Dear ‘Duck Dynasty’ Haters: You Do Know It’s All Fake, Right?

[Jesus Malverde]

Last edited Sun Dec 22, 2013, 01:28 PM - Edit history (1)

Dear ‘Duck Dynasty’ Fans: You Do Know It’s All Fake, Right?

Amid the turmoil caused by the suspension of “Duck Dynasty’s” Phil Robertson in relation to an interview he gave with GQ, an outpouring of support has emerged from those defending the bearded A&E star.

Which only begs the question whether these people really know whom exactly it is they’re defending.

However real and natural it might appear, “Duck Dynasty” is a sitcom. Not all the dialogue is written, but as even the Robertsons freely admitted on the “Today” show, “They come up with ideas and we just get to be ourselves in the situation.”

So while Robertson can be taken at his word that he’s a man of faith, the character that people know from TV is just that: A character.

Other websites, some with way too much time on their hands, have meticulously detailed the staging that goes into the show. But suffice it to say that the Robertsons have thrived in part because they and their producers have been adept at making themselves seem authentic. As one reality TV producer suggested when discussing the show, even if the situations are all phony, you couldn’t create those guys.

Still, the full-throated defense on behalf of the Robertsons primarily reflects two things: The very effective tactic of making Christians feel like they are disrespected and persecuted by the mainstream media; and most germane to this discussion, the sorry lack of media literacy in the U.S., where people might insist they’re in on the gag, but if they’re seeing something on TV, they tend to assume it’s true.

http://variety.com/2013/tv/columns/dear-duck-dynasty-fans-you-do-know-its-all-fake-right-1200980709/

This article was written for the fans. The reason I directed it at the haters is because they have become part of this media product.

This bloviating millionaire masters degree holding yuppie will rise from the ashes in a most watched tale of redemption.

You're all being played for the holidays by professionals who understand the American television consumer.

Just like the fake money hungry republicans whose dog whistles serve as substance. This TV sitcom is feeding their audience a sad diet of bile and hate.

If our ire should be directed anywhere, it should be the producers, who cynically created this cultural excrement for financial gain.

[Aerows]

1. I wouldn't fear them if they were for real

since there are so many like them all over the place where I am. If you haven't shared a seat with a bowhunter and a dripping case full of deer, a composite bow and stinking camouflage, you pretty much don't have a right to complain about "fearing them".

[Major Hogwash]

2. The GQ interview wasn't fake.

I couldn't care less if they sell duck calls or not.
I heard they are a $450 Million dollar enterprise.

I don't support people like Robertson, whether he is a tv personality on a reality show or a tv evangelist in disguise!!!

[Jesus Malverde]

11. I looked for a financial relationship between Condé Nast (GQ owners) and Disney

I didn't see anything obvious to suggest this event is as scripted as the show.

The timing around the holidays, the appeal to his own base, the basic red meat narratives lend themselves to suspicion. The family is obviously media savy...

[abakan]

21. He is just playing to his base...

Last edited Sun Dec 22, 2013, 03:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Most of the people who watch his show...are apt to share his views. Bible thumpers in the south have nothing to do with love and everything to do with fear and hatred.

[Hugabear]

3. The hate isn't fake

And they shouldn't be given a platform, fake or not.

[Jesus Malverde]

14. Indeed we should be asking...

Disney...WTF! Why are you promoting the worst stereotypes of southern culture? Why are you making money off this cultural bile. Who produces and profits off this narrative?

[FarCenter]

18. Disney is lower than whale shit.

I can't stand that my grandkids watch Disney DVDs or that their other grandparents give her all this Disney princess crap.

[rdharma]

4. May God have mercy on you for claiming southern Christian Folk are being duped!

[Jesus Malverde]

6. I'm taking sides on this one. I strongly condemn that racist hillbilly.

Last edited Sat Dec 21, 2013, 08:36 PM - Edit history (1)

I can't believe I'm reading this on DU!

[Douglas Carpenter]

5. Duck Dynasty - The Robertson family photos right before they grew the beards and did the TV show

More 'Duck Dynasty' before the beards: Robertson family photos

http://www.zap2it.com/news/pictures/zap-duck-dynasty-before-the-beards-robertson-family-photos-20131123,0,2096143,showall.photogallery

[vaberella]

26. They look like the Kennedy's. n/t

[1000words]

7. An older, white male from the deep South has been exposed as a homophobic racist.

I'm shocked.

