Yes Duck Tales was good too

I'm not conservative, but I have always been interested in documentaries about ultra conservative or ultra religious communities and individuals- and as much as can be done, show how they really are. Reality television is just a cartoon representation of 'reality;' this show may only be the flip side of the same coin of a program like Jersey Shore or something insofar as they reflect reality. Those other contestant based shows like Survivor or Big Brother are even worse, there is no correlation to reality in them.

I pretty much stick to a few sit coms and documentaries of all kinds, TV I can generally live without, though.

If anyone out there still thinks "reality" shows are purely cameras following people, they're idiots. Not sure what you mean about the "dynasty of kin" part. The company is 40 years old, but they just hit it big since Willie took over is my understanding. Certainly nouveau riche, they make that clear over and over, but the funny part is that Willie is the only one that shows it with his house (and RV).

The point is that you shouldn't judge the men just because they're rednecks with beards and have a sense of humor.
They were on the Today show not long ago. They're fine with saying the producers would love the show to be more scripted, but they won't have anything to do with a script. They also said that obviously there are themes or situations set up for the show, but what they do and say is their own. You still see these folks for what they are for the most part.

Personally, I'm kind of surprised Phil has anything to do with it. In the end these folks are about family, including those they "adopt", and I would imagine he sees this as good for them in the long run.

Interesting interview with one of the guys that works for them:
http://www.aetv.com/duck-dynasty/15-questions-with-justin-martin/

They're good people and they're funny without a room of people writing a script for them. It works.

I don't- and that's the irony about all of this, isn't it trying to portray a certain stereotype?

Many rednecks I knew generally didn't look like Duck Dynasty. They were clean shaven, were less gregarious about being rednecks. The word redneck originally referred to poor, provincial white folk who had sunburned necks from working outside, say in the fields. The term itself has been appropriated and even self applied by people to the point of becoming a broader stereotype, this is why I don't buy into this kind of 'Reality TV' to begin with- it necessarily conjures up stereotypes that we're supposed to avoid.

Jersey Shore I seem to recall was criticized because the cast weren't even 100% Italian, certainly, it gets harder and harder to get wrapped up in the reality of cast members pulling in millions of dollars while filming these episodes. It's phoney.

Me too.

It's more the reverse IMO. Their humor is about being rednecks, but their point is about a tight family that doesn't lose their way because of success.
Furthermore, I think they feel society in general is losing it's way, so they set another kind of example--but using humor. That's what I like about the show. That's not for everyone I guess.

I know folks with more country in their pinky than most self-proclaimed rednecks and those that go out of their way to create an image for themselves and/or are trying to find a clickish group to identify themselves with. I can't stand that.

These people, I believe are not that. Certainly the show is about humor with a wholesome message at the end.

And above all, God's not impressed with any of it. That's how I feel about it.

You sure your not talking about our good old english show, TopGear?

Well, again, the term has been broadly applied and even worn as a badge. "NASCAR rednecks" more likely, not Deliverance rednecks- REAL rednecks, not just conservative Southerners or something.

Some of you have mentioned that these guys are college educated. Hell, rednecks probably don't even have high school under their belts. If you've seen Easy Rider, those guys who blew away Dennis Hopper are rednecks - "Why don't you get a haircut."

Keep in mind these guys are being held up in front of a huge TV audience by executive producer types, doing the prime time appearances on Jimmy Kimmel in LA and the big liberal cities, these guys are exposed to much more liberal and cosmopolitan ideas and people than rednecks really are. If they actually got real rednecks, it probably would not work. So these producers are giving you their idea of redneck, pretty articulate and much more cosmopolitan than a redneck should be.

Now of course, as I said, within the last few years, like as Country music became popularized by Garth Brooks and became more pop oriented, it totally does not resemble at all its roots, likewise, becoming "Redneck" as a sort of street cred has gained traction. It's simply become broader to mean less something you were probably born into and couldn't escape as it is something self applied or just put together as an image. Now it's like every other white dude.

Duck Dynasty is considered a situational comedy I believe, not a reality show

A sitcom is supposed to have a story in each episode. They have fictional characters put into a plot, and a resolution. Even Seinfeld's episode about nothing qualifies, because that episode had a storyline about George and Seinfeld pitching their ideas of a show about nothing, but getting turned down.

watched this show the first time because many years ago i had one of their duck callers and it was very good. the hunting videos they did back then were fairly basic ,but way ahead of what else that was available here at the time that was around twenty years ago.he seems to still have the same views on life and family as he did then.when he came to nz several years ago to promote his company he really appeared to enjoy himself at the talk i went to.

Had two guys come into the tire shop one day wearing long hair, beards and sunglasses costumes. I was a little taken aback and then recognized them as regulars. I said, didn't work I know who you are. They never explained themselves and why they were dressed that way and continued to act all serious and like nothing was out of the ordinary. Boss man eventually helped them and told me later they were Duck Dynasty get ups. I told them I thought for a minute I was being held up. Weird. Mainly weird because they didn't seem to care that two grown men were acting like kids and being serious at the same time which made it all the more odd. I guess its a Dad and son duo and the Dad I heard is sick so they must be just living it up and not giving a crap about much.

How would you distinguish that from ZZ Top costumes?