Discovery Channel show, Alaskan Bush People. Is it real? (Hoonah: 2015, credit)

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

In another thread a person wanted to know if it is possible to support themselves off the land in Alaska. On the Discovery Channel a show entitled "Alaskan Bush People" which happens to be a reality type show, (Not that reality means the show is real or anything.) Just wondering if anyone can relate to the show, maybe have done the same things that the Brown family does. If you watch the show do you think that they are way off base or could it be considered reality by some that you may know?

[Metlakatla]

Now that the Alaska film tax credit is finally gone, which is the only reason that these awful shows exist, we can hope that to see the last of the Brown family -- on screen or in Alaska.

[AKStafford]

The show is fake. I grew up in Hoonah and have friends still there. What you see is staged.
There is a community near Hoonah that is a religious group that is mostly self-sustaining. They farm, they fish, they sell stuff in town. But they barely squeak by.
You can see some reality TV discussion here:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/alask...ng-alaska.html
http://www.city-data.com/forum/alask...sh-family.html

[mountainrose]

The best Alaska reality show is the one on McCarthy. I think it's called "Edge of Alaska." There are two or three families or single men on the show that are living off the land or very self-sufficient and have been doing it for a long time.
There are tons of articles on how dishonest the Bush Family show is.

[Metlakatla]

McCarthy residents aren't crazy about that show, I hear.

This explains the existence of most of the shows:

The reality is there's plenty of fake TV shows in Alaska - LA Times


If you want to see a good one, watch Life Below Zero.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I realize most reality shows are not real. A close friend is a writer producer and she spent a season on a cooking show, all staged although everyone watching thinks it is real. I was a fan of Gene Simmonds Family show because I think the guy is an amazing business man. A friends son was on the show and you guessed it, all scripted. Even when I found that out I still watched the show. LOL

I watched the show a few times and some of boys in the family just did not seem real to me. Anyway thank you all for commenting.

[starlite9]

The show is just a family that gets paid to be goofy, I don't think they know how to act normal at all. They don't really do anything but annoy anyone that lives anywhere close to them. One of the shows I do like is "The Last Alaskans", pretty simple and the people already live there in ANWR. Was short lived but a bit more factual.

There are a couple other shows I like, but most are staged for drama, or deal with different people in a show and you can tell there is a lot of setups, not good if you have a clue to what they are doing. But I suppose great if you are clueless and just watching for the entertainment value.

But this family is in hot water for getting illegal hunting and fishing licenses, filing for PFD's, all without residence status in the State. Got run off a place in the interior because the boys were messing with the locals!

What does upset me the most is when the announcer tells how they are outside at -40f.... Not a chance! It may be +20f above for them to be outside with no gloves, hat or snot running down their nose as ice. Reality and TV don't have a lot in common with these shows!

[AKtoWAtoUT]

Originally Posted by starlite9

The show is just a family that gets paid to be goofy, I don't think they know how to act normal at all. They don't really do anything but annoy anyone that lives anywhere close to them. One of the shows I do like is "The Last Alaskans", pretty simple and the people already live there in ANWR. Was short lived but a bit more factual.

There are a couple other shows I like, but most are staged for drama, or deal with different people in a show and you can tell there is a lot of setups, not good if you have a clue to what they are doing. But I suppose great if you are clueless and just watching for the entertainment value.

But this family is in hot water for getting illegal hunting and fishing licenses, filing for PFD's, all without residence status in the State. Got run off a place in the interior because the boys were messing with the locals!

What does upset me the most is when the announcer tells how they are outside at -40f.... Not a chance! It may be +20f above for them to be outside with no gloves, hat or snot running down their nose as ice. Reality and TV don't have a lot in common with these shows!

Last Alaskans was renewed for a second season about 2 months ago.

My parents watch all the AK reality shows and let me know which ones they like so I can check them out. They had nothing but awful things to say about the inBrown family and that show. I've maybe watched 30 minutes of the show in total.

Deadliest Catch and Life Below Zero have to be my all time favorites, but as the production value goes up the perceived authenticity of the show/characters goes away. Life Below Zero has become comical in the way it's produced.

I've always liked Buying Alaska, but that's just the part of me that wants to move back up there.

[akck]

Originally Posted by AKtoWAtoUT

I've always liked Buying Alaska, but that's just the part of me that wants to move back up there.

Just to let you know, Buying Alaska is faked. We know of one show were the couple "bought" a house in Gustavus. The house was the realtor's house. Most of the time you never see the interior of the house they supposedly purchased. That's because the furniture and decorations haven't changed and you might realize sooner that it's faked. I believe that's true of all the "Buying ________" shows.

[AKtoWAtoUT]

Originally Posted by akck

Just to let you know, Buying Alaska is faked. We know of one show were the couple "bought" a house in Gustavus. The house was the realtor's house. Most of the time you never see the interior of the house they supposedly purchased. That's because the furniture and decorations haven't changed and you might realize sooner that it's faked. I believe that's true of all the "Buying ________" shows.

Oh yeah it's fake for sure, I just like the scenery and the houses