[rdharma]

8. I'm shocked that he's cashing in on his bigotry! nt

[1000words]

9. The real money is in politics

[vaberella]

27. I'm not, it's the American way after all. n/t

[Initech]

10. The show is fake, the bigotry ain't fake.

[diabeticman]

12. First this isn't the first time he has said this type of crap and second EVEN this "reality" show is

faked like the majority of them are people need to be responsible for their words.

[politichew]

13. He was spouting his bigotry before the show even started. nt

[LittleBlue]

15. I'm becoming convinced that this interview was deliberate

A show about bearded guys in the woods making duck calls? I don't watch reality TV, let alone 4 bearded yahoos in the woods.

All of a sudden, boom. 3 days of saturation coverage of Duck Dynasty. Not just reality TV, they're making it about the First Amendment. Now I feel compelled to tune in and see what all the fuss is about. According to twitter, just in time for a Christmas marathon. Sniff sniff, something doesn't smell right.

[rdharma]

17. Next generation of WWF wrestling?

Yee Haaaw!

[Jesus Malverde]

20. "Boost the show's ratings and merchandise empire"

But the "Duck Dynasty" might be unaffected, according to Celebrity Net Worth's Brian Warner.
"Even if the show's fans do not fully agree with his comments, I doubt they were surprised to hear them coming from an elderly duck hunter," Warner said. "Phil's comments will probably do nothing but boost the show's ratings and merchandise empire."

http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/19/news/companies/duck-dynasty-robertson/

We are being played by a media that has learned the value of taking shows into social media. Where the duck d-bags used to be a brand, now they are an identity.

If there is any benefit, at least the racist homophobes will be easier to spot in the future, by their duck wear.

[Paladin]

16. The homophobia and racial prejudice are all too real. (nt)

[BainsBane]

19. Their 15 minutes is up

Am I the only one who thinks they aren't worth all this attention?

[Cass]

25. No, you're not alone. They are oversaturated.

I was out shopping this week and was shocked by the amount of Duck Dynasty products available. They are everywhere. I don't get their appeal.

[KittyWampus]

22. This bigoted stunt is a sick marketing ploy to sell crap that no one was buying. They were probably

desperate because their pathetic items weren't selling in the Christmas rush so they pulled this stunt to gin up PR, sympathy and support.

And why it is so sick is because it FEATURED BIGOTRY FRONT AND CENTER.

It was overt.

[Packerowner740]

23. All of those "reality" shows are faked to one extent or another.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

24. Ummm....I don't think the "haters" are the ones who need to be reminded about that.

It's the show's supporters who are the ones who go on and on about how supposedly "real and down to earth" the show's characters are.

What a poorly written article.

[Paladin]

28. +1. (nt)

[Jesus Malverde]

30. You'll note if you read it...

It was written for the fans. The reason I directed it at the haters is because they have become part of this media product.

This bloviating millionaire masters degree holding yuppie will rise from the ashes in a most watched tale of redemption.

You're all being played for the holidays by professionals who understand the American television consumer.

Just like the fake money hungry republicans whose dog whistles serve as substance. This TV sitcom is freeding their audience a sad diet of bile and hate.

If our ire should be directed anywhere, it should be the producers, who cynically created this cultural excrement for financial gain.

[DCBob]

29. Fake or not its a dumb show. I only lasted about 30 seconds before turning it off.

Hard to believe so many waste their time watching that trash.

[WinkyDink]

31. Of course, it's fake. But PR's comments to GQ were quite real.

[Jesus Malverde]

32. Really?

Why? Why can't this be a contrived plot line.

Lets call this episode "crazy grandpa tells it like it is"...

We'll send him out, make some ridiculous comments about people who don't watch the show.

In fact well make comments about people who are hated by those who do watch the show.

Those people who don't watch the show will boycott it (OMG!). Those people who used to watch the show, and got bored seeing yuppies play hillbillies, will be back in droves.

Coming soon the highest watched episodes of DD ever.

The production of this show with it's mysogony, homophobia, and racism is straight out of the republican playbook.

Don't fall for these frauds, the producers are laughing all the way to the bank.