Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Sorry no Posts, Busy Getting back into the Swing of things

Sorry No posts everyone, I have been so Busy trying to get back on Dutch Time, and getting caught up at work that I have not had much time to post.

I have been hearing alot about what everyone thought of the first episode of the season on Deadliest Catch, and not much of it was good. "Too Contrived and Staged" was the Major complaint, along with several comments that "Discovery looks like they want to end the series".

I liked the first episode, especially the High Defination, but no, it was by far NOT a favorite show. They missed showing the Greenhorns, and while hinting at the major constructions on the boats over the summer they did not really show anything. And As everyone here in town will tell you that scene at the "Burn Barrel" was very strange.
What do you all think?

31 comments:

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

I saw it, it seemed a tad strange. A bit -- I guess the word might be "stilted." It just didn't quite flow the way the shows have flowed in the past.

And a MAJOR question I had, which screamed "STAGED" to me was: if Phil was having continuing health problems to the point where he couldn't go to sea with his sons, why did either he or his doctor wait until THE very FIRST day of the season before this information was revealed?

THAT was strange. . .

BZ

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

That's another point -- I would VERY much have enjoyed seeing the work done on their boats in the off season.

And I very much do NOT want the series to be canceled.

BZ

Reading said...

In my opinion the first show should air without commericals...and another fan told me it should be two hours...as far as Phil's news went I am not sure they could have staged his reaction but I am sure they rans some final tests in hopes of a change...it would have been nice if they had introduced the greenhorns...and I didn't like the barrel scene at all...I didn't mind the standing around talking but the throwing the fireworks in really bothered me because it just seemed like something a bunch of kids would try with disasterous results....I would be sad if the show ended...and I was glad to have it back on the air...

Lou Dog said...

I agree with the other posters...I've never been to Dutch Harbor (would love to visit some day), but my first thought was that that scene was very weird and that the locals probably thought that was more bizarre than I did. Totally staged!!

And, yes, the "news" from Phil seemed totally phony to me. Why would he have waited until the day they were leaving port in Dutch to get that news...that is not how reality works!

In concurrance with the others, I also thought it was strange that none of the summer overhauls were documented in any detail...I, for one, would have liked to see what $400k in upgrades and mods would look like!

All in all, not a bad show, but I hope this isn't the beginning of the end of a great series! It just seems like it is starting to miss the mark a bit and is becoming a little too "staged".

-loudog

Margrita said...

CB the burn barrel scene was very strange the fireworks were like something a group of kids would do. I would like to have heard about some of the maintenance overhauls and upgrades. I also would like to have seen the greenhorns. I hope Discovery isn't planning on ending the series.

sunshiner said...

The burn barrel seemed staged, what I really didn't like was it made it look like Phil said he didn't have money for the kids, and he didn't have "bleep" ?? Since they later referred to alcohol, that only leaves weed or sex. Maybe it's just me and it's a stupid assumption but I'm not happy with it being aired either. But I could totally see those guys doing something like that with fireworks, they're just overgrown kids. The most unbelievable part about Phil's phone call was that it came in the middle of the Blessing of the Fleet. The timing of that is really stretching it.

Wednesday said...

I wish they would stop all of this contrived nonsense and just focus on what is real. I enjoyed the show more in the beginning when it felt more like a documentary show peppered with interesting stories and crab fishing lore. Now it seems more like The Hills making me feel as if a lot of the scenarios are constructed for the show (seriously - burn barrel?) Instead of creative editing to manufacture a storyline, I'd like to see the show go back to basics - Bering Sea crab fishing is interesting enough to keep us watching!

Mary C said...

I agree with the burn barrel. My thought is maybe they were grasping at straws for new footage. Sure we like to see new things, but the show has been better. I don't want to see it go off air, but I hope the up coming shows have more of the scenes similar to past ones. Also did it seem like there was a commercial every 7-10 minutes?

Lou Dog said...

Wednesday - very well said!

-loudog

Kimi said...

Burn barrel was stupid. It does seem like everything was staged and overly dramatized. Theres enough stuff going on that they dont need to push the faker aspects. They didnt show enough NW stuff. I do want to see them showing some of the work they did over the summer. 800K for the Northwestern is a ton of money and I for one would like to see what they did.

The whole Phil staying was kinda staged as well. Too much drama. But it did look like he waited till the last minute to tell the boys and crew. Jake looked like he wanted to just cry, but he may have just been stressed out. I do wish they would introduce the greenhorns and the new boat. So far nothing. All the info we got in advance has done nothing to diminish the show but I think the disco channel fumbled with the previews. There was too much given out.

