Deadliest Catch No More?

Unsettling news came out yesterday for fans of the hit Discovery reality series "Deadliest Catch" when it was announced that Captain's Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand of the F/V Time Bandit and Captain Sig Hansen of the F/V Northwestern will not participate in the upcoming seventh season of the series. There is currently ongoing litigation between the Hillstrand's and Discovery Channel that appears to have created tension between the two parties. Both captains and the crew of the Time Bandit have yet to be signed for the seventh season of "Deadliest Catch." As a show of solidarity, Sig Hansen would also not be participating it the new season, and Discovery has yet to sign on the F/V Northwestern. So if there is in fact a new season of the "Deadliest Catch," it will involve a whole slew of new boats. And I honestly doubt the show will have the same feel as it has the past few seasons.

The crew of the Northwestern has been part of the show since the very first season. As for the Time Bandit, they've been featured on the show since season two. So you can imagine their absence will leave a big hole in the series. They are two of the more popular boats along with the Cornelia Marie whom have loyal fanbases. This will provide a devastating blow to the series if Discovery cannot come to an agreement between the Hillstrands and Sig Hansen. The show will have a completely different look, especially if all we'll have left is the F/V Wizard. It seems likely that the Cornelia Marie will be back, but as we all know, Captain Phil won't be there. So we will have to get used to the fact of someone else captaining that boat.

The litigation between Discovery and the Hillstrands' involve a spin-off series that Discovery created of the brothers away from the crab fishing grounds. They are suing the Hillstrands for $3 million because they feel the brothers did not properly finish filming the series - thus causing a breech in contract. I honestly had no idea there was a spin-off series in the works and do not feel it was absolutely necessary. I mean, don't get me wrong, the Hillstrands are very entertaining people and have a tremendous fan following. But just the popularity of "Deadliest Catch" alone was enough to carry the show through the downtime when the crabbing seasons shut down and thus, no "Deadliest Catch." Now, Discovery is facing the loss of three of its biggest stars on the show and I am sure are scrambling to find replacements, otherwise the show may be done.

I remain hopeful that Discovery can come to some sort of agreement with the Hillstrands and Sig Hansen to allow them to keep participating in the series, although it appears they have a very short window in which to reach an agreement. The boats head out from port on October 15, to start the first crab season. It's been a difficult year as it is with Phil Harris passing. Now, possibly being without the Hillstrands and Sig Hanson on the show would deal a very devastating blow to the series, one that it may not recover from. I just do not find Keith Colburn and the Wizard crew all that intriguing, although this could give Captain Wild Bill and the F/V Kodiak more exposure if they agree to return this season. As for the F/V Cornelia Marie, it remains to be seen just how well things will go without Captain Phil. How will the new captain mesh with the existing crew? A lot of questions exist the film crews begin preparing to shoot a new season of "Deadliest Catch", if there will even be a new season after all.

UPDATE: On October 8, it was announced that Discovery has reached a settlement with the Hillstrand brothers regarding their spin-off series, which will allow them and Sig Hansen to return to "Deadliest Catch." The are currently filming the latest season of the series out in the Bearing Sea.