Image Credit: Animal Planet
You might think I did something tricky there, putting “aquarium” and “hillbilly” next to each other in the headline to make you think it was an “aquarium hillbilly” reality show, which could be rad. The truth is these two new Animal Planet shows are actually not far from that.
One is Tanked, a six-episode series that introduces viewers to a “high-decibel, family-owned business,” according to the press release, of an aquarium builder that constructs elaborate fish prisons for high-profile clients. Will do they choose to include a tiny treasure chest? Find out in July. The second show…
The second is a seven-episode series (so that means the network likes it 16.6% better than Tanked) called Hillbilly Handfishin’. It’s about an Oklahoma “self-proclaimed” hillbilly who runs a business catering to city slickers who want to try to catch catfish with their bare hands.
The clients “submerge themselves in murky waters to catch catfish with their bare hands and feet with comedic and dramatic results … the only lures in this cat-fishing are fingers and toes — which, by the way, can be just as attractive to the snakes, beavers, muskrats and snapping turtles.” Quick, book your vacation now!
Hillbilly Handfishin’ debuts in August.
Never heard of ‘em.
Why is EW incinuating that the shows are ridiculous? Have they seen the Swamp People show about gator fishing in Louisiana? It’s pure entertainment. Anything reality style show with Hillbilly’s is going to be great entertainment. As for aquariums, that sounds extremely interesting. I’ve seen some insane aquariums in theme parks etc, seeing how their built etc would be interesting. These types of shows are far better caliber than crap like Jersey Shore or Kate Plus 8… Come on now…
i love jersey shore so dave i took that offensivly
Swamp people is great. I love out door shows. I can’t stand jersy shore, all they want to do drink and act like hoodlum. These are real shows to watch. They got so manny stupid reality shows its crazy.
I hope Cletus the Slack Jawed Yokel hosts Hillbilly Handfishing. The title is very close to a porn title.
LOL it *does* sound rather porny.
What happened to shows that actually featured animals? Every time I tune in to animal planet I get a creepy episode of Pitt Boss, Animal Hoarders or some other show that should be featured on the mentally unstable network.
Yeah, all cable programming has been choked out by cheap-to-produce realtiy shows. I remember when the History Channel showed history and TLC was the Learning Channel. Now it’s midgets, truck drivers, pawn stores and people with too many kids. (And I think we all know what happened to that “Music Television” channel…)
This
I totally agree. The people who program the Animal Planet have gone nuts. I especially don’t like the guy who goes fishing. What happened to animal shows like the meerkats or the Crocodile Hunter (I know he died but surely there are others who love animals)?
What happened to the Syfy channel? Since when did wrestling get branded as science fiction? Lots of channels have just flipped in their programming and I don’t watch them any more.
I don’t have cable TV myself, (only a converter box with like about 12 channels), but I’ve heard plenty about these shows from people who do have cable. I hear a lot about these programs called Pawn Stars and American Pickers (on the History Channel). I was just listening to the news on the radio only today, and they mentioned a new show on TLC about elaborate birthday parties for kids (or something like that). I’m not sure about the SyFy channel, I know they changed the name recently, but I don’t know about the programming there either. how much of it has to do with science fiction? it seems like there must be an audience for these types of shows, I’m not sure who it is. as far finding someone to replace the Crocodile Hunter, it seems to me like he was one of a kind, and nearly impossible to replace. so maybe that’s why they don’t have anyone like him anymore. (just a guess?)
So let me get this straight.
You dont have cable tv but you have access to internet. Here is a clue. you can get everything on your favorite channel via the internet.
Not fond of Animal Planet’s semi-recent fare (and guess there newish tagline is there to justify): Confessions of Animal Hoarders, Fatal Attractions, I Shouldn’t Be Alive, Infested (or whatever)–don’t like the reinvention.
Don’t forget “Must Love Cats” every Saturday at 8 PM. Animal Planet is SO slanted in favor of dogs that I’m pleased to find this one still on the air. Now whatever happened to “Housecat Housecall”??
hillbilly hand fishing hell yeah how real men fish. screw the city slicker sissies
Hillbilly handfishing is an awesome show. Anyone who puts porn and fishing together needs to get outside more. “TARDS”
I love Hillbilly Handfishin’!!!
I am offended how this article states that this company builds elaborate fish prisons..Hello what are you thinking? Do you not have any pets you keep them in your house are you saying that your home is an elaborate prison? Really think about what you are saying.
What about the other shows like “That’s My Baby”, “Emergency Vets” and “Amazing Animal Videos”?
I love animal video’s. any thing about animals i love. Will not watch anything about dead animals. Its sick. Cats 101, Dogs 101 is great.Animal hoarders is sad, can’t watch it. It makes my eyes leak.
And really -it’s more interesting than 18 and counting’ or John and kate plus 8 crud.
i love infested, watch it if you havent
but it is kind of disturbing(:
Some of my best friends, best people you could ever want to meet…