Carlisleboy said...

There is ALOT of storyline thoughguys, Don't give up on it!!
I will say though I have been really goodabout not letting out even 1/4 of the stuff I know.
Just watching it now (Last weeks episode before the new one) And At least NOW i now who started spraying Silly String ALL OVER my Hotel that night!! Hummm, Wonder if I can bill Jonathan. I will say I loved seeing all the shots of Dutch in the first episode, and I think regular viewers of the blog will now recgonize many of the pwople and places you see. Mayor Shirley at the Blessing over the fleet, The NW at the Trident dock,the CM at the Delta Western Dock, and the Wizard Down at Westward!! Any other locations you see just ask me about.

Aimee said...

I don't think it was "staged" as much as it was just really creative editing. I guess the powers that be want to keep things as dramatic as possible to keep us tuned in. I don't believe for one moment that Phil's phonecall actually came during the blessing, but it sure makes good TV for us to think it did. Perhaps with this being the first episode, they wanted to really make it suspenseful, and the rest of the episodes will tone down a bit.

valerie said...

I didn't see this post until after the 2nd showing.. and while I will freely admit that any new DC is better then ..well maybe chocolate comes first but a new comes in close :)
I agree with Kim, I doubt Jake could "act" that kind of reaction, might not have been during the blessing but it was a real moment for his kids, I have to remember while we are big fans of these guys, they are not actors and some part of me thinks they are just trying to "turn it up a bit" maybe thats our guys or the guys editing, who knows..
like I said thou..I'm thrilled we got a new season, even with your little hints, you were so very good at not giving it away.
one thing I would like to ask now that the 1st and 2nd have air.. I want to know WHO went under the Wizard with Keith..while that was a tense moment, kuddos to who ever followed him under that boat, figuring someone had to go film it

phew.. that was allot for me..no worries about me not watching, I dvr it just so I can watch it twice before the next week! haha

thanks again CB for everything, glad you're home safe good luck getting back into Unalaska time :)

mamawas said...

I am enjoying weaving CB's October comments into the final product Disco produces.

Ratings are higher than ever, hope nothing is cancelled.
Donna

Phylis said...

I agree with Aimee, I think it was very much editing. Many events take place and only so much can be shown in an hour. Write to the Discovery Channel and tell them what you want to see highlighted from the show.

I love the show and the guys on all 4 bosts! I definitely do not want the show to end! Unless the guys, themselves, are tired of cameras in their face while they are trying to do an extremely dangerous job. Yes, they should have shown more about the greenhorns in the first show. They could probably do a whole show on the upkeep of the boats over the summer. The impression I got from watching/listening to the guys on talk shows/radio was this season is a bit different.
I agree CB, you were excellent at keeping the storyline a secret! I did enjoy the photos and tidbits you did give us! Thank you! I agree, give the show a chance! I try not to pick on the negative but relish in the positive.

Mary C said...

Thanks CB! It's really cool to be able to recognize the different areas. In the past I would look at the background trying to figure out where they were and now I know!!!

I look forward to more pictures! Thanks, Thanks, Thanks for taking the time to post to all of us who are so far away!

Elizabeth Douglas said...

Thanks for the pics CB and for a civil discourse on the editing/storyline the show is taking this year. I don't really see the show as a "documentary" anymore...but I don't see it as reality TV in the vein of Survivor either. I believe a lot of things are cobbled together to create what is thought to be a visually and theatrically compelling show...but still a show. I think everything that we see happens, just not in that manner. I know in one interview, Travis Lofland said something along the lines of 'a,b,c,d might be shown c,b,d,a" still real, but maybe not in the context of the true situation. I am enjoying the show, but I don't need anything to be contrived for that to be so.

Someone was asking about who went in with Keith when he was working on the boat...this is from one of the production guys posted on www.deadliestforum.com
"We got new specialty POV(point of view) Cameras this year, they are shaped like a tube of lipstick and are submersible. They are attachable to helmets or whatever, and the video is fed right to a hard drive, which we can download right to a computer. We also have these cameras called "Deep Blue" and these are specially made to go underwater. The cameramen are encouraged to get as many specialty shots as they can, and really guys just try to out do each other with the shots. Every boat is outfitted with both POV and Deep Blue cameras. Each boat is also equipped with a 8'-16' painters pole, which is a long pole that extends from 8-16', and using ram mounts, we can put a camera on the end of it. The cameraman hooks the video output from the camera into a small monitor that runs on AA batteries so he can tell what he is shooting."-CKusyk

Anyway, sorry for the megalong post!

