Big Ratings also Didn't Hurt
"Dog the Bounty Hunter's" Return Official
Dog the Bounty Hunter fans can now start their celebrations.
It's now official: Dog the Bounty Hunter is coming back to the A & E TV line-up.
An A&E spokesman confirmed yesterday the resumption of the show's production immediately, though no date yet has been set for the show's new premiere.
KHNL TV in Honolulu stated that Beth Chapman confirmed to KHNL Tuesday morning that the show would resume production immediately.
Persistence and a showing of public remorse, along with a charity outreach to black groups, made a difference.
So did the actions of thousands of "Dog the Bounty Hunter" fans.
And the show's formerly big ratings on A&E Network didn't hurt, either.
ALSO: Dog the Bounty Hunter: The Dog is Back!
The public acts of remorse and contrition are over and a new journey that starts for the star of any TV show looms: to lure back enough former viewers to keep the show at the top of A&E's ratings line-up.
The announcement marked the latest step on a 3+ month journey of redemption and contrition for Duane "Dog" Chapman. Since the furor broke with the National Enquirer's publishing of the audio tapes of Chapman's heated exchange with son, Tucker, over his girlfriend during a private cell-phone conversation.
Get the whole story! DBKP DOG the BOUNTY Library of stories and videos on Dog the Bounty Hunter and his struggles since November 1, 2007. Over 40 stories and videos on Duane "Dog" Chapman and his family. |
Fans of "Dog the Bounty Hunter" were first shocked, then angry and defensive about the suspension of their favorite TV reality show.
Eventually, fans went on the offensive, and a plethora of petitions sprung up around the web. Letter-writing campaigns and boycotts were also organized against everything from A&E Network's remaining line-up to the show's former sponsors.
One campaign even advised fans to send 1000s of pineapples to A&E's NY Headquarters in protest of the show's removal.
The news from around the web is almost universally cheerful at the return of the reality show, "Dog the Bounty Hunter", and it's star, Duane "Dog" Chapman. The show, which stars Chapman, as well as his wife, Beth, partner, Tim Chapman, son, Leland Chapman, and various other members of Duane Chapman's extended family.
Here's a round-up of what others are saying on Tuesday morning, February 20, 2008.
REUTERS:
Celebrity bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman is set to return to television after his reality TV show was pulled from the air three months ago in a controversy over his use of a racial slur, cable channel A&E said on Tuesday.
An A&E spokesman said the network had decided to start production again of "Dog The Bounty Hunter" but no airdate has yet been scheduled.
"Over the last few months, Duane "Dog" Chapman has taken and continues to take the appropriate steps in reaching out to several African American organizations in an effort to make amends for his private comments to his son which were released publicly," said a statement from the network.
"Since the premise of "Dog The Bounty Hunter" is about second chances - we have decided to give him one."
E! ONLINE:
"We take this matter very seriously," A&E said in a statement at the time of the show's production suspension. "Pending an investigation, we have suspended production on the series. When the inquiry is concluded we will take appropriate action."
A&E, which removed Dog the Bounty Hunter info from its Website just after New Year's, has not yet set a date for the show's return, but a camera crew is reportedly in place, and lodging and cars have been rented for a fifth season.
CANADA NOW:
The network, A&E, has yet to set an official premiere date for Dog The Bounty Hunter, but it has been confirmed that he is coming back.
Production is set to start as soon as possible, as everything is just about set to go.
MONSTERS and CRITICS:
A&E are satisfied that Dog made ammends, and claim they are happy he reached out to the African American community.
HOLLYSCOOP:
The Dog will hunt again. A&E has confirmed that production has begun on the next season of Dog the Bounty Hunter in Hawaii. Guess A&E isn't worried about [Chapman's Enquirer-published comments], because their main man is back. That show did make a ton of money, and I can't imagine marathons of that show Intervention are keeping the ratings high. Congrats Dog! Now just keep your mouth shut.
A week ago, it was announced that the Dog the Bounty Hunter star would be making a charity appearance in Chicago in April.
