Three 'Deadliest Catch' Captains Quit Show, Report Says

FOX ^

[submarinerswife]

Three ship captains from Discovery's reality series "Deadliest Catch" have quit, the Hollywood Reporter reports.

[submarinerswife]

After being sued by Discovery for not working on a planned spin-off, Capts. Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand said bye-bye to the network. They were joined by Capt. Sig Hansen.

"We have been through a lot over the past year and unfortunately given the current situation with Discovery we are unable to continue participating in 'Deadliest Catch,'" the fishermen said in a joint written statement. "It has been a fantastic ride, and we wish the best to all of the amazing and supportive 'Catch' fans we have met over the years."

The Hillstrands are being sued for $3 million by the cable network, which claims they scuttled the spin-off "Hillstranded" by failing to finish the series.

The Hillstrands' lawyer said the lawsuit could force them to sell their boats and fire their crews.

Hansen joined the walk-out, saying, "I want people to know the captains stand together, and me and my brothers support them 100 percent."

Hansen is captain of the Northwestern on "Deadliest Catch." The Hillstrands captain the Time Bandit.

This has been a tough year for "Deadliest Catch" captains. In February, show favorite and Cornelia Marie captain Phil Harris died of a massive stroke at age 53.

[submarinerswife]

Sig is our favorite. I won’t watch now that Phil and Sig Hanson are no longer there.

(Never liked the Hillstrands much, so I don’t care about them)

[xenob]

There must be some serious drama going on behind the scenes here... Perhaps they got tired of being Discovery channel’s puppets...

[momtothree]

I am not surprised by this at all. Discovery should have learned that these men aren’t the type to be pushed around or manipulated. Discovery was perfectly fine with showing the details of Captain Phil’s death (and ratings). I would say bye as well. Just a thought

[Thunder90]

Say good bye to the show...

The last season was likely the final one anyway.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

They’re going rogue. Going to become Pirates and start a new reality series, the Jolly Roger...

Avast Matey!!!

[Yo-Yo]

Don't care too much for the Lobster and Swordfish shows, either.

Deadliest catch has run it's course. Time to let it go as a tribute to Phil.

[llevrok]

There must be some serious drama going on behind the scenes here

Ballard fishermen are a tight knit bunch. You mess with one Norwegian fisherman, you mess with them all, yah sure.

[mowowie]

Looks like it’s over for the Deadliest catch.
greedy frigging network suits.

[Beowulf9]

“greedy frigging network suits...”

Suits meet REAL men, haven’t got a clue.

[dragonblustar]

I have a lot of respect for these men. I wish them well and hope the law suit gets dropped.

[Forgotten Amendments]

I used to love shows like this and Ice Road Truckers. But it seems like the formula now is to emphasize the big guys cussing at each other aspect. I thought it was entertaining enough to just watch what they do.

[Not A Snowbird]

Without Sig and Captain Phil there’s no reason to watch.

[prisoner6]

The show jumped the shark, or crab so to speak, with the death of Captain Phil, the drug use by one of his sons (and others off camera), and the pushing of the Captains to do late night talk shows, Dancing With The Stars, and now spinoffs.

In fact A LOT of Discovery's shows have been getting long in the tooth. Mpt that they're bad, they're still entertaining, but something is missing from Dirty Jobs, Cash Cab and Mythbusters. I'm surprised in the case of Mythbusters that they didn't do myths involving Kari Byron's pregnancy. (Or maybe they did but thankfully I missed them!)

[mmercier]

tis one of the few shows i watch.

i can not understand why watching people repetitively unload crab pots amuses me so.

now there is “swords, life on the line”.

same thing, different seafood...

i am not understanding me.

[submarinerswife]

Dancing With The Stars? You just jumped the crab shark.

[submarinerswife]

I loved how they had it IN THEIR BLOOD.

They were REAL men.

[prisoner6]

Also forgot to mention that at least in Mythbusters teh scripting has become so obvious it's painful to watch. There's always scripting to some extent, that's a given. But in the begining there seemed to be a lot of honest reaction as well. Now there's too much mugging and cuteness. Kinda like a local evening newscast.

[prisoner6]

Seriouslly! The end was obviously near when they had Capt Sig try for DWTS!

[nutmeg]

Sig is our favorite. I won’t watch now that Phil and Sig Hanson are no longer there.

The late Phil Harris was our #1 fave, but Sig and his brother are right behind Capt. Phil.

This is awful... there will no longer be a "Deadliest Catch" without Sig... :-(