Duck Commander's banning from his own show

Bill Burkett

Bill Burkett

Active member
I'm surprised to find no thread begun here about this, so I guess I'll start one. I read a whole bunch of comments about Phil's being banned that were attached to a news story about it. Four thousand and counting...I couldn't find a one that was not supportive of his right to express his personal opinion when asked and opposed to his being sacked for doing so. Who knew duck hunting could turn into a political football?

I don't even own a TV, so I don't see the shows that evidently have been quite popular. I have seen snarky comments by duck hunters about the show's popularity. I have seen the stacks of Duck Commander gewgaws at the local Walmart. I was somewhat bemused to see so many different items--even an eyeglass polisher I needed was branded Duck Commander.

I weighed in to support Phil's right to free speech. Duck hunters are a minority too, and should get the same freedoms other minorities insist upon. Shaggy-bearded duck hunters are a smaller minority within the minority(think Shia-Sunni) so I feel an obligation, as one of that infinitesimal number, to at least speak out in support of his right to speak. Even though Sy's book is on the best-seller list and mine is not!

I'm curious what the serious duck hunters here think about this fiasco.
 
I'm surprised to find no thread begun here about this, so I guess I'll start one. I read a whole bunch of comments about Phil's being banned that were attached to a news story about it. Four thousand and counting...I couldn't find a one that was not supportive of his right to express his personal opinion when asked and opposed to his being sacked for doing so. Who knew duck hunting could turn into a political football?

I don't even own a TV, so I don't see the shows that evidently have been quite popular. I have seen snarky comments by duck hunters about the show's popularity. I have seen the stacks of Duck Commander gewgaws at the local Walmart. I was somewhat bemused to see so many different items--even an eyeglass polisher I needed was branded Duck Commander.

I weighed in to support Phil's right to free speech. Duck hunters are a minority too, and should get the same freedoms other minorities insist upon. Shaggy-bearded duck hunters are a smaller minority within the minority(think Shia-Sunni) so I feel an obligation, as one of that infinitesimal number, to at least speak out in support of his right to speak. Even though Sy's book is on the best-seller list and mine is not!

I'm curious what the serious duck hunters here think about this fiasco.
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Phil has never had many friends among the core membership here. I say who cares. He is a showman running a business and his actions are always calculated and based on what would make the most money. This is probably no different.

He was not worth discussing 5 years ago, 10 years ago or 15 years ago and isn't today.
 
Liked the show in the beginning, but the producers made it a soap opera. The hunting was good, but the producers decided to make them act like yahoos from the bayou. Why do alot of hunting shows do this...
I usually switch the station now...
 
I personally like the show. I don't think it has anything to do with duck hunting though, and it would be my least favorite "hunting" show if it was.
I just think that any show that can stress old-fashioned values, pray at the end of every episode, and also get my kids to love it has to be ok. To me it's basically an island of old fashioned values like Andy Griffith or the Walton's in a sea of crap compared to every other show on TV.
That said, I think Phil's always been a self-promoter and showman, and I think he went overboard in his comments and could have sugar coated it more. On the other hand, nothing he said wasn't in the bible, he just could have said it better, like he did in his "apology" statement.
Just my opinion.
 
I saw the show a few times but I'm not a fan and don't own any Duck commander items nor would I.
I don't care for "made for TV" hunting shows. They are usually far removed from real world hunting.

 
He is a showman running a business and his actions are always calculated and based on what would make the most money. This is probably no different.
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My thoughts exactly. He is a "star", showman and is now in it for the money.When you decide to become a public figure and "showman", you run the risk of your words alienating the companies that back you business. Sure he has rights to free speech, but so does the company that backs, produces and airs his TV show. He exercised his rights, now they are exercising theirs.
Same thing that has happened to a number of "stars", remember the Dixie Chicks and the stupid shit they said at the height of their career????
I have watched about 5 minutes of a couple of Duck Dynasty episodes, found it as stupid and insulting to my intelligence as most so called "reality" shows out there these days.
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I think he has every right to express his opinion as we all do, but he has to be prepared for a backlash that his opinion might cause. As everyone in show biz knows any publicity is good if it gets people talking about you.

He'll be back on the show soon I bet, A+E isn't going to turn thier show pony loose over a few crazy comments from Phil.
 
