Three 'Deadliest Catch' captains quit show due to Discovery lawsuit

The Hollywood reporter ^ | 9/29/10 | Matthew Belloni

[hoagy62]

Capts. Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand -- who were sued earlier this month by Discovery for allegedly not performing work on a planned spinoff special -- as well as Capt. Sig Hansen, issued a statement to the Hollywood Reporter this afternoon saying they are "unable" to continue on the hit adventure series due to the litigation.

[hoagy62]

The gist of it is: Captains Jonathan and Andy of the 'Time Bandit' are being sued for breach of contract by Discovery. Capt. Sig Hansen of the 'Northwestern' said "the heck with this" and is leaving the show in support of the Hillstrands. The King crab season starts next month, and Discovery just lost their 2 most popular boats.

Read the article. Who is wrong here? The Hillstrands (who may have decided they didn't want to be part of a goofy spin-off) or Discovery?

[SnakeDoctor]

Trying to force higher egg production, Discovery kills the golden goose.

These men are fishermen, not slick lawyered-up Hollywood-types. You’re not going to get them to negotiate by dragging them to court and arguing with them ... you’re just going to piss them off and burn your show to the ground.

SnakeDoc

[GQuagmire]

I’m willing to guess that all will be settled just before they go out in October.

[ontap]

Boy’s are maneuvering for more money...I bet they get it!!!

[Non-Sequitur]

The Discovery Channel made these three, it can make three more. I’m sure that there are dozens of other captains out there that’ll take Discovery Channel money to allow cameramen on their boats.

[TexasCajun]

I've watched every episode.

I've even seen Johathon on some new Geico commercials.

Jonathon and Sig were indeed the show's stars.

...along with the Harris' on the Cornelia Maria.

The money was good, I'm sure, but I bet they are just as happy to not have those damn camera's in their faces 24/7.

[stainlessbanner]

Phil, Sig, and the Hillstrands gone? There’s no show left.

[tlb]

Let them go. The show was redundant.

Boat sails, the men gripe, get wet, gripe, captain cusses someone, haul in a fishtrap, get wet and gripe. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

For 8 seasons.

[mainsail that]

How much do they get paid, anyone knows?

Discovery can get other boats but if they are getting good ratings, why risk it?

[cripplecreek]

I see the Ice road truckers are going to be driving the Death Road in the Andes. I’m sure they’re being paid well but getting lured outside their element is going to get someone killed.

[GonzoGOP]

Of the five captains featured in season six they have now lost four. Phil died, The Hillstrads are gone. Sig is bailing. That only leaves Keith Colburn, who isn't the most interesting guy on the show. I'm thinking that Deadliest Catch has now jumped the crab.

[bicyclerepair]

Yeah, talk about redundancy. After a few episodes you never have to watch again.

I hate seafood too. Their attitudes were annoying. No loss here.

[hosepipe]

Must be a democrat in the deal somewhere..
Trying to regulate Crab Boat Captains is like trying to herd cats..

Democrats are notorious Cat Herds..
We have a few on Free Republic..

[GQuagmire]

I'm thinking that Deadliest Catch has now jumped the crab

Winner of Post of the Day. Please see management to claim your prize.

[TexasCajun]

I hate seafood too

More for me! :)

[Gideon7]

Deadliest Catch has now jumped the crab.

Thread winner!

[Egon]

Dammit. I watch maybe three shows in any given season. This was one of them. Plus, this particular show made me feel a lot better about my job!

[70th Division]

Whats the prize. A case of Crabs? Sorry the Devil made me do it.

[discostu]

I think the captains are failing to understand how entertainment lawsuits go. Discovery doesn’t want 3 million bucks out of the Hillstrands, they want them to finish the spinoff show. And Discovery isn’t taking anything personally, lawsuits fly around Hollywood all the time, then the two parties settle and move on.

Hopefully somebody who knows both worlds (Mike Rowe please pick up the white courtesy phone) can get things explained and settled. I don’t think an all new cast (I’m assuming the Harris boys will stick with Sig and the Hillstrands, don’t know which way Keith will bounce) is going to fly, the show is more about the people than the events. We’ve all seen enough crab pots coming out of the water that the fishing part of the show is really nothing more than a stresser to get the people the fans have come to “know” doing something interesting.

[Trust but Verify]

I have no interest in watching the show if these two boats are not a part of it. Adding the loss of these captains to the loss of Captain Harris, the show is dead to me.