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Dear ‘Duck Dynasty’ Fans: You Do Know It’s All Fake, Right?
Variety ^ | December 20, 2013 | Brian Lowry

Posted on 12/23/2013 6:05:34 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Amid the turmoil caused by the suspension of “Duck Dynasty’s” Phil Robertson in relation to an interview he gave with GQ, an outpouring of support has emerged from those defending the bearded A&E star.

Which only prompts one to wonder whether these people really know whom exactly it is they’re defending.

However real and natural it might appear, “Duck Dynasty” is a sitcom. Not all the dialogue is written, but as even the Robertsons freely admitted on the “Today” show, “They come up with ideas and we just get to be ourselves in the situation.”

So while Robertson can be taken at his word that he’s a man of faith, the character that people know from TV is just that: A character.

Other websites, some with way too much time on their hands, have meticulously detailed the staging that goes into the show. But suffice it to say that the Robertsons have thrived in part because they and their producers have been adept at making themselves seem authentic. As one reality TV producer suggested when discussing the show, even if the situations are all phony, you couldn’t create those guys.

Still, the full-throated defense on behalf of the Robertsons primarily reflects two things: The very effective tactic of making Christians feel like they are disrespected and persecuted by the mainstream media; and most germane to this discussion, the sorry lack of media literacy in the U.S., where people might insist they’re in on the gag, but if they’re seeing something on TV, they tend to assume it’s true.

At this point, the “Duck Dynasty” story has taken on a life of its own, propelled by the political aspects of the standoff – pitting anti-gay-rights conservatives against “liberal Hollywood” – and the good (or bad) fortune of happening right before Christmas, when everyone’s starved for something to talk and write about.

Yet while many of those who watch “Duck Dynasty” no doubt feel like they know the Robertsons, these characters are shaped – through editing and writing – in virtually the same way “The Big Bang Theory” or “Modern Family” is. So the guy you see, as colorful as he is, isn’t necessarily the real-life version.

And guess what? There’s no Tooth Fairy, either.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: brianlowry; callawaaambulance; duckdynasty; homosexualagenda; lavendermafia; philrobertson; pinkjournalism; television; wellduh
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

Dog the Bounty Hunter appears to be pretty much who he plays on TV. He spent several weeks tracking a guy local to where I live.

I was kind of impressed when he came back to Michigan for the guy’s sentencing to ask the judge for leniency.


41 posted on 12/23/2013 6:27:09 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: KrisKrinkle

That reminds me of a reporter who was interviewing one of those supposed “fake wrestlers” and as they were walking down a long hallway, the reporter was needling him about it all being fake. Well ... that wrestler had enough of that and he took his two big hairy arms and batted the reporter on each side of his head and asked him if that felt faked, as the reporter fell to the floor writhing in pain ... LOL ...


42 posted on 12/23/2013 6:28:23 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This guy probably thinks pro wrestling is real too.


43 posted on 12/23/2013 6:28:29 PM PST by Colonel_Flagg (Some people meet their heroes. I raised mine. Go Army.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The show is fake, but the family isn’t.

We sure found that out when Phil stuck to his guns and his family backed him up/

We need more real families like the Robertsons instead of fake Homosexuals in sitcoms.


44 posted on 12/23/2013 6:29:02 PM PST by Venturer (Half Staff the Flag of the US for Terrorists.)
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To: jwalsh07

Lol - yup, they must be charging big for those few duck calls! And that huge facility is needed to house those few duck calls. Thank goodness this was pointed out to us.


45 posted on 12/23/2013 6:29:54 PM PST by JudyinCanada
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To: Star Traveler

It is pretty fake. They know the outcome before they get into the ring, most of their injuries are fake, they can use blood capsules to spit blood. If something is going on in real life, like someone gets the flu or goes on a vacation, their absence will be written into the show.


46 posted on 12/23/2013 6:30:24 PM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“There was a “reality show writers strike” several years ago——— “

That is one of the funniest things I ever heard.

.


47 posted on 12/23/2013 6:30:24 PM PST by Mears
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Brian Lowry has a serious crush on Pajama Boy...Pass It On!


48 posted on 12/23/2013 6:30:38 PM PST by MeshugeMikey ( Visit http://icantenroll.com/ In Glitch We Trust....;o})
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To: Mears

bump


49 posted on 12/23/2013 6:30:42 PM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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To: VeniVidiVici

I thought Brian was dead, he got hit by a car.


50 posted on 12/23/2013 6:30:53 PM PST by kaehurowing
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To: HiTech RedNeck

“wouldn’t have wanted to be a manipulated character, no matter how much of a publicity boost “

there is no evidence of that


51 posted on 12/23/2013 6:31:21 PM PST by Wuli
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

OMG.. Reeeeeeeally? And they don’t make all that Walmart merchandise one at a time, by hand, in that warehouse they’re all sitting in all the time (gasp)??? /s


52 posted on 12/23/2013 6:31:33 PM PST by Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America
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To: GeronL

I agree.


53 posted on 12/23/2013 6:31:45 PM PST by Wuli
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Dang, I’m so disappointed. Well, at least wrestling is still real.


54 posted on 12/23/2013 6:32:09 PM PST by Right Wing Assault
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
The hell you say!

And all this time, I thought 5 guys sitting in a room shooting the breeze all day long and getting into mischief during work hours were somehow able to process tens of thousands of duck calls in the process all by themselves.

55 posted on 12/23/2013 6:32:43 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
And guess what? There’s no Tooth Fairy, either.

But the liberal condescension and anti-Christian bigotry is very real.

56 posted on 12/23/2013 6:33:10 PM PST by Washi
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Jesus’s entire life was scripted in advance. Do we discount Him?


57 posted on 12/23/2013 6:33:15 PM PST by Raycpa
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To: HiTech RedNeck
It's just situational humor. Like the Three Stooges or Lucy or the Beverly Hillbillies or Charlie Chaplin. It's classic and the Duck Boys are infusing it with their faith and love of family and God.

It's older than Vaudeville and still works every time.

58 posted on 12/23/2013 6:33:18 PM PST by RoosterRedux (The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing -- Socrates)
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To: GeronL

Deadliest Catch is real


59 posted on 12/23/2013 6:33:31 PM PST by ledzep75
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To: GeronL

Well ... I’m sure that reporter didn’t ask if it was fake, anymore ... LOL ...

BUT ... I did go to a few professional wrestling matches in Portland, when I was in high school (we’re talking fifty years ago ... :-) ...). I couldn’t stand wrestling, but my uncle liked them and he took me to a few. Being upfront and close to the action, I could see punches being pulled and cuts being made to draw some blood and the staged flips and takedowns. And it was a whole lot less scripted 50 years ago than these theatrical versions of today.


60 posted on 12/23/2013 6:36:57 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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