Every now and then, my sister asks if we watch Deadliest Catch. If you’ve never seen it, it’s a show that comes on the Discovery Channel about crab fishing. Every time she asks, I say no. But what I’m really saying is: No, we don’t watch a show about fishing. An hour long show about fishing. An hour long show about cold, wet men who fish for crab from the deck of a cold, wet boat.
And I stood by that response. Until Big David won American Idol and Jim didn’t propose to Pam and I found myself show-less. So one night last week, we watched Deadliest Catch. And now we can’t stop. In fact, we spend nearly every commercial break discussing why:
- It comes on every night, multiple times.
- It has suspenseful music in the background that makes crabbing seem exciting and important.
- We have all these cool new words and phrases to use like “picket hook” and “captain’s string” and “the crew is back at the rail”.
- The bad words are bleeped out. Some sentences are just one long bleep.
- Sometimes really dangerous things happen like someone gets hit in the head by a picket hook or the crane leaks hydraulic fluid all over the deck. Not to mention the hurricane force winds and the blinding rain…but that’s like, sissy stuff for these guys.
This show has all the makings of a good story: competition, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. It is fascinating to watch the way the captains handle failure and success. I keep telling myself I’ll stop watching as soon as we see them catch a full pot. And then we did. And we found ourselves wanting to see it again. It more than justifies the high cost of crab legs.
We also got into this:
the man: I bet people are smarter now that we have tv.
me: What do you mean?
the man: Because how would we ever know about stuff like this otherwise?
me: Yeah. How would we ever know? We are like, so smart.
And then we remembered about books. All the books. All the books that aren’t being read by us because we can learn it from the Discovery Channel.
Let’s be honest. I would never pick up a book about crab fishing. I didn’t think I’d ever watch a show about it either. But now I find myself with Deadliest Catch on my dvr and Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” stuck in my head. That’s the very appropriate theme song. From the show about crabs that I can’t stop watching.
That one is addictive and so is Ice Road Truckers. Now the world is seeing how the people in my old stomping grounds of the cold artic north are making a living!
Were you not so disappointed that Jim didn’t get to propose? It was such a big letdown.
Thank the Lord, So You Think You Can Dance started the next day after American Idol. What would I watch all summer?
Deadliest Catch…very addictive. I now know the names of all of the captians and their boats (sick girl that I am). Just last night I told my husband that I could not imagine who on earth thought this would actually make good t.v. He then informed me that it is not only good television, it is now also a video game for the X-box 360and some other system. I sure hope Sig and the other guys on the Northwestern are making a nice chunk of change from their t.v. time.
Yeah, we’re addicted here, too. Tuesdays are “DC” night! And amazingly, hubby and I both enjoy it. What is it about Discovery that just sucks you in?!? (And our son was very excited when I bought crab legs for a special family dinner a couple weeks ago – he wanted to know who’d caught them
oh my goodness, you are so not alone when it comes to the addictiveness of this show. Chad and I LOVE to watch it. You’re right, it’s the music and the suspense, and the danger! Great show choice!
I too am coming out of the dark about my Deadliest Catch addiction…that is until we had seen every episode and watched the marathon event one day. Now, I’m up to “here” with crabs…that didn’t come out the way I’d hoped. Anyway, I don’t have crabs, I’ve had it with crabs. Nope, that’s not right either. You know what I mean. There are many other series that I’ve gotten addicted to similar to DC. Take for one, America’s Next Top Model. At any time of just about any day you can catch marathons on MTV. Did I just admit I watch MTV? I guess i did. Anyway, now I’ve had enough of that. Also, Jon and Kate Plus 8. I’m not tired of that yet, but getting close. I watch that because it gives me perspective that life with one child really isn’t so bad! She is the mamma-jamma. Dirty Jobs, now there’s a great show. Mike Rowe (narrates DC) is a nice hunk of man meat and you get to watch him do crazy jobs (usually with poo)and he is hysterical. Okay, I’ve hogged your comment section long enough.
Oh my stars, girl, I know EXACTLY what you’re saying about this show. I could watch it all day. OH…wait I DID watch it all day on Sunday. Some sort of crabby marathon. Loved it. Love the show. Totally addicted. Will eat crab with alot more respect now.
DC is on a lot at our house, along with Dirty Jobs, both stay on our DVR. DH & little man are hooked on both. I’m telling ya, if you have little boys in your house,(let’s face it men are little boys too) then Dirty Jobs is aimed to entertain them. My 4 year old re-enacts scenes from the show. Another really popular show in our house is How It’s Made on the Science Channel.
DC has renewed my love for Bon Jovi too. I’ve had to dig out some of my old CD’s of them. My little boy always wants to hear the ‘crab fishin’ song’ everytime we go somewhere!
And I agree with the above post, Mike Rowe is nice to look at and hilarious!
We’re addicted here, too! I’ve actually sat at my in-laws house and coveted their DVD box set of season one. What? I’m jealous of one’s possession of hours of crab fishing footage??? Sick.
YES!!!!!!!
I love anything that includes Mike Rowe and his manly voice. {Also lots of real men. Not in suits.} He could narrate a reality tv show in a nursing home where they follow the cook around and I would watch.
I will be the lone voice standing up for books. Yay, books! Visit your local library! Otherwise I will be out of a job!
I was the same way, dh requested the Season 1 set from the library and I rolled my eyes but when it came in I sat on the edge of my seat and watched right along. Imagine having to watch the whole season before it’s due back at the library in one week. We don’t have cable or dish so we can only get it from the library. Otherwise, I’d be in trouble.
We LOVE Deadliest Catch. It is one of our shows we do NOT miss (along with The Office, 30 Rock, and Top Chef.) We talk about all the skippers and their boats like they are family. I totally daydream about being a cook (and cleaning house) on one of these crab boats. I never knew until the last couple of weeks that so many people aside from us really loved this show! haha!
