Explain the appeal of Duck Dynasty to me in 20 words or less.

[Orrex]

Me, I can't figure it.

[jmowreader]

1. They're the fundamentalist Beverly Hillbillies

They live in a swamp but you get the idea.

[Orrex]

2. That's about what I gathered, alas.

Thanks.

[d_r]

3. yes like beverly hillbillies

Iike rural comedies of the 60s, it makes fun of country people but they don't get it. Laughing at rednecks.

[hack89]

41. They are not hillbillies

they are college educated businessmen who have build a must-million dollar business.

They are also funny has hell.

[BainsBane]

50. I think just the one has a college education

the one brother who manages the business because they refer to him as the college boy.

[hack89]

53. The father went to college

he played college football and Terry Bradshaw was his backup.

[jmowreader]

51. And they sell themselves as just good ol' boys from a Louisiana swamp

The "funny as hell" part is why they make all that endorsement cash: you don't really think they'd be as popular as they are among the non-duck-hunting populace (I would say right off the top of my head that 80 percent of all the people who love the "Duck Dynasty" and "Duck Commander" thing couldn't hunt ducks and wouldn't want to) if they acted like college-educated businessmen and not the 21st Century equivalent of the Clampetts?

[hack89]

52. I think they are smart businessmen and brilliant self promoters.

I have a lot of respect for what they have accomplished.

[Inkfreak]

4. They make me wanna slam my head into the wall until I bleed out of my ears.

I hoestly have no clue. I'm not a tv snob at all. I'll watch some pretty bad television. But these pseudo reality shows are just horrible. I mean, watch a damn scripted sitcom!! At least there is some production value put into it. Don't even get me started on talking to the camera... Ugh.

I hate that my in-laws love that show so much.

[In_The_Wind]

5. Educated poseur making it rich acting like hicks.

Last edited Thu Aug 29, 2013, 02:42 PM - Edit history (1)

[LiberalElite]

12. One of them got thrown out of an NYC hotel recently -

Duck Dynasty' star Jase Robertson kicked out of New York City hotel after being confused for homeless man
The A&E reality show star claims he was the victim of 'facial-profiling' after a New York hotel employee did not believe he was a guest there.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/duck-dynasty-star-kicked-nyc-hotel-confused-homeless-man-article-1.1428681#ixzz2cKpSRSUy

[In_The_Wind]

20. Gotta love NYC

... not ...

[Brigid]

6. Squirrel!

People are just too easily distracted. That's your answer.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

7. Si Robertson

And you can take that to the bank, Jack.

[pipi_k]

11. Si is

my favorite Robertson.

He reminds me so much of my Grandpa R (mom's dad). Total hoot


Then there's Jase, who does perfect deadpan.

[loli phabay]

33. love the snobs who think these guys are dumb and just broadbrush

Love this show, its got everything from a great family, sibling rivalry, humour and a lot of humility. They are all rich as crap but have not forgotten who they are or whats important. Thats a fact jack.

[pipi_k]

34. Yeah, that's what

I like about it.

They have lots of money but don't act like assholes to other people. Or to their family members.

Underneath the gentle teasing I can sense love and respect.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

38. What's cool about it is

that the money seems almost an afterthought (except for Willie). Just a happy side affect of them doing what they enjoy. The appeal of it, to most of us over-worked and underpaid Americans, is that the Robertsons truly seem to live life on their own terms. Very few of us anymore can say we do that.

[GreenPartyVoter]

42. Yep. I enjoy them as people. I think I could sit down to dinner with them, so long as

it's not just squirrel's brains on the table.

[pipi_k]

44. Yeah, or

whatever other animal happened to wander through the backyard...

[Dr. Strange]

55. Damn right, Jack!

[Paladin]

8. Lotsa guns. Lotsa prayin'. Lotsa low production costs. Lotsa stupid viewers. (nt)

[In_The_Wind]

9. Best answer!

[Orrex]

10. I remember when there used to be a channel showcasing Arts & Entertainment

Whatever happened to that channel?

And what happened to The Learning Channel? Or The History Channel?

[Chan790]

16. Their programming stunk so they got "reconceptualized"

It's not a public-interest venture...cable channels exist for the purpose of drawing ratings and making money. If your programming isn't drawing eyes, you've either got to fold it up and call it a day or change the programming.

