01 AM (aTXUx)

240 I am now calling for government support for Big Anus.

Posted by: Barry Sotero at December 20, 2013 09:02 AM (ceOhI)

241 Norman Lear was a talentless hack, and never had a success that wasn't milked from a better British show. --- Was "Good Times" originally a British show? I know "All In The Family" and "Sanford And Son" were for sure and think "The Jeffersons" were as well.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 20, 2013 09:02 AM (/Crba)

242 What was the original contract between the two parties? Which party stands in violation of that contract? Did the Robertsons sign on to 'witness their faith'? Did A&E sign on for a secular program about hunting and rednecks? Until you answer questions like those, all of the rest is just hand-waving and appeals to emotion - the kinds of arguments you despise when your progressive opponents use them.

Posted by: Warren Bonesteel at December 20, 2013 09:02 AM (klGLB)

243  Phil wanted a platform for preaching the Gospel.  Merry Christmas, Phil.  Well done good and faithful servant.

Posted by: grammie winger at December 20, 2013 09:02 AM (P6QsQ)

244 So, per Big Anus, as a Christian you can no longer voice Christian views because it is grounds for being fired?

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 20, 2013 09:02 AM (h4eud)

245 Big Anus is ruining this country. Posted by: Dr Spank at December 20, 2013 12:55 PM (P1WNR) So you think Michelle is the Real Power in the White House?

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at December 20, 2013 09:02 AM (PYAXX)

246

You know, that show is unwatchable today. Just horribly bad and dated.

 

I think every show that tried to be "relevant" in the 70s is unwatchable, not just the Lear stable.

 

Norman Lear was a talentless hack, and never had a success that wasn't milked from a better British show.

 

Posted by: --- at December 20, 2013 12:56 PM (MMC8r)

 

He wasn't behind Three's Company, was he?  I always liked Man About the House better because the brunette was such a horny little minx.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at December 20, 2013 09:03 AM (zF6Iw)

247 >>What was the original contract between the two parties? Which party stands in violation of that contract? Did the Robertsons sign on to 'witness their faith'? Did A&E sign on for a secular program about hunting and rednecks? You do realize that the "offensive comments" were made in a magazine interview and not on A&E, right?

Posted by: JackStraw at December 20, 2013 09:03 AM (g1DWB)

248 Raw was on Spike and Spike let them go and replaced them with much lower rated shows. Cause they wanted to brand Spike as a more upscale network and they thought having WWE on the channel made them look poor and trashy.

The USA network should get Vince McMahon to sit down for an interview on Al-Jazeera and utter some inflammatory remarks about terrorists and Arabs. Then, when he's attacked by liberal sympathizers, we can all rush to his rescue by buying WWE merchandise. PanicOutragers unite!!

Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at December 20, 2013 09:03 AM (+lsX1)

249 Uh oh. There is another tape of Phil preaching at a church where he calls homosexuals degenerates and God haters.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at December 20, 2013 09:04 AM (oFCZn)

250 Well for the "suits" at A&E--I say duck em.

Posted by: Comanche Voter at December 20, 2013 09:04 AM (VAche)

251 246 What was the original contract between the two parties? Which party stands in violation of that contract? Did the Robertsons sign on to 'witness their faith'? Did A&E sign on for a secular program about hunting and rednecks? Until you answer questions like those, all of the rest is just hand-waving and appeals to emotion - the kinds of arguments you despise when your progressive opponents use them. Posted by: Warren Bonesteel at December 20, 2013 01:02 PM (klGLB) It was in an interview with GQ...aka, Gay Quota.

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at December 20, 2013 09:04 AM (bCEmE)

252 253 Uh oh. There is another tape of Phil preaching at a church where he calls homosexuals degenerates and God haters. --- If they try to call this hate-speech or incorrect, play footage from the 2012 DNC where the crowd booed the inclusion of God and Christianity from the platform.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 20, 2013 09:05 AM (/Crba)

253

Big Anus is ruining this country.
Posted by: Dr Spank at December 20, 2013 12:55 PM (P1WNR)

 

Mr. Whipple could not be reached for comment.



Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at December 20, 2013 09:05 AM (zF6Iw)

254 Piers Morgan once again demonstrates he is clueless. He is claims thst the First Amendment should not protect h8ters like Phil.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 20, 2013 09:06 AM (h4eud)

255 Somehow, I do not see AE commenting on radical Islam.

Posted by: Mallamutt, at December 20, 2013 01:04 PM (OWjjx)

 

that is cuz they donwant their heads chopped off

Posted by: zipline Bob at December 20, 2013 09:06 AM (W6iIX)

256 Big Anus? Man I long for the days of Big Candle.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at December 20, 2013 09:06 AM (oFCZn)

257 Yeah, finding out that Phil has a masters degree must be like on the movie RV where they find out the dad went to Stanford and the home schooled kids are two to three grades ahead.  "You mean you guys are SMART????"

Posted by: AE at December 20, 2013 09:06 AM (sSKe8)

258 Was "Good Times" originally a British show? I know "All In The Family" and "Sanford And Son" were for sure and think "The Jeffersons" were as well. 'All In The Family' begat 'The Jeffersons' and 'Maude' (shudder). 'Maude' spun off 'Good Times.' So, basically, they all sprung from Lear's rework of 'Til Death Us Do Part.'

Posted by: --- at December 20, 2013 09:06 AM (MMC8r)

259 CNBC gets very low ratings but is able to charge huge amounts for ads cause it's tiny audience is very rich and prestigious. Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 20, 2013 12:53 PM (ZPrif) I watch a metric fuckton of tennis and most of it is on the Tennis Channel. The ratings have to be minuscule for that because that's a niche of a niche.

The ads? Let's just say that I now know all about Emirates airlines and their private cabins. Oh and aren't Audis awesome?

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Mmmm. Blondies with whipped cream. at December 20, 2013 09:06 AM (VtjlW)

260 Piers Morgan once again demonstrates he is clueless. He is claims thst the First Amendment should not protect h8ters like Phil. That's not clueless; it's honest. They believe that all of the Amendments should have the "except for people we don't like" clause.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at December 20, 2013 09:07 AM (PYAXX)

261 Well, I just think it's extra bad that he made those thoughless comments at this time of year. Don't people realize that talking about Christian beliefs just ruins the holiday season for many of us????

Posted by: Conor Freidstein-Derp, Holding A Cup Of Renovation Hardware Brand Cocoa And Looking Smug at December 20, 2013 09:07 AM (DLu2s)

262 237 Not exactly a fake controversy---I believe he was completely honest in everything he said to GQ. But for, what, four or five years, he's been able to avoid being too blunt about his sincere beliefs, as most people are when in pursuit of a goal. A&E knew he was, and winked at it, and the Robertsons knew who A&E was all along, and what their goals were, and winked, too. Until the show hit its peak, anyway. I'm also not saying that Phil's goal was strictly financial; he has plenty of money already. I think he probably wanted to show that a show like DD could be a real success---which adds to my theory. If the show simply petered out, it could be dismissed more easily. Always leave 'em wanting more.

Posted by: Jenny Hates Her Phone at December 20, 2013 09:07 AM (Ql2mW)

263 nood

Posted by: zipline Bob at December 20, 2013 09:08 AM (W6iIX)

264 Ready, aim, backfire!  Thanks for the exploding cigar.  Ouch, that boomerang hit me right in the back of the head.

Posted by: A&E at December 20, 2013 09:10 AM (wAQA5)

265 It's too bad Intrade folded. I'd love to bet on how long it is before A&E folds. What do you think the over & under is?

Posted by: RightWingProf at December 20, 2013 09:11 AM (ceOhI)

266 I was a latecomer to Duck Dynasty but it's become one of my favorite shows in the last six months. I was just watching the 'Christmas Nativity' episode last night and there were a couple perfect laugh out loud moments that I'm sure were never written or planned out.

Now I'm sure the producers do some scripting and editing but the main thing is that the Robertson gang are a witty and self-aware group and have near perfect comic timing. I suspect they were already a natural improv group during their day-to-day activities and the producers were smart enough to go with this and edit and package it into episodes.

If you haven't watched DD, at least give it a try for an episode or two. Don't let the corn pone image and marketing fool you - the Robertsons are very smart and very funny and most of the humor comes from them making fun of themselves.

