Who ever thought that a show with an overload of camouflage and untamed beards would become such a hit in America?
Yet, the American people love “Honey Boo Boo” and lose brain cells from watching it. So why wouldn’t outdoorsy rednecks make a hit television series?
Obviously, the people from the A&E network knew what they were doing. The popular TV show “Duck Dynasty” had 8.6 million viewers tuned in on the premiere night of its third season on Feb. 27.
For the longest time I refused to watch “Duck Dynasty.” I just did not understand how grown men with beards all decked-out in camouflage could be so entertaining to watch on television. My friends were always talking about the latest episodes and quotes that Uncle Si would say, but I would just tune out and pick on them for watching a show about duck hunters and beards.
But one late night when I could not sleep, I flipped through channels and came across “Duck Dynasty.” The choice became watch the bearded men or watch infomercials for Zumba. So I mistakenly chose to watch “Duck Dynasty.” Before I could say, “Hey, Jack!” I had already watched two hours of the show. Needless to say, I was hooked.
The main characters of the show are the Robertson brothers, the parents (Phil and Miss Kay) and the crazy uncle everyone has in their family, Si. The brothers all work at the Duck Commander warehouse in Louisiana where they make their own line of duck calls, originally started by Phil Robertson in the early 1980s.
The theme of “Duck Dynasty” centers around the mishaps and funny situations the bearded men find themselves in. An example would be on a recent episode when Willie’s son had recently broken up with his girlfriend. To help lift his spirits, the Robertson men took him out hunting to help heal his heart. While they were talking in the woods, Willie told his son, “John Luke, there are plenty of fish in the sea.” And Si immediately agreed and said, “He’s right there. Hey, there’s blue fin tuna, yellafin tuna…” Jase looks at Si like he’s crazy and says, “We’re talkin’ about women, Si!” But Si just continues to list off the other fish in the sea, “…sharks, hammerhead sharks, fried shrimp. Hey, I just got hungry.”
If the show did not feature Si and all his randomness, I honestly can say the show would not be as successful as it is. Everyone loves Silas Robertson, with his beard and all of that sweet tea he drinks. One quote I have found myself saying on a regular basis has been from Si when he has Willie check the speed of his punch with a radar gun. Si says, “I sting like a butterfly and punch like a flea.” The quotes are truly unique to Si and his personality.
“Duck Dynasty” might not appeal to everyone, but I know a lot of people here at UTM absolutely love it. The men on campus are the ones with the full beards, according to Jase Robertson. He sums up his personal outlook on beards in one sentence, “There are only two kinds of people who go around beardless- boys and women- and I am neither.”
The men with the beards and camo are very entertaining, and I know a lot of people can relate to the Robertson family. We may not be as wealthy as they are, but we all have a little bit of redneck inside. Whether you are a fan or not, you can’t help but feel as you watch the show, in the words of Phil Robertson, “Happy, happy, happy!”