I was going to boycott the show now but then I remembered I don't watch it. So for me life goes on as usual.

Tim
 
I don't see the show contributing anthing positive to the sport. Todd is right.
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I believe you all are being extremely short-sighted. I don't watch the show on a regular basis either, and I don't own a single piece of DD merchandise that I can think of, but I still think the show has value. Entertainment wise, it seems to be sort of a modern day version of the old Andy Griffith show. That show has been popular for 40 years after it went out of production, and I don't hear people complaining about it not being a realistic depiction of a small town sheriff. If DD doesn't appeal to you because it doesn't show realistic hunting scenes (it doesn't), or because the Robertsons are making a lot of money on it (they obviously are), then don't watch it. But it still has value because it portrays hunters and gun owners as real-life people who are not wackos, sadists, or tin-hatters. A whole lot of the general public are not used to seeing people who own guns, kill and eat wild game, keep their family close, and pray at the dinner table, even though there really are a lot of us around. But mostly this whole thing bothers me because I value the right to think and say what I believe. As long as I can exercise my freedoms without breaking the law, or infringing on anyone else's freedoms, then I should be allowed to do so. I certainly support other people's right to do the same.
 
Our house has been boob-tube free for at least 5 years.



For years, we got by with just rabbit ears, with HD digital signals, you can actually get a good number of stations, even in a relatively small market like Mobile.
Well, this Fall, we were going to have to switch to U-verse for our internet connection so we got the cheapest Internet and U-verse TV package to get some more channels. You know what? Most channels on cable TV these days are full of nothing but crap, mind-numbing, insulting to our collective intelligence CRAP.After having it for 4 months, I plan to dump it and go back to rabbit ears as soon as our introductory price expires...
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Our house has been boob-tube free for at least 5 years.



For years, we got by with just rabbit ears, with HD digital signals, you can actually get a good number of stations, even in a relatively small market like Mobile.
Well, this Fall, we were going to have to switch to U-verse for our internet connection so we got the cheapest Internet and U-verse TV package to get some more channels. You know what? Most channels on cable TV these days are full of nothing but crap, mind-numbing, insulting to our collective intelligence CRAP.After having it for 4 months, I plan to dump it and go back to rabbit ears as soon as our introductory price expires...
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Carl, just take it to the curb!
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I cant say that I have watched the tv show too much - a few episodes here and there. The last thing I would call it is a hunting show - I have yet to see any hunting on any of the episodes I have seen. I do own one duck call of his - one that he gave me. I had a chance to eat dinner with them once in a average ole duck camp. They are all genuine good guys - they were there to hunt, talk about hunting, and sitting around telling stories, same as everyone else. I also weighed in with my support of him being able to say what he believes. But at the end of the day he is running a business and doing it to make money - I dont fault him for that either - whether he is peddling calls and DVD's out of his car or at trade shows, or whether he does it through a goofy tv show, crap at wally world, whatever - as a business guy I can appreciate it. As a duckhunter nothing he has ever done or said has really bothered me either, and as far as him getting banned from the tv show, taking heat from various groups out there - it comes with the territory now, and I am sure he understands that.

And last, as a Alabama fan - I cant seem to get away from all these Aubies - even on a duck boat site! - ha! Good luck in the game - bring the crystal ball back to Alabama - or I should say keep it in Alabama - Roll Tide!
 
I see nothing out of line with PR's comments.

The politically correct movement is ruining this country. If the queers don't like Phil's thinking, they can go choke on a big ****. That is all.
 
I think some people are just too darn serious in believing their lifestyle and personal choices are all that important to "strangers". I've read many, many threads on this topic. They all "sound" the same....very polarizing.

I'm fairly familiar with the regulars on this forum based on what they post and why. Therefore, I feel my opinion (or anyone else's) about the value of the Duck Commander program isn't going to change a thing except to provide fodder for the next poster.

Comments range from being "flippy", others insulted, many taken too seriously and mostly solving nothing. What I mean is there's no real need (for me) to know what someone else thinks about a TV program.

It's my TV in my private viewing area. The channel changer is in my hands. I really don't care what others think because it's a personal choice. I'm 73 years old and frankly don't feel a need for validation.
Therefore, why would I think posting up an opinion about Duck Commander might be all that significant?

I do know one thing for sure.....I will be "Happy, Happy.....Happy when this dang winter is over.
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