The star of the Dog the Bounty Hunter is set to perform at Mooseheart Child City and School in Chicago, Illinois on April 11 and April 12. He'll be in concert with bands such as Echoing Angels, Emery, Inhabited, Flatfoot 56, and Will Duvall for two very different nights.
More importantly, Chapman will speak for 45 minutes from his heart about his life, tragedies, triumphs, and faith. Tagging along is his wife Beth Chapman, who also appears on the reality series Dog the Bounty Hunter. This meet and greet event also encourages spectators come with an open mind, and leave with a changed heart.
A former gang member with 18 prior convictions for armed robbery, Chapman was sentenced to five years in a Texas prison in 1977 after being convicted of the first degree murder of Jeremy Oliver. Chapman maintained his innocence of murder but was considered as a legal accessory for not reporting the shooting to the police. He was released on probation after 18 months. Eventually, he became a bail bondsman and bounty hunter, which is also the focus of the reality series Dog the Bounty Hunter.
As of Wednesday morning, no announcement was on the A&E Network's website yet. This was the latest story on the Dog the Bounty Hunter News Updates.
A&E Network:
January 30th, 2008: Duane "Dog" Chapman is officially free from his Mexican legal ordeal. A three-judge panel in Mexico unanimously ruled on Tuesday, January 29th, that the criminal charges against Dog, his son, Leland Chapman, and his close friend, Tim Chapman, must be dismissed; they cannot be extradited to Mexico to face criminal charges for their 2003 capture of serial rapist and fugitive Andrew Luster.
Andrew Luster, the famed heir to the Max Factor cosmetics fortune, had been convicted of drugging and raping three women over a four year span. During his trial in 2003, Luster fled the country, leading to an international manhunt. In June 2003, Dog and his team tracked the fugitive Luster in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where he was living under an alias, and seized him. Luster was handed over to the United States government by Mexican officials. He was subsequently found guilty and is currently serving a 124 year prison sentence.
However, as Mexican law does not permit private individuals to engage in bounty hunting on their own, Dog, Tim and Leland were arrested by the Mexican authorities, but were later released and they returned to the United States. In February 2007, US Marshals took all three men into custody on an extradition warrant stemming from the 2003 charges. The extradition warrant was dismissed in 2007 and the the criminal charges in Mexico have also now been dismissed.
A&E did have this in "About the Show", which is undated.
Last year was the Chinese calendar's Year of the Dog – and Duane "Dog" Chapman – the world's most famous bounty hunter - had enough drama to last him two lifetimes. Now, staring adversity in the face with his own freedom hanging in the balance, Dog is coming back with a vengeance to hunt down fugitives with his wife Beth and fearless Posse.
This year the Posse is back in action once again hitting the streets, tracking down fugitives, and giving them that one-of-a-kind dose of tough love only Dog can provide. In addition to Tim, Leland, and Duane Lee this year Baby Lyssa, Dog's daughter, joins the Posse full time.
With the threat of Mexican justice hanging over their heads, the stakes are higher than ever for Dog & the Posse; but the Chapmans are sticking together to get the job done – both on the streets and in the courts. As Dog says, "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger."
And that's that.
Check back. We'll update regularly as more details are released about the show's return.
But for now, let the fan celebrations begin.
by Mondoreb
images:
* Duane to perform at Mooseheart
* monstersandcritics
Sources:
* Dog Chapman show going back into production
* Dog: Bounty Hunter is Back on the Prowl
* Bounty Hunter "Dog" to return to the Air
* Hollyscoop
* Monsters and Critics
Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.
There has been no news on the Dog the Bounty Hunter. All the news lately has been of the different efforts of the Dog's fans in their quest to get the Dog the Bounty Hunter show back on the airwaves.
So, we scoured and called and wrote. What we came up with was rumblings and rumors.
But, several of the rumors we heard, we heard in more than one place--from more than one source. So we thought that we'd present some of the things we heard and let the readers decide what they thought.
Maybe some of you have heard the same thing, or have information that we don't have.
Here's some of what we heard after a day of Dog info hunting and what we think about it. We know the readers won't be shy about what they think.