My favorite phrases, by the way, are “on the crab” and “soaking pots.”
Alrighty then. I’m off to set up the DVR.
I love crabs. With butter. I hope this doesn’t change my mind.
That is so funny you posted about this because last night my husband and I watched 3 episodes straight! And I don’t even like seafood!!
We love Deadliest Catch too. We have a friend who spent 4 seasons crab fishing in Alaska and loves it too.
But just wait until they show the Everest-Beyond the Limit. Good golly, that one is gripping too!
xo ~K
I know! My husband would watch and I would catch bits and pieces of it and tease him about it. Then I started getting more and more of it, and now I almost always look for a reason to be in the room while he watches. Not that I’m officially watching it too or anything. Just call me crabby.
Excuse me while I wipe the estrogen off of me and insert some testosterone here. Why are you all such Closet fans? Come out and say it like you mean it! …and while you’re at it, please get my wife into this show because I’m tired of hearing how “we’re not watching THAT show”. I love it, without “addiction”…as addiction implies something wrong about it. And only the Mike Rowe version–the other one is the Poser Version (also referred to as “Season I”). How many lessons have we learned from this sage footage: it IS possible to continue to smoke a cigarette while getting smashed with green water. when you get a break, change your socks and eat something. sometime it IS ok to say bad words. mohawks do not necessarily please the crab gods. whatever it takes, and i mean whatEVER it takes, NEVER fall asleep at the wheel of a 90 foot crab boat. lastly, if you want to catch crabs, call Sig on the Northwestern.
(insert manly growl, butt scratch, & spit HERE)
My name’s Lee, & Sig gave me CRABS.
I used to hate the show because the crabs and their wiggly long legs creeped me out. They were a bit too spiderlike, but I becamse more and more intrigued by the guys and now we are addicted! My favorite captain is Phil with his cigarettes and Red Bull. He is one smoke away from a heart attack, I believe.
Lee you’re hilarious. And, omg, I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve never even heard of this show. It’s probably one of those great shows on big cable that we don’t get, right? I’m sure if you make me watch one, Em, as you always do of your new found favorite shows, that I will then also be addicted, and I will not be a closet addict. I will proudly drink a beer and fart while I watch. How’s that for you, Lee?
We had a similar addiction to that show on the History channel called “Ice Road Truckers.” That’s some serious man TV.
Me and my husband watch that show also. I love it. We have seen all the seasons. I think the new season is just about over. We are a couple of shows behind but they are on tivo. I’m with you about the music. That Bon Jovi song is perfect for the introduction. I watch the beginning (without skipping past introductions) just to hear the music. It’s fits perfectly.
love love love deadliest catch.
love mike rowe. he makes gross things sound pretty darn interesting.
love that bon jovi song again and it’s way past the 80′s.
i “learn” better with visuals.
books? not so much.
tv junkie…that’s me!
We so watch it, too. I have had to roll my eyes when hubbie tries to watch reruns- that is TOO much. I like the Alaskan Experiment also.
Why does your sister have a burp cloth with your name on it? Just curious. I thought it was funny when I realized. You know how you blogged that it is weird that people know you from your blog. Well, things like that just add to it and we could have all kind of strange ideas of who you are. Like picturing Nester with a burp cloth on her shoulder and you leaning over her shoulder while she burps you.
Who knew there were so many of us? I love Deadliest Catch and Dirty Jobs. Even more I love Mike Rowe. I even love his truck and pharmacy commercials. Husbands everywhere are cheering because there is a “man show” that wives from all over love!!
And THIS is why I still have no cable or sattelite! I would watch that show. A lot. And also “How things are made” and “Dirty Jobs” and HGTV until my eyes bled. For now, all I gotta worry about is SYTYCD. Maybe they should add some scary music and gale force winds to the dancing. Now THAT would be exciting
!
Speaking of Mike Rowe…hamana. When he takes his shirt off on Dirty Jobs, my husband knows not to talk. Just let me enjoy that moment.
You are making me wish I had extended cable. I have nothing to watch with Office and Idol over for the season!
I just found your blog from Lysa’s site. I will be heading to She Speaks this year too – can’t wait!!
Love your blog!
My husband was so excited the other night, while watching DC, to find that the crab pots we took pictures of in Homer, AK belong to “Time Bandit”!
And yes, had it not been for “Deadliest Catch” we would not have stopped our walk to take a dozen pictures of crab pots
You have such an adorable blog! I’m glad I stumbled across it!
I’ve never heard of Deadliest Catch but I have to say I laughed outloud when I read your post and I read it to my kids and husband. We are all intrigued, but unfortunately do not have cable so won’t be seeing it any time soon. I might have to see if our library has it.
cheers,
Blueberry
Okay, I will set my DVR for it. I have to admit that I thought of you when I passed the little Debbie island at the store yesterday. If I knew you in face to face life, I so would have bought you Little Debbie’s and made you a care package of Little debbies on your doorstep. To rid the Monster mommy Syndrome.
Ok…. delurking mode…. This show is the bomb diggitty! We love it and have watched it the last season and a half. We actually just found season one on Ebay.. Love,love,love this show. And it doesn’t hurt that Mike Rowe talks the whole way through. I love me some Edgar on the Northwestern F/V.
Love your blog! I check in everyday!
Roxanne
Oh my goodness! My husband LOVES this show. I think he likes to watch anything in HD because the picture on our TV is so clear. When I saw him watching it the first few times, I was like “this is so stupid!!!”. But it is quite addictive. He loves the captain that chain smokes and drinks Red Bull all day…ha!
yes!!!! i’m so glad i’m not the only one who adores this show! my husband has even looked into working for sig hanson, lol!