Posted by: Mætenloch at December 20, 2013 09:11 AM (XkotV)

267 There they go clinging to their guns & religion again!

Posted by: CADDaddy at December 20, 2013 09:11 AM (rdXGe)

268 >>> Millions upon millions of people tuned in, not to laugh at them, but to laugh with them. Yep. The brothers do engage in a lot of buffoonery, but they are open about it and they bear it with good humor.

Posted by: fluffy, Yuppie duckman at December 20, 2013 09:11 AM (Ua6T/)

269 Maude was supposed to be the left-wing Archie Bunker, loud and obnoxious only with the correct views, but America just thought Bea Arthur had a dick.

Posted by: X at December 20, 2013 09:12 AM (KHo8t)

270

243 Leftists always claim that we're hypocrites because "Jesus was about helping the poor"

He was about helping them with YOUR OWN MEANS, not by taking other peoples money, keeping a large portion of it for yourself and handing what's left over to the poor. He never said anything about working your ass off so that the poor could have a 60 inch tv without working for it

_____________________

Seems like a significant percentage of today's poor exhibit the characteristics of the rich people Jesus warned about.

Posted by: Furious George at December 20, 2013 09:12 AM (yFb77)

271 willow, time to go up a level.

Posted by: fluffy, suburbanite at December 20, 2013 09:13 AM (Ua6T/)

272 Vagina > your crusty bunghole.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 20, 2013 12:53 PM (DrWcr)

 

You've obviously never seen my vagina.

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at December 20, 2013 09:13 AM (wAQA5)

273 274 Maude was supposed to be the left-wing Archie Bunker, loud and obnoxious only with the correct views, but America just thought Bea Arthur had a dick. --- I think the only person who knows for sure is Pip from Airheads, who somehow managed to get naked pictures of her.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 20, 2013 09:13 AM (/Crba)

274 You've obviously never seen my vagina.
Posted by: Sandra Fluke at December 20, 2013 01:13 PM (wAQA5)

Who am I kidding, everyone's seen my vagina

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at December 20, 2013 09:14 AM (eV1I0)

275 @ 119, are you talking about the Kilchers from AK around Homer Alaska? If so, small freaking world it is.

Posted by: Judge_Roy_Bean at December 20, 2013 09:15 AM (Oxi7U)

276 Just like I laugh at the Sea Shepherds on Whale Wars. I love whales. I've done a lot of offshore fishing and when you see whales you know you're around life and it's a good place to look for tuna. And when the breach and crash back into the water like a VW Microbus it sends shivers. I've spent hours at dusk drifting silently, not fishing, just listening to whales blow percussive noises at each other and thought it was magic. So I watched one episode of Whale Wars. A greasy haired hippie had travelled all the way to Antarctica for his cause, saw a whale, and told the cameras how moved he was because he'd never seen a real live whale before. For fucking real? He wasn't in love with whales, he was in love with the idea of whales. It's all a fucking pose.

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at December 20, 2013 09:15 AM (1xUj/)

277 I probably shouldn't reveal this, but the likelihood of anyone who knows me in real life ever reading this thread are practically nil (since they're all flaming moonbats). So here goes. A couple years ago I (along with a business partner) was approached to be the star of a reality show. (And no, I'm not going to reveal why, nor the topic of the show, so don't ask. It had nothing to do with politics or my blogging persona, but rather my "real life" self). We got pretty far into the process. A pilot episode was even filmed (though not edited). Meetings, contracts, agents, etc. The whole nine yards. HOWEVER, I was skeptical from the get-go. In the very first meeting between the me, my partner, our agent, the production company and the network representatives, I just came out and laid it on the line. I don't have a recording of the meeting, but I said something very much like this: "I'm worried. There are two kinds of reality shows: Shows in which the star of the show is authenticity depicted as an admirable hero; and shows in which the star is an unwitting buffoon. You guys are pitching this show to me as if it will be the first type: You claim we're going to be like the stars of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" or "Mythbusters" in which I am presented as an expert to be admired and emulated. But I suspect that this show will in fact be of the second type, and I'll end up being like the families on "Trading Spouses" or the stage moms on "Toddlers & Tiaras": They imagine that they're TV stars, but in fact they're only being featured so we the audience can mock and laugh at them. It is presumed by you the producers that the unwitting buffoons are so unrelentingly stupid that not only will they fall for the ruse in the first place, but even after they are publicly humiliated, they still won't wise up that they are laughingstocks. I suspect that you will endlessly reassure me that this show is not designed to make me a laughingstock, but I will never take you at your word. As a result, as we move through this process, I will be watching you for any sort of clues as to the true nature of the show; and also, I may demand some control over how it is edited and how I am presented." My agent about shat a brick when I said this, and the producers were visibly wide-eyed and uncomfortable. In fact, their reaction in my presence convinced me that I was spot-on correct. Partly as a result of my suspicious attitude, my show never made it to production and was never aired. Stillborn. And then about two years later (fairly recently, actually) a new show appeared on the same network which was OBVIOUSLY the fallback substitute for the show that was to star me. And exactly as I suspected: It was a make-fun-of-the-unwitting-buffoons freak show. I was right. The smartest thing I ever did was sabotage that show. Anyway, the point of what I'm saying is that I'm 100% sure the same process happened with Duck Dynasty: The producers told the Robertsons they'd be heroes, and then behind their backs planned to paint them as buffoonish ignorant rednecks, to be mocked. And then it backfired: The effete urban intellectuals (the intended audience) never tuned into the show, but instead America's rednecks discovered it, and did in fact regard the Robertsons as heros.

