No matter what you think about Duane "Dog" Chapman, his signature blond mullet or his Village People fashion statement, remember that before the bounty hunter’s reality series was canceled last week, it survived eight seasons in one of television’s most fickle genres.
There was no secret to the success of "Dog the Bounty Hunter," which aired on the A&E Network. It was Dog, a 59-year-old ex-con who claimed to have captured 6,000 criminals and bail jumpers in his 27-year-career.
"If you are going to depend on people to bring you a program and you are not going to give them a script, you’d better chose people who are going to say things and do things that are interesting," said Robert Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. "That having been said, you often get somebody who is compelling and interesting, but they wear out. Dog was actually an interesting guy."
Although A&E confirmed last week it had pulled the plug on the series, which was shot largely in Hawaii, where the Chapmans live, the cable network would not say why.
Chapman and his wife, Beth, announced the cancellation Monday night via a statement released by their attorney, Marty Singer. The couple said negotiations to renew the show had failed.
"This has been a great ride for eight seasons, and we would not be where we are today but for our loyal and dedicated fans," the Chapmans were quoted as saying. "We are about to start a new chapter, and an announcement will be made sooner rather than later. You can’t keep a good Dog down."
But the show’s success could easily prevent its return, said Donne Dawson, state film commissioner.
"Having been around as long as it has, I don’t know if it could have another life or be reincarnated," she said. "The world of reality TV is always about the new and the different and the sensational. People kind of knew what this was all about, and I don’t know if that works in favor of them trying to reinvent themselves."
The series began a successful run in 2004 but was put on hold in late 2007 after the public disclosure that Duane Chapman had used the N-word when referring to his son Tucker’s girlfriend. Although he apologized afterward, Chapman’s future as a reality show hero was uncertain.
At the time, A&E noted that because Chapman’s show was often about second chances, it would honor his apologies and resume production in 2008. One of his other children said fan support helped.
Fans again rallied to Chapman’s side soon after the cancellation was announced. A petition at change.org, begun Monday night by Maryland fan Samantha Powell, urged A&E to reconsider. By mid-afternoon Friday it had drawn more than 4,700 signatures.
The network, however, had no comment.
Bravo Television could fill the void left by "Dog," but it isn’t looking for street muscle and mace.
The cable network is casting for "Hawaii Elite," a potential reality show that would feature "affluent women and men, power couples, who live in amazing places and love the glamorous life." According to a Bravo casting agent, they could be couples in tourism, restaurateurs and their wives, pro athletes, surfers, business owners, plastic surgeons and their spouses, mothers of child actors or local celebrities.
As a backdrop, Oahu has appeal that goes beyond its tourist beaches. "We feel like it is an incredibly appealing, desirable and somewhat mysterious island," a Bravo spokeswoman said. "Everyone has ideas and dreams about living in a tropical paradise, and we hope to capture the reality of that."
Although Bravo is accepting résumés at hawaiielitecasting@gmail.com and will be on Oahu next month for callbacks, the network won’t go forward without the right personalities.
Maybe someone should tell the Chapmans. They have power couple down cold.
And that’s a wrap. …
Mike Gordon is the Star-Advertiser’s film and television writer. Read his Outtakes Online blog at honolulupulse.com. Reach him at 529-4803 or email mgordon@staradvertiser.com.
