I’ve been picking on Alaskan Bush People quite a bit recently, but it was never really my intention to do so. It’s just that the stars at the heart of Alaskan Bush People remain a source of controversy. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to defend the Brown family or the series as authentic. After all, the Discovery Channel program is just one of many scripted Alaskan reality TV shows.
As more people become aware that Alaskan Bush People is fake, it might drive viewers away. That made me wonder why the network is so determined to prop up the Browns as “real bush people.” There’s just too much evidence to the contrary circulating the Internet.
The best thing for Alaskan Bush People might be an entirely different angle altogether.
https://twitter.com/emancipation134/status/741056849806495744
As I said in my previous article , it might be time for the Discovery Channel to consider putting up a disclaimer with these episodes. I noted the network did this in response to the graphic nature of hunting and killing animals featured on the show.
It’s also worth pointing out that we don’t see any hunting this season, despite the gratuitous nature of hunting in seasons past. Instead, we’re seeing a lot of focus on the Browns’ pets — living animals to make up for all the dead ones. I think that was a conscious decision in response to whatever backlash Alaskan Bush People received for all the dead deer carcasses. But before the program cut out the hunting, there was a disclaimer.
Maybe it’s time at last for Discovery Channel to come clean about how fake the show is. Doing so isn’t stopping hardcore fans from watching. Why don’t producers stop trying to play up how “real” the show is or what “good people” the Browns are?
There’s something else working to the distinct advantage of Alaskan Bush People that show runners are determined to overlook: The “quality TV” angle.
What do I mean by “quality TV?” Well, all controversies aside, at the heart of Alaskan Bush People is a series that doesn’t contain violence (outside of the hunting in earlier seasons), nudity, graphic sexual situations, or bad language. It focuses on a family living and working together to overcome daily struggles. There’s a strong message of togetherness, hard work, and putting family first.
I’m sure there are plenty of people who hate the Browns and find them to be poor representatives of this message. However, Hollywood is overflowing with brilliant actors who are also jerks in real life. Some of them remain quite beloved despite their off-camera nature.
It’s the characters they portray that matter most to the public. Why not promote Alaskan Bush People in much the same way?
The red car door is the finishing touch to Bear’s totally awesome treehouse #AlaskanBushPeople pic.twitter.com/ZkFIs5M5Tc
— Alaskan Bush People (@AlaskanBushPPL) June 11, 2016
As the reality in this wilderness-based reality TV show unravels, the Discovery Channel is going to find itself short on ways to market Alaskan Bush People . Its stars aren’t genuine bush people by multiple accounts . The Browns allegedly abandon “Browntown” regularly when they don’t have to be there for filming. The series manipulated an estranged daughter into a fake reunion that gets creepier and creepier in retrospect.
Even bringing on fake actors to boost the story arcs isn’t going to work. It’s certainly headed down the path of being repetitive . I don’t see Alaskan Bush People lasting too much longer, even with controversies to prop it up.
The only way to salvage the program is to try to spin it into a modern day Waltons or Little House on the Prairie . Another idea out of left field? Create a spin-off show where a family of fans (not actors, not attention-hungry reality TV stars who’ve appeared on other shows, etc.) heads to Alaska to see if they have what it takes to be “bush people.”
Let them film themselves if necessary, with a focus on whether the journey brings them together or tears them apart.
Never give up! Never surrender! #AlaskanBushPeople pic.twitter.com/KV0DbGsLLq
— Alaskan Bush People (@AlaskanBushPPL) June 11, 2016
Whatever the Discovery Channel decides, they’ll have to work fast. With native Alaskans blowing the lid off Alaskan Bush People every week, the show might not be able to survive much longer in its current form.
Do you think, despite everything, that Alaskan Bush People qualifies as quality television? Share your reasons why or why not below!
[Image via the Discovery Channel ]