[Truth-O-Meter Ratings: 0 (it's probably a lie) to 10 (bet the ranch)]
* The Dog's been laying low.
Not much of a rumor here. It's a fact. Duane "Dog" Chapman has been out of the spotlight for several weeks now.
This is not very surprising, either. In Dog's case, "No News is Good News" right now.
[Truth-O-Meter Rating: 10.0]
* The Dog will be back in the public eye soon..
Again, this bit of information is easy to believe. The Dog won't stay hidden forever and has got to surface again sometime.
How soon is soon?
For many fans of the Bounty Hunter, it can't be soon enough. One of the common themes, in both comments left at this site and emails we've received, is that people feel a hole has developed in their regular TV viewing habits without their weekly 'dose of Dog'.
[Truth-O-Meter Rating: 8.5]
* The 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' show will not in the future and may never return to the airwaves.
We don't believe this. We don't believe anything in the world of TV, driven as it is by ratings, is set in stone. Duane Chapman's show was popular and a mainstay in the A & E Network's line-up.
This was one rumor we heard only one time. And we don't even like the guy who said it.
[Truth-O-Meter Rating: 3.0]
* There has been a "reaching out" to Dog by Afro-American groups.
This one we can believe. From the amount of email and comments we've received from ordinary black folk, there is a great rolling of eyes about what Dog said: but no acrimony, and certainly no hatred.
A great majority of our mail begins, "I'm non-Caucasian and you can tell that Dog is not a racist. He shouldn't have said what he said, but he didn't say it in anger." Or some variation of those thoughts.
If memory serves, there was no outcry against Dog and what was said during his private cellphone conversation by Black America.
Make no mistake: they were not happy, but judging from what we read, they shrugged their shoulders and shook their head at a man using ill-considered bad language.
The outcry came from certain White Americans eager to throw another person under the Political Correctness bus. This outcry came from the same quarters that attempts to stifle speech on college campuses, shout down disagreeable opinions and speakers and regulate Internet bloggers.
To them, this had nothing to do with Dog the Bounty Hunter; many of them wouldn't know Dog Chapman from a carburetor. Duane Chapman was only a means to an end.
Muzzling the Dog was their way of flexing their PC muscles.
Thankfully, those people are a small, if noisy, segment of the American population.
This rumor has substance because: Black or White, no one likes to see a person get railroaded. And Duane Chapman got railroaded.
[Truth-O-Meter Rating: 7.5]
* Duane Chapman hasn't so much as swore in the last month.
As unbelievable as this might be when first heard, we heard this from multiple sources. Dog is trying hard to clean up his whole language act.
We smiled the first time we heard this; our eyes opened wide, the second time; but the third time, well, what could we say?
As one source told us, "the Dog causing hurt and heartache among some of his fans really hit home with him on the need to clean up his language. He kept saying he was going to clean it up, but I'd heard that before."
"But this time--he accepted the challenge. I'm not saying he won't ever slip up ever again--he's human--but I haven't heard him swear in over three weeks."
One source even told us the Dog's swear-free and said "I swear it!"
After hearing this from three different people, we tend to believe it: after all, if it wasn't true, the National Enquirer would have had it on their front page by now.
[Truth-O-Meter Rating: 8.0] 
* The Dog and Beth are getting a divorce over this whole mess.
I think this guy got Dog confused with another TV show star.
[Truth-O-Meter Rating: 2.0]
So that's it. After a whole day spent on the phone, this is what we dug up.
There was a few other things, but we're going to be doing some more checking on those items over the weekend.
Has anyone heard any of these? Does anyone have any additional information to offer? We'd like to know!
In the meantime, one source had this to pass on to Dog's fans: "Keep your chin up and your ears open."
by Mondoreb
[NOTE: We'll have a follow-up to our "Bring Back Dog" Petition to A & Network in the next 48-60 hours.]
Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.
Dog the Bounty Hunter: Today's the Day We Send the "Bring Back Dog" Petition to AE Network
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Today's the day.
After 2 and 1/2 weeks, we're sending our "Bring Back the Dog" Petition into Arts and Entertainment Network, complete with all of your comments.