Posted by: zombie at December 20, 2013 09:15 AM (+cx5n)

278 Comment 76 is perfect:

"76 Time and time again, conservative leaning entertainment does well and time and time again, the liberal entertainment industry does its best to keep from making more.

So why is it that we, the free market, capitalists, do not take advantage of this hole in the market and bring to the masses what they have asked for time and time again.... and make some money in the process.

I think the technical term for doing this would be win - win."

Exactly right!

Posted by: Not76,Really at December 20, 2013 09:17 AM (FdjiO)

279 I was formulating a theory that this was basically a power struggle, with the "Duck" guys getting sick of cow-tow-ing to the A&E suits, and the A&E suits trying to intimidate then into submission. But I'm having my doubts. I'd wager the suits live in the liberal bubble, and thought that they were doing something "normal" in pulling a guy who had utter (in their world) "hate speech". Basically, this shows how poorly said suits understand their own show, its audience, and the country as a whole. If I were a major stockholder, I'd be calling for some heads to roll - this is an example of almost Obama-level incompetence. Talk about "biting the hand that feeds you"!!!

Posted by: Optimizer at December 20, 2013 09:17 AM (Mxt9o)

280 280 @ 119, are you talking about the Kilchers from AK around Homer Alaska? If so, small freaking world it is. Yes. It's a great show. They are the family of Jewel, the singer. She's not on it though.

Posted by: BlueStateRebel at December 20, 2013 09:19 AM (7ObY1)

281 34 There really are two Americas out there... Morlocks and Eloi. And it's half past dinnertime in America.

Posted by: noone, really [/i] [/b] at December 20, 2013 09:19 AM (5ikDv)

282 This winter season, I hope our wise multiracial President, Barack Obama, who all correctly-thinking Americans support, will use his powers to give us a better America without bearded Xtianist redneck duck murderers on television.

I miss the OLD Arts and Entertainment network, with opera and British dramas. If I wanted obnoxious gun-owning hillbillies in my life, I would drive up the road to Northfield and laugh at Norwich students.

Posted by: Mary Cloggenstein from Brattleboro, Vermont at December 20, 2013 09:21 AM (h1vJ/)

283

"I think the only person who knows for sure is Pip from Airheads, who somehow managed to get naked pictures of her."

 

Wasn't the flaming viet bar owner from "Good morning, Viet nam", trying to by naked pics of bea arthur too?  What do these guys know that we don't?

Posted by: Sigmund Freud at December 20, 2013 09:21 AM (kduZC)

284 Yo Zombie! How ya been?

Posted by: CADDaddy at December 20, 2013 09:22 AM (rdXGe)

285 288 "I think the only person who knows for sure is Pip from Airheads, who somehow managed to get naked pictures of her." Wasn't the flaming viet bar owner from "Good morning, Viet nam", trying to by naked pics of bea arthur too? What do these guys know that we don't? --- In Airheads, the idea was to make up a list of demands so crazy that they could easily plead insanity when they were inevitably caught. One such demand was a football helmet full of cottage cheese.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 20, 2013 09:23 AM (/Crba)

286 I happened upon the episode with the effeminent photographer that Willie hired to shoot portrait of Phil and Ms. Kay. Willie said this photog came "highly recommended". And I kept wondering who willie knew in his neck of the woods that recommended someone that looks like they came straight off the set of "What Not to Wear". One almost got the feeling that they (the producers) brought this guy in just to see Phil's reaction. Then, I thought, no, I'm just being silly. Yeah, now I m thinking I was dead on in my initial assesment. P.s. I got a kick how Phil treated the guy with the same respect he's shown to any of his grandsons/daughters.

