As entertaining and awesome as completely constructed reality shows can be, some of the best reality shows are just edited versions of a reality that would exist even if cameras weren’t there. Deadliest Catch remains the best example of this, as it proved earlier this year with its episode about Phil Harris’ death. Executive producer… continue reading
Sig Hansen, Hillstrands un-quit Deadliest Catch after getting a pay raise
After quitting Deadliest Catch last week, Northwestern captain Sig Hansen and Time Bandit captains Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand have all rejoined the show after negotiating new contracts with Discovery. They announced they were leaving, citing the network’s lawsuit against the Hillstrands. So yes, the cynical response–that this was all a negotiation tactic–seems to be right…. continue reading
Deadliest Catch: now with just one boat
The Discovery Channel said yesterday that Deadliest Catch‘s seventh season will follow the Cornelia Marie and Josh and Jake Harris, the sons of its former captain, Phil Harris. This is an obvious emotional appeal to fans but still a not very reassuring response to the news that three captains quit the show, which makes the… continue reading
Sig Hansen’s brother suggests Northwestern captain may return to Deadliest Catch
Deadliest Catch lost its three biggest remaining stars last night when Sig Hansen, Johnathan Hillstrand, and Andy Hillstrand quit the show because the Discovery Channel sued the Hillstrands. But now, Sig’s brother suggests the Northwestern captain may stay with the show he’s been on since the pilot. Edgar Hansen told KIRO news in Seattle that… continue reading
Sig Hansen, Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand quit Deadliest Catch
Northwestern captain Sig Hansen and Time Bandit captains Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand have all quit Deadliest Catch over the Discovery Channel’s $3 million lawsuit against the Hillstrands. With the death of Phil Harris earlier this year, that leaves the show without any captains who’ve been on the show since the beginning, and only one real… continue reading
Discovery sues Deadliest Catch captains Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand for $3 million
Time Bandit captains and Deadliest Catch stars Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand have been sued for $3 million by the Discovery Channel, which claims they bailed on a spin-off show. The brothers “were to film a one-time special called ‘Hillstranded’” but “[a]t the end of August, Discovery allegedly called the brothers to confirm a date, time… continue reading
Thom Beers calls Deadliest Catch’s Emmy loss to “boring” Ken Burns doc “an abomination”
Deadliest Catch executive producer Thom Beers has never been shy about the nonfiction and reality TV Emmy categories, which last year he told me were “ridiculous,” and he’s echoed that this year. “To be honest, I was totally crushed” that Deadliest Catch lost to Ken Burns’ documentary about national parks, he told Fancast. “Once again,… continue reading
Record viewership for Phil Harris’ final episode; “Redemption Day” montage now online
Tuesday’s episode of Deadliest Catch, which ended with the death of Cornelia Marie captain Phil Harris, was the series highest-rated episode ever in addition to being extremely well-produced television and extremely emotional. Its 8.5 million viewers “is remarkably high for the Discovery Channel,” The New York Times reports, noting that “[t]he episode ranks as the… continue reading
Phil Harris’ final Deadliest Catch episode full of raw emotion, exceptional artistry
At the same time that a ridiculously fake reality series was ending, an incredibly real storyline was coming to a close on another series. Deadliest Catch aired Phil Harris’ final episode, and it was better television and more emotionally engaging than pretty much anything else on TV this year. During the episode, Phil’s sons, Jake… continue reading
Deadliest Catch starts covering Phil Harris’ death, but skips “graphic hospital scenes”
The next four episodes of Discovery’s Deadliest Catch deal with the death of Cornelia Marie captain Phil Harris, concluding July 20 with an episode and a “Captain Phil Harris Remembered” special. After his stroke, which will be shown in tonight’s episode, Phil wrote a note to Cornelia Marie cameraman and his friend Todd Stanley, and… continue reading
Deadliest Catch product manager charged with selling, using cocaine
A 22-year-old production manager who works on Deadliest Catch and is employed by Original Productions “was charged April 27 with using and selling cocaine after he delivered about $300 worth of cocaine to an undercover officer on March 20,” The AP reports. Matthew Schneider is not yet in custody, but is one of 18 people… continue reading
Deadliest Catch stars play villains during superhero kid’s Make a Wish day
A 13-year-old with liver cancer had his wish come true Thursday in Seattle with the help of hundreds of people, including Deadliest Catch cast members. Erik Martin became a superhero, and thus needed villains to stop; they were played by Northwestern deck boss Edgar Hansen and deckhand Jake Anderson. The Seattle Times reports that “Erik,… continue reading
Phil Harris’ memorial is live on the Internet, as is Deadliest Catch’s second Catchcon
A memorial service for Cornelia Marie captain and Deadliest Catch star Phil Harris is being broadcast live on the Internet tonight as part of the show’s second-annual Catchcon gathering. Harris died in early February, and his death will be part of the current season of the show. Catchcon takes place all day tomorrow and includes… continue reading
Deadliest Catch returns with calm seas and a somber tone
Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch is back tonight for its sixth season at 9 p.m. ET, and it will include the February death of Cornelia Marie captain Phil Harris. Although it’s unclear how much footage we’ll see, producers did film him in the hospital prior to his death. Over its first five seasons, the show has… continue reading
Jake Harris arrested for DUI; Deadliest Catch producers have footage of Phil in the hospital
Deadliest Catch cast member Jake Harris was arrested for DUI Thursday night. He “was arrested and booked into the King County jail on suspicion of DUI, hit-and-run and driving with a suspended license,” KOMO reported, adding that police “said Harris’ vehicle rear-ended another car then fled the scene of the crash” earlier in the evening…. continue reading