Deadliest Catch, REALITY TV

[TheVTCGuy]

Rest in peace Phil Harris...

Did anyone else catch the episode tonight? Man... talk about it hitting home. Phil had a stroke on the Cornelia Marie and, as we now know.. dies sometime later in the hospital. THIS, is reality TV. F*#% The Batchelorette and that other crap, this unscripted show has really got to me. Phil Harris, a loud-mouthed hard-ass crab boat captain, not the kind of guy you want your daughter to get involved with.

At the same time, he is a caring ship's master, a true friend, and most importantly, a loving father. He catches his son stealing some of his presciption pain medication and confronts him. His son comes clean, and through tears tells his dad he's an addict. Phil hugs his son, cries himself, and says he'll support his son through rehab. "I'll go to the meetings with you"

Back in port, Phil talks about how it's his fault, for not being there for his sons when they were growing up. He pulls out old family pictures, and reminisces about the good times. A little while later, they find him face down in his cabin. This was 100% REAL. And it sent shivers down my spine watching the paramedics working on him, knowing he would be gone soon.

I can't say I'm suprised. Phil was a chain-smoking, stressed out dude that never excercised, lived on red bull and fried food, and had already cheated death once when a blood clot went through his heart. You can say he brought it on himself, (he was only 53!) but the passion he had for his boat, and the love for his sons, it is just a very powerful powerful TV show.

GOD bless Phil, up there in fisherman's heaven, and grant strength to his son, I can only imagine the guilt he must now feel. If this were a concocted story line, it could not have been any more powerful. THIS, is reality Television.

[walds11]

Didn't catch last night's episode, but LOVE the show. RIP Phil.

[Andad]

All scripted mate and filmed in front of a BIG blue screen.

[swissautopro]

I've been addicted to the show since the original documentary, prior to the series. Sad show last night, and equally so the episode before when Phil and Jake had their serious issue. Can't help but think worrying about Jake accelerated his downwardly spiraling condition. RIP Phil.

[Kapture1]

Originally Posted by directioneng

All scripted mate and filmed in front of a BIG blue screen.

Green screen

[Mike B]

My mother LOVES this show, and Phil was her favorite captain. She was VERY sad to hear of his passing.
I normally don't watch that show but my mom "made me" last night lol
A VERY chilling episode, especially the last 15 minutes. I really feel sorry for the whole crew on his ship. He seemed like a really nice guy.

[joeychitwood]

It's interesting to me that this show, which started out as basically a documentary about crab fishing, has become a compelling show about people, families and tragedy. I'm sure the producers had no idea that the show would become much more than it was intended to be.

I have a friend who flies air-medical out of Anchorage. He has made countless trips to Dutch Harbor and St. Paul Island to pick up sick or injured patients, and he says a large number of the fishermen use drugs heavily, especially methamphetamine. He says that most are not the kind of folks you'd invite over to your house for Thanksgiving dinner, as many have criminal backgrounds and are often running away from something in their life.

My nephew, an alcoholic with a criminal past, tried fishing cod in Alaska for a year. He came back in worse shape than when he left.

[diversified]

A one time acquaintance of mine had a younger brother tried commercial fishing off Alaska one season and couldn't hack it.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

It's interesting to me that this show, which started out as basically a documentary about crab fishing, has become a compelling show about people, families and tragedy. I'm sure the producers had no idea that the show would become much more than it was intended to be.

I have a friend who flies air-medical out of Anchorage. He has made countless trips to Dutch Harbor and St. Paul Island to pick up sick or injured patients, and he says a large number of the fishermen use drugs heavily, especially methamphetamine. He says that most are not the kind of folks you'd invite over to your house for Thanksgiving dinner, as many have criminal backgrounds and are often running away from something in their life.

My nephew, an alcoholic with a criminal past, tried fishing cod in Alaska for a year. He came back in worse shape than when he left.