Posted by: Where did I put my beer? at December 20, 2013 09:23 AM (UkfaC)

287 286 34 There really are two Americas out there... Morlocks and Eloi. And it's half past dinnertime in America. --- Eloi - It's what's for dinner!

Posted by: The Eloi Ranchers of America at December 20, 2013 09:24 AM (/Crba)

288 117 The original promos showed them as modern day beverly hillbillies. Those promo themes lasted about three episodes. This Phil guy knew how they network wanted to portray them and he played them for fools. He's a "lie in wait" guy. A duck caller. And A and E was his duck. Not to destroy them, but to use them for his other hobby of converting people.

Posted by: UWP at December 20, 2013 12:35 PM (2hQRj)


This.

Posted by: baldilocks at December 20, 2013 09:24 AM (36Rjy)

289 289 Yo Zombie! How ya been? Posted by: CADDaddy Busy, as usual! Too busy to blog, mostly.

Posted by: zombie at December 20, 2013 09:27 AM (+cx5n)

290 I happened upon the episode with the effeminent photographer that Willie hired to shoot portrait of Phil and Ms. Kay. Willie said this photog came "highly recommended". And I kept wondering who willie knew in his neck of the woods that recommended someone that looks like they came straight off the set of "What Not to Wear". One almost got the feeling that they (the producers) brought this guy in just to see Phil's reaction. Then, I thought, no, I'm just being silly. Yeah, now I m thinking I was dead on in my initial assesment. P.s. I bet producers were disappointed when Phil treated the guy with the same respect he's shown to any of his grandsons/daughters.

Posted by: Where did I put my beer? at December 20, 2013 09:27 AM (UkfaC)

291
That was supposed to be a 'lookit the retard' movie that did amazingly well because conservative people took to it as a tale of honesty, faithfulness, and virtue winning out over the empty and crass.

So embarrassed was Hollywood over that that Zemekis had to accept the Oscar by making a speech to deny trying to make that movie.

Posted by: --- at December 20, 2013 12:38 PM (MMC8r)

Remember that scene where Forrest tells Bill Ayers ::snort::: that he's from Greenbow ALABAMA? Wonder if it was ad-libbed, no pun intended and not that Tom Hanks is any sort of conservative.

Posted by: baldilocks at December 20, 2013 09:32 AM (36Rjy)

292 Isn't embarrassing?  It's fucking awful.

Posted by: doug at December 20, 2013 09:39 AM (MQlzc)

293 I've been to that part of Louisiana; great country. My wife lived in Monroe for a time and we've visited friends there. Only problem; I don't think they ever heard of rye bread. When I ordered rye toast at a restaurant, the server kept asking whether I was asking for "dry" (prounounced "driiiiii") bread. No, they didn't have rye.

Posted by: duke at December 20, 2013 09:42 AM (d3clc)

294 This is where the creeping fascism of the GLAAD types starts rubbing people raw.

People may or may not support Prop 8 out in California, but the horseshit with people harassing Mormons who donated to the Pro-8 campaign pisses people off.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 20, 2013 12:53 PM (/Crba)

GLAAD didn't harass any of the majority black congregation mega-churches--or any mosques--that supported Prop 8, something I never pass up the opportunity to point out. Cowards. Black CA voters voted 70% in favor of Prop 8.

Posted by: baldilocks at December 20, 2013 09:43 AM (36Rjy)

295 294 289 Yo Zombie! How ya been? Posted by: CADDaddy Busy, as usual! Too busy to blog, mostly. Love your stuff. Glad all is well.

Posted by: CADDaddy at December 20, 2013 09:43 AM (rdXGe)

296 The two can intertwine.

They directly please their shareholders by making money. But it's kind of hard to make money if you antagonize your customer base.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 20, 2013 12:54 PM (/Crba)

Of course, but that isn't the point.

