Enquirer Still Chasing ‘Dog’s’ Tail
November 7, 2007 1:04 PM
A&E’s “Dog the Bounty Hunter” continues to dominate the news. Series star Duane Chapman appeared Tuesday night in an hourlong special on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes.”
A&E suspended the series last week after the National Enquirer got hold of a taped phone conversation where Chapman used the N-word in a conversation with his son about the son’s girlfriend.
The Fox special showed a very down-in-the-jowls Chapman who apologized profusely. It was an odd insight into the actor who said, in way of atonement, that he wants to be buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, among the slaves who had no markers on their graves. OK.
Today, the Enquirer gave Chapman’s fans more news to gnaw over, including interviews with other family members who were quoted as saying his use of the N-word was not at all unusual but that he did it all the time.
More important, perhaps, to the show’s future is that the Enquirer also confirmed several of the show’s sponsors—Yum! Brands, which owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC, along with SiCap Industries, makers of Sinus Buster—and yet another advertiser, Dr. Frank’s Pain Relief, had pulled out of the series. All quotes from those advertisers were attributed.
If you’ve had enough of Dog’s escapades, it’s not over, although the series sure is a goner. Tonight Chapman appears on CNN’s Larry King talk show in another special. It’s looking more and more like this dog can’t hunt. Agree?
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Comments (7)
Sure. And Imus will never do big-market radio again; Marv Albert will never call another basketball game, etc. etc.
Posted by Andy S. | November 7, 2007 2:26 PM
Andy,
Love you, you're so jaded. Imus is or will be coming back to radio. Marv Albert, well, I never watch sports, but yes, he too, was redeemed.
You're probably right about your inference about Dog. Was talking with several folks today at other networks about this and I was surprised by their opinions. They thought A&E acted so A&E, not used to controversy. They would pick the show up in a minute.
They said they would all keep the series and let Dog go on every talk show and make his mea culpas.
So did A&E abandon Dog because of a little heat from advertisers? He has his fans, just got word that Fox's special with him last night drew almost 1.6 million viewers.
A&E is still conducting its own investigation. Probably prudent.
Thanks my friend,
Marianne
Posted by Marianne Paskowski | November 7, 2007 2:51 PM
If A&E doesn't bring the show back some other channel will, he's popular and there is money to be made. $$ is really the bottom line, isn't it? A&E pulled the show because the advertisers squawked, the advertisers squawked because they were afraid of a boycott and loss of revenue.
Personally, I like the guy, he reminds me so much of my dad's motorcycle-riding buddies when I was a kid. Pretty rough around the edges and a bad mouth, not the sort of person I'd want my daughter to date, but not bad at heart.
Posted by Bobby | November 9, 2007 6:09 AM
Bobby,
This is getting old. Dog has appeared in two cable news net specials and A&E still has not decided the fate of the show. A&E is still doing it's own investigation. Don't know what's left to learn, I'd keep it or kill it, but do something.
You're right, someone else would pick it up.
Thanks for your post,
Marianne
Posted by Marianne Paskowski | November 9, 2007 11:13 AM
People watch Dog not because its on A&E, but because its a good, unique show. While A&E is still investigating { what, I don't know, probably how much air time Dog gets and how much money is to be made from it} I think they need to hear all of their tv viewers views {some black} to still want the show to be aired...everyone makes mistakes...especially in private.. that we all regret. More people know of the show now than when it was on the air. Advertizers will eventually regret the revenue they will have lost. And a Man's life will have been runied.. Noone wins!
Posted by Gretchen Garlo | November 15, 2007 6:05 PM
Hi Gretchen,
Thanks for your sage comment. If you read the earlier posting, it was all over the place. But it is what it is.
Marianne
Posted by Marianne Paskowski | November 15, 2007 6:38 PM
How many racial slur has Chris Rock made in his show? It is not fair. What is there to investigate? Just admit it you're not bringing Dog back onto A&E. Since you've taken him off there' nothing on your channel and we haven't watched it since then. Big mistake.
Posted by Carla Hansen | January 24, 2008 6:58 PM