I haven't followed the Duck Dynasty saga very closely but it seems to be summarized thus - hairy guy from deep south on reality TV show in which people kills ducks makes homophobic remarks. He gets suspended by A&E, which probably doesn't stand for Accident and Emergency, but maybe should - and everyone goes nuts.
The saga of Phil Robertson, who nobody had probably heard of until a week ago - has now become another piece of ammunition for the left and right to throw at each other. Even Sarah Palin emerged from whatever obscure swamp she has been hiding in for the last few years to give the English language another battering:. She posted a picture with Robertson and his family on her Facebook page with the message, “Free speech is an endangered species. Those ‘intolerants’ hatin’ and taking on the Duck Dynasty patriarch for voicing his personal opinion are taking on all of us.”
The saga even drew in Cracker Barrel which decided to pull some Duck Dynasty items and then changed its mind amid fears its rocking chairs might be unrocked in due to allegations of political correctness.
Although there are plenty of examples of PC-ness going bonkers this surely is not one of them. It's not as if aforementioned hairy guy was fined or thrown in jail for his remarks. His reality show was just pulled.
Still there's another point here that nobody seems to have mentioned. If you are going to give air time to rednecks - be they rednecks hunting ducks, killing gators, making moonshine, repossessing cars or training pitbulls - should the TV people really be so shocked when they start saying rednecky things?
It's a bit like giving a reality TV show to a serial killer and then getting all upset when he describes how he is a bit partial to killing people.
So the real message of this sad and sorry ducked up saga is surely let's stop giving TV shows to hairy idiots and get people on TV who can talk about something interesting and informative. Hey why not get some real actors and make an adaptation of a Streetcar Named Desire if you want to portray something meaningful out of Louisiana.
And while you are at it pull Keeping up with the Kardashians - just because nobody in their right mind would want to keep up with them.
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On Blog PTSD
Now then. What the heck. It seems I had forgotten about my blog completely rather than just neglecting it this time. To return after so long...
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Now then. What the heck. It seems I had forgotten about my blog completely rather than just neglecting it this time. To return after so long...
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Sometimes in my dreams I have an odd vision of a rotund man being chased around by scantily clad girls at double speed. Policemen and vicars...
I would love to see all of those reality job, contest and talent shows go away forever.
ReplyDeleteyes JoJo - reality TV is there because it's cheap, but it's also sooo dull
DeletePerfect! perfectperfectperfect
ReplyDeleteI was Christmas shopping on Saturday at Fleet Farm (I'd explain what it is, but I don't think I can do it justice - do you have them by you??) and saw a whole rack of Duck Dynasty t-shirts on clearance for $4. I stopped and laughed out loud and really should have taken a photo.
Love this so much!
Hey Deborah - I fear not. Is it like Bass Pro Shop? Thanks - yes you should have taken a pic :)
DeleteI was wondering the other day why everyone seemed so shocked at the one guy's comments. Then I sent a text to a friend who lives in that area and asked her if chaos had erupted.
ReplyDeleteoh and had it Patricia? Probably not down south eh?
Delete"So the real message of this sad and sorry ducked up saga is surely let's stop giving TV shows to hairy idiots and get people on TV who can talk about something interesting and informative."--yes, that is it exactly. That sentence sums this situation up perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI like the show.. they seem genuine and really care for each other. Granted his remarks were crude but what did they expect from them. I like how AE continued to run marathons of the show even tho they denounced Phil.
ReplyDeleteI for one will keep watching. :)