I am not suprised at all to hear that Joey, totally believe it. It is definitely a rough and non-healthy environment, not something I would ever want to do. Still, I found myself captivated by the family issues, the tragedy, thier passion for the sea and their trade. Phil was not exactly a model of humanity, but he loved his children very much, and his boat, in that order. I had a lot of respect for him. RIP.

[Watchdog]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

I have a friend who flies air-medical out of Anchorage. He has made countless trips to Dutch Harbor and St. Paul Island to pick up sick or injured patients, and he says a large number of the fishermen use drugs heavily, especially methamphetamine. He says that most are not the kind of folks you'd invite over to your house for Thanksgiving dinner, as many have criminal backgrounds and are often running away from something in their life.

My nephew, an alcoholic with a criminal past, tried fishing cod in Alaska for a year. He came back in worse shape than when he left.

EXACTLY what I've heard too.

[DWdrummer]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

It's interesting to me that this show, which started out as basically a documentary about crab fishing, has become a compelling show about people, families and tragedy. I'm sure the producers had no idea that the show would become much more than it was intended to be.

I have a friend who flies air-medical out of Anchorage. He has made countless trips to Dutch Harbor and St. Paul Island to pick up sick or injured patients, and he says a large number of the fishermen use drugs heavily, especially methamphetamine. He says that most are not the kind of folks you'd invite over to your house for Thanksgiving dinner, as many have criminal backgrounds and are often running away from something in their life.

My nephew, an alcoholic with a criminal past, tried fishing cod in Alaska for a year. He came back in worse shape than when he left.

This doesn't surprise me. The workload and job is brutal Im sure. Im not condoning drug use, but it's not hard to see why they would use drugs either in the context of this conversation.

Its sad really when you think about it.

Aside from that I like the show, and I too was sad to hear of this. Those guys are like family, they live and work together and it must have really hit them hard.

[TheVTCGuy]

I normally don't watch that show but my mom "made me" last night

Mike, you need to finally move out of the house....

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Mike, you need to finally move out of the house....

Tell me about it

[CL65AMG]

I'm a big fan of the show.

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by CL65AMG

I'm a big fan of the show.

I'm a big fan of sea-food.

[ParisDakarBmw]

I didn't see the episode last night, but homeboy was about unhealthy for sure...It looked like he ate slim jims, and liquior for dinner, followed by a carton of smokes for desert...

Sad to see him go......

[diversified]

I definitely have to see this episode on rerun this week.

[MitchSteel]

RIP Phil.I'm a big fan of the show, my dvr is filled with it.My dad was a deep sea captain for over 30 years(and had a tripple bypass at52), and I have highest regard for those guys.like Paul said, nevermind those reality shows like bachelor or survivor or big brother........this is real, you won't see Ryan Seacrest on here.big props to the guys on the seas.

[PacNW]

I spend 7 months at sea every year, and yes it's a tough job at times but I enjoy it.
Guess you either have it or you don't.
This link says it all http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iCAI...eature=related

[mtrunner]

Really great show and sad Phil passed away. This show really highlights to an extent how unhealthy this job is. Hour upon hours without sleep while performing manual labor in horrible conditions, eating unhealthy, smoking, etc. One thing that is rarely brought up is the fact there is a lot of drug use in the industry. The only time it was brought up was this year when Phil found out his son Jake was an addict right before he died.

I also read a month or two ago that a producer for the Deadliest Catch was arrested for using and selling cocaine and bragged about thr large amounts of cocaine from California being distributed at “Deadliest Catch” parties in Unalaska.

[chriseskew24]

Favorite show on TV and maybe of all time. Minus seinfield

[ade06]

I ran into Capt's Phil's oldest son a few months ago in Lancaster, PA at the Bulovia watch outlet shop (apparently his girlfriend works there). He was cool and very open about his father's passing and his brother's rehab. He noted that discovery channel paid for this father's funeral and his brother's rehab. Capt. Phil was tough dude that loved his boys very much. Rest in peace.