Dog supporters have sent us [at latest count, at all locations] over 400 pages of comments, pleas and emails.
All are overwhelmingly in favor of a return to the airwaves of the "Dog the Bounty Hunter" TV show.
We are going to send in the petition and the attached names and comments by email today and follow it up with mailing the printed out pages to A & E.
We know we could have collected more signatures if we would have left the petition up longer. And many of you asked us to do that.
But we felt that it was important to start the ball rolling in Dog's favor.
We will be putting another petition up in the near future. Our purpose it twofold: we want to keep the pressure up on A & E Network and we want to keep the Dog's situation alive in the minds of his supporters.
We have some other ideas in the works also--but they're not ready yet.
If you have an idea on how we can better make your voices heard, drop us an email.
Send your idea to mondoreb@gmail.com.
We'll be contacting others who've posted online petitions in an effort to report on how their efforts are going.
This is not all of the petitions out there: only the ones of which we are aware.
There is a letter writing campaign underway. Information on this is below.Send your e-mails and comments to bond@bondinfo.org or write to us at:
BOND
c/o “DOG Letter Campaign”
P.O. Box 35090
Los Angeles, CA 90035
Meanwhile, boycotts of everything from Yum Brands (Taco Bell, Long John Silvers, Pizza Hut) to Max Factor Products to the A&E Network itself are organizing.
For more information, check out December 13 is Global Dog the Bounty Hunter Day
So that is the state of the Dog for December 6, 2007. One week away from the rally for Dog at the A & E Studios in New York City. If you can't be there, sign a petition or send A & E a pineapple (Pineapple Drive to Save Dog the Bounty Hunter).
DBKP will keep reporting new news; in the meantime
Bring back Dog.
by Mondoreb
Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.
Latest Dog the Bounty Hunter:
DBKP Dog the Bounty Hunter Stories: Updated January 6, 2008
* Tim Chapman, Buck Naked Bounty Hunter
* DBKP Snags Nifty "White Supremacist" Award
* Angry Liberal Disses Dog, Roy Innis, Sean Hannity
PPP's Snoop Responds!
* More Fake White Liberal Outrage: The Rehabilitation of Duane "Dog" Chapman
* Rumors Rumble About Dog's Return
* Civil Rights Pioneer Mentors Dog!
Dog Buys Under-Privileged Kids $26,000 Worth of Toys
Dog Rally Set for NYC Thursday
Black Group Hosts Toy Giveaway, Dog the Bounty Hunter Saturday
Big Rumblings from the Rumor Mill
Today's the Day We Send the "Bring Back Dog" Petition to A & E Network
Two Bounty Hunter Stories: What Would Dog Do?
The tale of the Bounty Hunter and the bounty hunters.
Dog's Fans Play Offense
A Rally for Dog - Join the Boycott - Send a Pineapple
NEW! A Call to Action: Let's Get Critical!
A detailed look at what happened and what fans can do.
NEW! A&E Canceled Handicapped Kids' Dreams
A&E canceled more than the Bounty Hunter Show when they pulled Dog
White Supremacists Put $75,000 Bounty on Bounty Hunter's Head
Aryan Nation Puts a Price on Dog's Head?
Girlfriend Has Message for Dog's Fans on MySpace
Monique Shinnery Reveals What She Thinks of Dog's Fans
PETITION
SIGN the "Bring Back Dog" Petition:
Dog Trivia
How much do you know about Duane "Dog" Chapman?
Editorial Round-Up
What papers around the country said then about Dog.
Sue Him!
Tucker's Girlfriend, Monique Shinnery, Reveals Her Plans
Judge Rules On Mexican Case
Dog's only good news during a rough stretch
Dog the Bounty Hunter Now Canceled
A&E cancels the popular show after a temporary suspension
A&E Pulls Dog the Bounty Hunter Off the Air
Dog shows suspended; Dog apologizes; Audio tapes of phone call
Tucker's Girlfriend Rejects Dog's Apology
Monique Shinnery rejects apology; Rumors about Tucker's $$$
Two Fan's Reactions - videos
Two Dog Fans record their opinions in videos
Short and Long Audio Tapes
Both the short and full tapes of Dog's cellphone call
Vendetta! Tucker sold the tapes to the Enquirer
We first learn of how the Enquirer got the tapes.