Many cable channels do this in less radical ways and you never notice...an executive from Viacom (parent company of HBO) once declared "HBO will never produce original serial programming, that's not what we do." AMC used to only show classic films in the public domain...there's only so many times you can show The Wizard of Oz and It's a Wonderful Life before some shit's got to give. FX was originally created to be what Spike is now...Spike changed programming philosophies when they realized that men didn't want to watch the TV equivalent of FHM, male-oriented reality TV, old action movies and shit like 1000 ways to die (though the success of that program and Ultimate Warrior have kept them on the air). C-Span and The Weather Channel now show original programming related to their subjects and have on-air hosts...TWC used to be nothing but an on-air loop broadcasting the local report of NOAA/NWS with no on-air people at-all. C-Span/C-Span2 used to broadcast the two chambers of Congress 24-hours-a-day...at 3am, you could spend 40 minutes watching the janitor vacuum the dais of the Senate.

TV is a business. Nobody wanted to watch the programming of the original concepts of A&E, The Learning Channel. The History channel hasn't changed philosophies, they just started increasing the number and type of shows they had that drew the most ratings: Nazis, military history and cryptohistory like Ancient Aliens. People really like Ancient Aliens...or at least Georgio's hair. Major networks do this too: last year, nearly 50% of CBS primetime slots were dedicated to something that didn't exist 20 years ago: reality shows.

[Orrex]

19. Ah, yes. The race to the bottom.

MIght also be described as the "see what sticks" programming philosophy.


I fear that your analysis is correct, which only makes it that much more tragic. It's not that their programming stunk; it's that they found they could make more $$ by doing less.

[OrwellwasRight]

13. Sub-Question:

What's the "dynasty"? Unless they are a royal family, I don't get it.

[BainsBane]

17. They have a duck call business

and are several generations of a family.

[OrwellwasRight]

21. A duck call business?

I didn't even know there could be such a business. And it doesn't sound like much of a "dynasty." Meh. I'll never watch.

[BainsBane]

22. They make duck calls

They look like kazoos but make the sound of ducks. Hunters use them.

[Brigid]

48. My brother-in-law and his brother have them.

[hack89]

40. They built a multi-million dollar business

selling duck calls, decoys and hunting videos. They are college educated and very astute businessmen.

They are also decent people.

[OrwellwasRight]

43. I don't dispute any of that.

But it doesn't mean I am interested in watching them on TV, any more than I am interested in watching the Kardashians or Honey Boo Boo or Cops. Just because people are rich or decent or even both doesn't mean I want to watch their reality TV show.

[BainsBane]

49. I'm not either

but if I happen by them on the channel, I can't help watching a while. They are strangely mesmerizing.

[BainsBane]

17. Edit: dupe

[OriginalGeek]

14. My wife and I love the show

They seem to be reasonably good people. My DVR knows me too well though - it generally cuts off the last 30ish seconds of the evening meal prayer.

The dynasty part is (if the back story is true which I believe it is) that the father invented a duck call that duck hunters prefer over most others and sent one of his sons off to college to learn business and he turned a simple duck call into millions for the family.

The simple sweetness of the brothers playfully ribbing each other against a backdrop of money and swamp is entertaining. But it's also nice to know some of my fellow DU'ers think I'm an idiot.

[pscot]

24. Like the song says, Every body's somebody's fool

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[OriginalGeek]

25. You're right

I shouldn't complain...I guess I feel smugly superior to people who like boy bands so what goes around comes around.

[LonePirate]

27. The episode where they use a vacuum to dispose of a beehive was hilarious.

I also enjoyed the episode where they were telling stories about the Vietnam War to elementary school students.

I don't watch it often but the show's combination of human stupidity and subversive actions makes me laugh.

[OriginalGeek]

28. I think it's hilarious that they market

Duck Dynasty bandages. I'm kind of surprised they don't have a wing in the ER reserved just for them.

[loli phabay]

36. lol, or when si eats poop yhinking its berries, or the boys trying to sell catfish

Just so many funny episodes to even mention. Love phils old worldly wisdom married with si and his vietnam stories.

[pipi_k]

45. Did you see

the episode where Josey Wales Jr (a giant lizard) got loose in the warehouse?

hahahaha!!!

[loli phabay]

47. or the one where willie took sadies boyfriend snake hunting

Lol at the bit he empties the whole clip at the snake.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

64. Oh yeah ... Career day had me ROFLMAO.

[pipi_k]

30. Saw the family

in a morning show interview the other day.

They admitted that the show's producers set up the themes of the shows, but that almost all the dialogue is ad libbed. It's who they really are.

I think they're funny as hell.

It's OK. I am an idiot too.