Anonymous said...

I agree with sunshine I didn't like the comments made at the burn barrel - come on I thought I was the only one disappointed in the first and now 2nd show

SINDEE said...

I still love the show and hang on every word. The content doesn't seem to be what we were used to though. I too would like to see what has been done to the boats. I am waiting to see the new hot tub on the Time Bandit...wonder who will be in it!!

Sadie94 said...

When they showed the silly string, I yelled "That's CB's Hotel" so loud I scared the dog!

I have to admit things have seemed a bit over-dramatic so far, but it's early and I can't wait for more..

Thanks for the updates and pics CB, you do an awesome job!!

Carlisleboy said...

Really observant viewers will have also noticed that Crosby, the mega hottie, on the Wizard was also in a wet suit. If you have dove before you know the MAJOR rule, You Never Dive alone. I can not believe I was the only one who noticed Crosby "poured" into that wetsuit........For Shame you all!!

Janice said...

Me thinks they may have "jumped the shark". Time will tell.

Dani said...

I just finished watching the first episode, im so surprised that the UK isnt really far behind...usually we gotta wait ages before seeing the stuff!!
i thought it was ok, slightly staged in parts, but i am still looking forward to see what happens next!!

i seen crosby in the wetsuit...me likey :) haha

Elizabeth Douglas said...

CB, Crosby's wet suit did not go unnoticed. Seriously, you need to come to Wizard chat...

cher in Cal said...

Well CB, I have a new perspective when I watch DC now that I did not have before finding you & I like it! Yes I noticed Crosby in the wet suit & made mental note of how he looked much better in one than Keith, oh well... If the show gets cancelled, it will not be the fault of the captains and crews, nor us wonderful fans, it will be the fault of the producers and editors of the show, they did the weird changes and the guys are just going with the flow. They have their jobs to do & a living to make like the rest of us. I am sure Phil visited the doctor before he came to Dutch to check things out. He really thought he was going, it broke his heart not to be able to. Of course they were prepared if he was not able to go having the new crew member & Mark Anderson who is also an engineer. (Yes I still miss Dave Millman!) Oh well... They are still editing the opie season & maybe they will take note of what the fans are saying. It will be interesting to meet the new boats a& crews & maybe that will be it's saving grace. Love you guys!

Reading said...

Does anyone know why Dave wasn't back on the CM? I miss him...

Cookie Dough said...

I had to comment on Crosby's wet suit too! I admit, I was going to beat you to it CB, but my Internet conx was down all morning!!

That and seeing Shirley, I'm always glad to see locals..I know that's not what the show is for, but I like it! I still want to see one of our many vehicles too!
But Crosby in a wet suit...ok shutting up!

valerie said...

LOL actually CB I did notice Crosby in the wetsuit, but not until last night, but I didn't want to assume, and yes I know that rule of never diving alone, I just didn't know if Crosby went as well as a camera man or was he a back up..
I wouldn't have been surprised to hear one of our DC cameraheros would have gone in after him, with the angles of the shots I thought it was unlikely it was something automated, kuddos to Crosby then for watching over one of our favorite Captains :)

Mystic said...

Oh dear lord..Crosby in the wetsuit!
I'll bonk my head if Crosby will render first aid!

Minarvia said...

I thought that the 2nd episode was better than the first one, and it felt like an early episode.

Lori said...

Wow, I'm really amazed at this blog. Didn't read it until now - so here's my thoughts (and God love this blog for letting each of us have an opinion and CB for initializing the diverse subjects):

Thought the 1st show was better than the second. Loved the barrel burning; although, until reading this blog never thought it was "staged". Loved the silly string in the hotel (that's so Johnathan). Totally was aware of Crosby in the wetsuit and ALSO noticed that Crosby was very, very concerned about Keith, which probably does mean that he assisted Keith in the dive. Save the Greenhorn info for another show altogether. DC with no commercials - let's get real here. Two hour episode - that's saved for the finally. The whole doctor/blessing thing with Phil was drama - ratings probably.

I think my point is this, why don't we just take the show for what's it's worth and like someone else said, we've got to tell the DC people if we don't like something. On a recent radio interview with Sig, it was commented that we wouldn't watch the show if they filmed them painting the boat during the summer and Sig laughed and said something like yeah, it's all about the ratings.

Last note, the show is supposed to be a documentary, not a reality show. We've all let ourselves get involved "personally" with the reoccuring cast and we want to know so much more about them, putting aside the fact of what the show was really intended to be about, so on that note, maybe I should conclude that the 2nd show "was" better than the first show?