Making money is a goal, the usual one for a company lie A&E. Pleasing the viewer is only a mean to achieving the goal. It isn't the goal itself. And if the share holders have some other goal in mind--like adhering to the Progressive Religion--then pleasing the viewers of DD matters not.

Posted by: baldilocks at December 20, 2013 09:48 AM (36Rjy)

297 If you aren't pleasing your customers (i.e., selling stuff and making money), you are very unlikely to be able to please your shareholders.

I mean, yeah - if all the shareholders wanted to lose money and do something stupid, then yes, customers be damned do what the shareholders want - they own the business. But, my guess is most shareholders want to do what makes the customer happy (at least happy enough to sell something to them).

So, making the customer happy does, to a large extent = making the shareholder happy.

Posted by: monkeytoe at December 20, 2013 12:59 PM (sOx93)

See my answer to Brendan.

Posted by: baldilocks at December 20, 2013 09:50 AM (36Rjy)

298 /// Dump A&E. Sue A&E for punitive measures against Robertson's constitutional rights. Posted by Panzerhorn /// Dude. Full stop. A&E did not violate Robertson's constitutional rights. So what does refusing to bake wedding cake for a gay wedding violate?

Posted by: p mike at December 20, 2013 09:50 AM (XLm/y)

299 Sounds like the same thing that happened to Michael J. Fox's character, Alex P. Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties. He was supposed to look stupid for loving Nixon, Reagan and the GOP, but instead he was adored. Doh!

Posted by: Parteagirl at December 20, 2013 10:13 AM (Plx/u)

300 About 15 years or so back one of the network went looking for a family around which to do a reality update of the Beverly Hillbillies.  They came up empty handed.  That shocked them.  Somehow they thought that the internet and satellite TV hadn't found there way to the interior and that the people of Appalachia and the Ozarks were still isolated from the modern world.  This was not the only part of rural life the producers were ignorant about.  . 

Posted by: NC Mountain Girl at December 20, 2013 10:13 AM (E2hWj)

301 People in the media world tend to think those who don't endlessly self promote are fools and pushovers.  They also don't understand the good ol' boy game of staying quiet, showing the urban fool exactly what he wants to see and then taking him every nickle he is worth.   My money is on the Robertson's cleaning up on these self important clowns.  

Posted by: NC Mountain Girl at December 20, 2013 10:29 AM (E2hWj)

302 22

Just like I laugh at the Sea Shepherds on Whale Wars.

One of the few reality shows I will watch.


Posted by: fixerupper at December 20, 2013 12:18 PM (nELVU)


I'd laugh at them if more of them were shot. Preferably in the faces.  Seriously, if they want to act like pirates then they should be treated like pirates.

Posted by: Sandra Fluke's solid gold diaphragm at December 20, 2013 10:40 AM (e4elg)

303 So we mapped the whole human genome ... and didn't find the gay gene? They lied about that? People can have any kind of sex they want, but gay sex can be chosen or denied. There may be some "proclivities", but it is not the same as blonde hair or blue eyes. Obviously a gay gene would eliminate itself from the gene pool rather quickly, unless it was somehow directly linked to some super power. anyway ... from what I read, "they" found no gay gene, but think there may be some "decoder ring" that at times gets (wrongly) passed along with the genetic material, which flips the sexual orientation switch. But that sounded so hypothetical, it seems "they" are just looking too hard for justification for "gay normalcy".

Posted by: Illini Bill at December 20, 2013 10:40 AM (cA7A9)

304 40 The DD dude that got fires said in an interview they bleeped out fake cuss words. I saw that interview. A&E has, I believe, denied it.

 

Hey, if A&E denies it then that's good enough for me.


Posted by: Gullible's Travels at December 20, 2013 10:43 AM (mka2b)

305

It's the same reason we all loved Archie Bunker, the same reason we all find Sheldon affectionately annoying...they are allowed to be unashamedly themselves.

Posted by: fran at December 20, 2013 10:51 AM (jegxD)

306 Interesting thing about All In The Family.  Carol O' Connor was actually a big liberal.  However, late in his life, his son died of a drug overdose. Grief-stricken,  O' Connor pushed hard for a (California? Federal?) law holding the drug dealer responsible.  He eventually tried to sue the drug dealer and lost.  He made some commercials pleading parents to do "whatever it takes to get between their kids and drugs."  Sounds a lot like Nancy Reagan to me.

