‘Duck Dynasty’ Premiere Shatters Cable Records With 11.8 Million Viewers

Variety ^ | 8/16/2013 | Rick Kissell

[rktman]

A&E had the competition ducking for cover Wednesday, as its redneck reality smash “Duck Dynasty” kicked off its new season with a whopping 11.8 million viewers — the largest audience ever for a non-fiction cable series.

[bgill]

Bonus: There isn't a metrosexual in the bunch!;)

There was that photographer who took the family portrait of Phil, Kay and the two Jesses. I don't know what-sexual he was but Phil was a bit leary of him at first.

[dalereed]

anything with a name that stupid has got to be a dumb program.

[cyberaxe]

...most people watch TV for one of two reasons...

...information or entertainment...

...I have plans this weekend so I will not be going over the first reason...

...entertainment can be accomplished is several ways...

...escape, excitement, humor and comfort...

...DD has found it's apparent niche in the last two...

...the fact that so many Americans find comfort in "old fashioned" conservative values gives me hope that our country isn't as whacked out as the other 99.99% of current TV listings would indicate...

...(that, and the fact that I'm a redneck duck hunter also)...

[bgill]

Don't knock it until you've watched it. It's a comedy so it's supposed to be funny. It's also about love of family and God. Three generations pray together at the family dinner table at the end of every episode. Phil and Kay have been married for 48 years. They came from nothing and are now self-made millionaire. One son, Alan, is a preacher. Another son, Willie, is an advocate for foster parenting and has adopted two minority children. Jase claims he saved himself for when he married. Crazy Uncle Si is a Viet Nam vet. It reminds me of The Andy Griffith Show but less controversial.

[dalereed]

Sounds boring, of course I dumped religion for drag racing and hot rods 68 years ago.

[biff]

Captain Phil was a good guy. He virtually lived on Red Bull and cigs so it is no surprise it caught up with him. It seems most of the Deadliest Catch guys live on the edge and are on a short rope to meet St. Peter.

[bgill]

Not so fast. There's an episode just for you - NASCAR's Clint Bowyer and Willie race camo cadillacs. Also, take a gander at Clint's paint job on his #15.

[Caliban]

yes, thank you for the additional details...

[bgill]

;)

[Fair Paul]

I want ZZ Top to make an appearance.

[goat granny]

some idiot complained that they were offended at the show ending with a prayer...they told the complainer they can just turn the show off if they don't like it...The father is a born again christian and serious about his religion and love of Jesus....smart people didn't bow down to people that didn't like the ending of each week with a prayer...they keep it real. The father also told one of the writers that they wanted him to say something he didn't like. He said NO thats not the way I talk....It took me a couple of weeks to get use to it and its fun....

Some of the things the guys do I could imagine my son's doing when they were younger. Guys like blowing up things, fishing and hunting. Get use to it or don't watch if such things offend you...

[444Flyer]

I've been thinking about what makes this show so appealing to regular Americans.

It is a comedy.

For Southerners... a lot of it is cultural. Also, they have the wonderful character trait of being able to poke fun at themselves and each other in a likeable lighthearted way. They take away the stereo type of the ‘dumb redneck’ that the media loves to portray. Everything they do is tongue-in-cheek. These people are obviously intelligent and have the humor to prove it.

For non-Southerners... it makes you laugh at yourself (Yuppies) etc...and it's an old-school glimpse into a traditional family who are committed to the Lord, their spouses and children and to each other.

For Families... people don't have to hover over the ‘mute’ button while watching it with their kids. There are values being displayed that are either not being taught anymore or exemplified in our culture at large.

Maybe you do have to 'get it'. It's just good clean entertainment with a message.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

It has values! They begin and end with prayer. They don’t cuss and blaspheme. They teach their kids traditional values. They are disguised as a bunch of grizzled Mt. men, but they have a message that America is longing to hear in comparison to the filth of the rest off reality TV!

Correct. Every family has a few bad apples, but I don't see any, which is pretty remarkable.

I know that bad behavior could be edited out, but the producers' incentive is to keep bad behavior in.

They all seem down-to-earth, despite their financial success. The real "tell" is the grandchildren, who seem very sweet, especially Willie's kids.

At this point, I don't know what else they can show us. But I'm happy for the show's success.

[mware]

In regards to gun control Si nailed it.

We do not have a gun control problem, we have a sin control problem.

I've read Phil Robinson's book Happy,Happy,Happy and we have a real conservative in that one. The last chapter he quote Ronald Reagan quite a few times regarding government being the problem.

[mware]

I recall reading that Phil call a meeting of the family in regards to "bleeping" portions of the talking during the show. He wanted to know if they were cursing. When they told him they had not, he went to the producers and told them not to bleep their comments because it gave the impression they were cussing.

They haven't bleeped anything since that first season.

[mware]

Did you see when Will was on The Five?

Beckle suggested to Will, that he NOT run for the House seat in LA.

Will looked right at him and said, "What, you afraid of what us right wingers believe in?"

Beckle said, Yes.

[mom.mom]

I can’t imagine conservatives not loving this show. The Robertsons are unpretentious, smart and funny as hell. God bless Louisiana!

Watch it until you get it. Geez.

[Wurlitzer]

“Honestly, I don’t care what progressives think of conservatives because I know the truth”

---

While you may not care, the damage progressives are doing to this country because of their control of the media should be a concern.

You and I know the truth but the left has 40% of the population locked up and the right has 40% locked up so conservatives should damn well care how much cannon fodder we give progressives to use in their media monopoly to influence independents.

Independents are the swing votes and I don’t want them thinking DD represents the right.

I would rather the right be represented with class.

[goat granny]

Yep, I caught it, they seem to be the real thing. Looks you straight in the eyes....

[goat granny]

There take off of ZZtop, I love it..