[OriginalGeek]

32. :)

You me and Uncle Si - I'm in fine company.

[BainsBane]

15. They are somehow mesmerizing

I landed on the channel once and couldn't turn. I haven't watched it since, but there is something fascinating about them.

[bigwillq]

23. I've never watched an episode.

But saw the family on a few talk shows where they showed clips of the show.

I don't get the appeal, either. I couldn't take watching them for more than a few minutes so I changed the channel.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

26. Probably not

http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-businessmen/ceos/willie-robertson-duck-commander-net-worth/

However:

There has been controversy over the extent to which reality television truly reflects reality. In many cases the entire premise of the show is a contrived one, based around a competition or another unusual situation. However, various shows have additionally been accused of using fakery in order to create more compelling television, such as having premeditated storylines and in some cases feeding participants lines of dialogue, focusing only on participants' most outlandish behavior, and altering events through editing and re-shoots.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_television

YMMV

[olddots]

29. IT'S ABOUT THE MERICUN DREAM !!

it may not be as classy as Celebrity Hot Cheese Enema Dance Off but it has all the good moral values we need .

[UTUSN]

31. "Yuck." (I win.) n/t

[Digit]

35. I can't figure it, either

I wouldn't watch it if it were the only thing on tv, but I find I am turning off my tv more and more these days anyway.

[Baitball Blogger]

37. One season of Honey Boo Boo cured me of the genre.

[jmowreader]

39. It took a whole season?

I can't make it to the first commercial.

[RebelOne]

69. Just one show cured me.

And I live in Georgia and know a few Honey Boo Boo types.

[truegrit44]

46. I've never watched it however......

I went to Walmart yesterday (don't give me crap only place to buy anything unless I drive 50 miles) and wanted a tee shirt. The ONLY printed tee's they had were Jesus Loves me etc. and DUCK DYNASTY! I am not kidding the womens department, the kids department and the mens.

So, one thing I do know is that they are very popular in southern MO and also making a ton of money of this foolishness.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

54. It's a TV show about duck calls! Duck calls!

Duck calls and the bearded people who make them!

This is high art! And entertainment!

Don't believe me? Well then, tell me what channel it's on.

[pipi_k]

56. So, for anyone...

who's interested...

Duck Dynasty, before and after the beards...




http://fb-troublemakers.com/duck-dynasty-before-and-after-the-beards-25-pics-20192/

[LWolf]

57. few words:

red-neck fantasy

[patricia92243]

58. Are they the ones that are just regular guys when not "Ducking." There was a picture of the guys

from one of these Hillbilly programs that show how they look in real life - well dressed, clean shaved, pretty wives - the whole nine yards. Phony show with phony characters.

People like to watch because it reinforces their belief in how hillbillies look and act. I live in the mountains - am just a regular ol' person.

[MicaelS]

59. I think this article nails it.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_22883188/duck-dynasty-why-is-this-show-so-popular

a seemingly simple show about humble Southern folks who built their fortune on handmade duck calls

1. Family comes first

"Duck Dynasty" follows Duck Commander CEO Willie Robertson; his wife, Korie; his parents, Phil and Miss Kay; his brothers Jase and Jep; and Phil's weird brother, Uncle Si. They aren't exactly the Waltons, but they're an affectionate, devout brood that works, plays and prays together.

Never is their familial bond more evident than at the end of each episode, when they gather around the dinner table, hold hands and give thanks.

"I would imagine that has great appeal to a lot of people who watch the show," says Karen Cox, a history professor at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte and author of "Dreaming of Dixie: How the South Was Created in American Popular Culture." "After all, who sits around the table these days?"

Many people like the show because this family is showing traditional values in action. That's it, plain and simple.

[KG]

60. mildly entertaining harmless fun.

[KamaAina]

61. It's slightly more entertaining than an infomercial for weight loss pills.

Or the Home Shopping Network.

[ThoughtCriminal]

62. All Circus, No Bread

Not that I don't have my own silly selection of circus entertainment.

[TeamPooka]

63. TV viewers and networks are passive and lazy. Cheap too. nt

[Dr. Strange]

65. It's a redneck show about nothing.

"What's the show about?"
"It's a show about nothing."
"How can you have a show about nothing? What are the stories?"
"Okay, what did you do today?"
"I cooked some squirrel brains and played ping pong in the warehouse."
"That's a show!"

[Tom Ripley]

66. Deliverance without the rape

[Tom Ripley]

67. Crackertainment for those who find Jeff Foxworthy to be too pretentious