Some liberals grow up and become conservatives. For others, it takes a little longer.

Posted by: Mike at December 20, 2013 10:52 AM (Rk8LS)

307
Yeah, I kind of got that the show was meant to be a flyover country swamp-billies in a zoo type of  program, like several others that are out there.

You know, I've never sat through a whole show. the whole

But I am tickled that north louisiana people are giving the metrosexuals on the coast fits. I love it.

You know, the Robertsons must have at least one ally among the producers or directors for the show NOT to be more of a 'hey look at these idiots' production.

Posted by: Sphynx at December 20, 2013 11:00 AM (OZmbA)

308 #271 Mætenloch
I agree with you all the way. I watched a few episodes out of curiosity on a marathon and enjoyed them. Then, yesterday I went to the A/E website to try to find some sponsor names that I could e-mail grief to and wound up watching "Ho-Ho-Ho-Your Boat". Before I realized it, the time had flown, I was still chuckling and forgot what I'd gone there for.

Never watch TV, can't stand the never ending disgusting commercials so I just bought the first three seasons on eBay and signed up at Amazon for pre-order on Season 4 (Jan 7). I realize A/E will get a cut of Season 4 but all the money on the first three goes to the eBay seller and I can live with that.

It's not the kind of show I can watch episodes end to end - I can only do that with Barney Miller - but as an occasional treat or two or three, it's perfect.

Looking forward to the episodes mentioned by morons above like the hunting poodle and the eyeglasses. Can't reach them on the website because the topics are buried within the episode.

Posted by: soggybottom at December 20, 2013 11:20 AM (dxqA4)

309 "I could buy this theory. I certainly doubt that A n' E set out to extoll the virtues of bearded Christians who made a fortune in an industry that promotes firing guns at animals. So what's the alternative motivation?"

It certainly explains why in Season 1 (the only one I've seen) there is a LOT of emphasis on the graphic preparation of the food they kill.

Posted by: Filly at December 20, 2013 11:26 AM (xJhbp)

310 Torque - Man.., I think you need to clarify that a little. Given the topic.

Posted by: Achmed at December 20, 2013 12:59 PM (aDwsi)



I think you need to play Borderlands 2.

Posted by: Torque at December 20, 2013 11:29 AM (x3YFz)

311

<i>It seems what the producers intended and what A&E envisioned with the show is much different than the show that they ended up with</i>

 

This is why the show is awesome. It's obvious they were just looking for another 'dumb hillbillie' show, and what they got instead was smart, educated rural types who were able to have a hugely successful show that is completely family friendly.

 

My brother said this show is basically the only truly family friendly sitcom on tv right now and he is absolutely right. That is because of the Roberson's, not A&E (which is obvious from all the commercials for their other programming)

Posted by: Lea at December 20, 2013 11:38 AM (lIU4e)

312 Apparently Robertson said this too which I agree with: "Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone's lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don't have to compromise convictions to be compassionate."

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 20, 2013 11:40 AM (BC6cY)

313 AI think its one of my favorite shows of all time. When it first hit and people were talking about it on FB I figured it was going to be exactly what A&E was after. A bunch of Honey Boo Boo style crap that all the coasties could point to and laugh at. Being white trash myself hate that shit. You couldn't pay me too watch any of those shows. However, I finally decided to check it out this year. I wound up watching every episode in about a week. It's just a fun show that reminds me of growing up in rural America.

Posted by: bestie21 at December 20, 2013 11:46 AM (AzO5R)

314

"You don't build a multi million dollar business, duck calls, being stupid."

 

This! Only an idiot yankee would hire these people for a reality show and think they were going to get idiots. They were fooled by the accent. Because they are fools.

Posted by: Lea at December 20, 2013 11:51 AM (lIU4e)

315 I completely believe this theory, and the Robertsons should pull their show off this cocksucking network and put it somewhere else. Then mail a giant box of dogshit to the president of A&E.