Dog the Bounty Hunter and Black America
Some reactions from Black America
Dog Still Loves the Son Who Sold Him Out
Did you expect anything else?
Dog Petitions Spring Up All Over Internet
Sign a petition to help out the Dog.
Larry King Live Video
Larry King interviews the Bounty Hunter.
Larry King Live transcript
Larry King Live transcript; Dog's Troubles - video
Doug the Nazi Hunter
Doug the Nazi Hunter won't take the Dog's place - video
Interview on Hannity & Colmes
Part 2 of the Dog's appearance on H&C.
How Much Money Did Tucker Receive?
Was it Worth it?
Dog Nixed from Christmas Parade
Christmas Parade and Dog Agree to Cancelation
Dog the Bounty Hunter: Complete Story
The complete story up to that point; videos
DOG CENTRAL
Videos and stories about Dog the Bounty Hunter
This is not all the DBKP stories on Dog the Bounty Hunter. Check the listings at the bottom of the page on older stories for others
by Mondoreb
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Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.
Dog the Bounty Hunter: Dog's Fans Go On Offense, A Rally, Petitions, Pineapples and a Boycott
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Dog the Bounty Hunter's fans are playing offense with the A&E Network. Dismayed over A&E's pulling of "Dog the Bounty Hunter", fans are letting the network know just exactly how they feel about the decision.
Petitions to reinstate the show are circulating all over the Internet. There are six listed at the end of this story. If you haven't registered your support for the Bounty Hunter, there's no time like the present.
The DBKP petition will be sent off to the Art & Entertainment Network in a little over three days. The same petition is posted at a couple other locations. All three will be consolidated and sent in one long email to A&E, along with any comments by the signers.
We are also going to be following up with a phone call to A&E to make sure the right person received it and to gauge any reactions.
If there's a spare pineapple around the house, you might consider sending it to A&E as a statement of support for the Dog. Or you might send a fresh one along. 
More information on this novel approach from "Pineapple Drive to Save Dog the Bounty Hunter":
As Fans of Dog the Bounty Hunter and Duane "Dog" Chapman we feel that we have no choice but to fight for what we believe in and that's for Dog. We sprang into action the moment news of him being pulled from A&E's television schedule hit the airways. This never should have happened. There is one thing that no one counted on: the fans. We are many and loyal to Dog, no matter what. All we want is our Dog back on television where he belongs so his message of second chances can be heard. That's why we're sending thousands of pineapples to A&E.
The idea of sending pineapples to A&E came about because we knew that A&E may not listen to phone calls or emails. The only thing that they would get noticed was physical action. By any means necessary is the only thing that we knew would bring Dog the Bounty Hunter back to television.
The message of sending one item to a network has succeeded in the past. The biggest example of this is the television show Jericho, which was to be taken off air. A grassroots network arranged for peanuts to be sent to the network. They succeeded in sending 20 tons of peanuts to the network to make a statement.
A truly new idea in the history of protests by Orato. As one commenter put it:
Austrailian Fan, Lelandisms101I suggest everyone send Pineapples to A&E demanding Dog's return.
Here is their address:
235 EAST 45TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10017
The fresher the better, but we're not fussy - anything PINEAPPLE...Canned, fresh, juice, just bombard them with Pineapples until they return Dog to our screens.
If 20 tonnes of Peanuts worked to get Jericho back, let them eat pineapples so we can get out Dog back.
Thanks!!!
Dog has his fans Down Under.
We received word of the Dog Rally in NYC on December 13 from a commenter yesterday and post the information and some additional info on how you can participate if you're in the area.
If you're not in the area, December 13 might be a good day to "Pick up the phone for Dog". Let A&E know exactly how you feel about the pulling of the "Dog the Bounty Hunter" show from the line-up.