Posted by: UGAdawg at December 20, 2013 12:02 PM (e/9tl)

316 I prefer vagina.

Posted by: Excerpt: "Vilest Hate Speech, Vol. 3" at December 20, 2013 12:02 PM (JVEmw)

317 Now that is a great T-Shirt idea: "I prefer vagina."

Posted by: bestie1 at December 20, 2013 12:14 PM (AzO5R)

318 Dang it someone already beat me to it:

http://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/sorry-i-prefer-vagina-C4408A9980029

Posted by: bestie1 at December 20, 2013 12:16 PM (AzO5R)

319 In other words, A&E was trying to make their version of Honey Boo Boo. It figures, liberals can't identify class when it hits them like a semi truck.

Posted by: PPM1955 at December 20, 2013 12:36 PM (cV5IC)

320 This shirt is pretty good:

http://www.tshirthell.com/funny-shirts/straight

Posted by: Sandra Fluke's solid gold diaphragm at December 20, 2013 12:58 PM (e4elg)

321 Now that they've found a video of Phil preaching, they are bringing out the dog whistles. Phil never EVER mentions gays homosexuality directly, but the news reports are peppered with 'claims' "Seems" or "appears to" I Fuc%&(*&$g hate the media. Whatever happened to objectivity?

Posted by: vivi at December 20, 2013 01:05 PM (+/8mE)

322 It's true. And it's also true now that $$ isn't "almighty" anymore -- agenda to destroy families is. I miss the days when tv and movie execs wanted to make $$ because then they had to appeal to the majority in order to get viewers. If $$ was still the top priority, AamphersandE would've just been happy and Hollywood would make more Passion of Christ type movies.

Posted by: Aslan's Girl at December 20, 2013 02:03 PM (KL49F)

323 the richardson family should buy A&E form disney......they have the $$$

Posted by: xtron at December 20, 2013 02:06 PM (PBloI)

324 A&E thought they were giving America another Jethro Bodine and the Clampetts but instead America got grizzly Adams meets highway to heaven.

Posted by: Airandee at December 20, 2013 02:54 PM (96/TO)

325 I don't know much about the Duck Dynasty people. I don't watch much TV, and I've only seen the show in passing.

But they own a company that makes duck calls, right?

Can we show them support and give a nice big "fuck you" to A&E by, I dunno ... buying duck calls?

Has someone already come up with that idea?

I don't read comments much either.

Because I have a life.

Sort of.

Posted by: A Thankful City, San Diego at December 20, 2013 03:05 PM (dO4Kx)

326

330...Can we show them support and give a nice big "fuck you" to AE by, I dunno ... buying duck calls?

 

Yes.

 

They have a company called 'Duck Commander'...and a website: duckcommander.com ...where you can purchase all sorts of gear, dvds as well as duck calls.

Posted by: wheatie at December 20, 2013 03:16 PM (wIA6U)

327 That is brilliant.  Screw the A&E marathon just go buy a duck call.  It's not about them making money it would send a clear message using the market as the vector.

Posted by: bestie21 at December 20, 2013 03:28 PM (AzO5R)

328 The same is true of every A&E officer, employee and owner. they want the ratings and the money. I cannot see them throwing away millions for their "beliefs". Hey 93 - you need to realize that liberals think that belief along makes things true. IF everyone believes gay sex is okay, they believe it is okay. If anyone believes it isn't okay then, it won't be. They think reality is affected by belief. Which is why the can't tolerate any contrary beliefs. Ironically the point of the passage of the bible is don't be deceived, just because you tell yourself it isn't wrong, doesn't mean squat, its still wrong. Liberals indulge in the basest form of superstition.

Posted by: simplemind at December 20, 2013 03:32 PM (hTeQK)

329

Phil Robertson aka The Duck Commander made a local visit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3MwBGsj7kw

Posted by: Paula Deen at December 20, 2013 05:25 PM (e8kgV)

330 These seems quite plausible. Basically, A&E thought that it was using their intolerance of people in flyover country to sell programs, but discovered too late that the joke was on them. Now, the way things are going, the RobertsonÂ’s may well be able to buy A&E and fire the idiots running it.

One critical point that should be made: Phil Robertson has a masters degree in education. Willie and his wife are also college graduates. Back in the 1970s, Phil was supporting his family by making duck calls in a shed, but they were able to turn duck calls into a multimillion dollar business even before A&E got involved. The family may come across as dotty on TV, but they are certainly not dumb.

Posted by: John Scotus at December 20, 2013 10:50 PM (EQUkw)

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