D Sampson RALLY FOR DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER DECEMBER 13, 2007 12 NOON A&E Television Networks 235 EAST 45TH STREET NEW YORK,NEW YORK COME AND JOIN IN THIS RALLY FOR DUANE DOG CHAPMAN AND HIS POSSE-BRING DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER BACK TO TELEVISION. Do not let a television network and it’s sponsors dictate to people what they are going to watch without asking the viewers or checking the ratings first.
DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER WAS A&E’S TOP RATED SHOW! We the people, the fans, made that happen-Lets do it again!!!!!! DOG CHAPMAN IS AN ICON-BIGGER THEN LIFE. DOG CHAPMAN HAS THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY, AS WE ALL DO! FIGHT FOR THAT RIGHT,FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT FOR DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER TO RETURN TO TELEVISION.
BRING YOUR POSTERS,WEAR YOUR SHIRTS,HATS,AND ANYTHING ELSE DOG RELATED. BRING YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD.BRING YOUR “ALOHA” SPIRIT. FIGHT FOR DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER TO GET THAT SECOND CHANCE- HE WOULD DO AS MUCH OR MORE FOR YOU
More from Dog Supporter on the rally: As well as the protest in NY, December 13th will be National/Global Dog day! There’s so many people that can’t get to the protest that would like to, so lets get the word around that on December 13th whilst the protest is on, everyone either wears their Dog shirt, or something to do with the Dog, or contacts A&E on: (212) 210-9018
Everyone can help out… even if they can’t be in New York - tell A&E to look out of the window at the protest outside their gates!!!
If you dont have a Dogshirt for that day, you can order one easily at
Dog the Bounty.com Shop
Also, from Dog Supporter, information on how to join the Yum Brands BoycottYum Brands pulled all their ads from Dog The Bounty Hunter and helped force AE to cancel the show. Today we are beginning a boycott of ALL Yum Brands till they agree to back of their boycott of AE because of Dog and agree to advertise on Dog’s show again. Yum Fast Food companies are, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Kentucky, A&W, Long John Silvers and Wingstreets. It will show them how much we miss Dog and hurt them in their business, which hopefully force them to do the right thing and get back to supporting Dog and his crew. Dog has helped a lot of people and done a lot of good work. Its time to move on, forgive and get him back to work. Not only will you help Dog, you will probably help your health avoiding this companies high calorie junk food.
Check out the site for information on who to write at Yum Brands. If pressure is put on Yum Brands, their pressure on A&E will carry a lot of weight.
And lastly, if you haven't yet signed a petition for the Dog, here are the locations of several and their locations on the Internet.Locations of Dog the Bounty Hunter Petitions:
Keep Dog the Bounty Hunter
Keep Dog the Bounty Hunter Going
Save Dog the Bounty Hunter
Dog Back Petition
Put Dog the Bounty Hunter Back on the Air
Dog the Bounty Hunter Petition to A&E
The fans of the Bounty Hunter show, Duane Chapman and his family and all the cast and crew memebers are sure to appreciate any or all actions taken by the show's fans to help reinstate the show.
The latest efforts include: pineapples, boycotts, petitions, a rally and some phone calls.
Something for anybody who'd like to curl up on Thursday with a good Dog.
by Mondoreb
MORE Dog the Bounty Hunter DBKP News:
NEW! A&E Canceled Handicapped Kids' Dreams When They Canceled Dog the Bounty Hunter
White Supremacists Put $75,000 Bounty on Bounty Hunter's Head
Girlfriend Has Message for Dog's Fans on MySpace
SIGN the "Bring Back Dog" Petition:
250,000 Signature Goal in Two Weeks:
PETITION
POPULAR! Dog Trivia
POPULAR!
Dog Still Loves the Son Who Sold Him Out.
Dog Petitions Spring Up All Over InternetTired of sitting on the sidelines in the Dog debate? Why not let your fingers do the talking? Want to drop Yum Brands an email and tell them you want the Bounty Hunter back on the air or you'll drop them? Drop over to: Dogsupporter's Weblog for the scoop on how to let Yum Brands know how you feel.
Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.
