‘Deadliest Catch’ season 5 hints from USA Today

From Gary Strauss of USA Today…

‘Deadliest Catch’ fishes out captains’ personal side

"This is real-life drama": The action of the crab harvest will again take center stage, says producer Thom Beers, but the fifth season also will delve into the sinking of the Katmai in October. (photo courtesy of USA Today and Cameron Glendenning--Deadliest Catch photographer)

Fans of Discovery’s popular Deadliest Catch have grown accustomed to the habits of the ornery skippers. Their collective demeanor can be as tough to navigate as the perilous Arctic waves that smash into their weathered crafts.

Deadliest Catch has personified the hardscrabble work ethic of blue-collar professions that has been popularized by reality TV, but tonight’s fifth-season opener (9 ET/PT) takes on a softer, soap-operatic tone. It examines the personal side of the boat captains and the fallout the dangerous King and Opilio crab harvests exact on fishing crews.

“This life is taking a toll on the skippers,” says Thom Beers, the reality TV kingpin behind Catchand such shows as History Channel’s Ax Men and Ice Road Truckers. “They’re all getting older and dealing with years of stress.”

Skipper Phil Harris, who escaped death after having a pulmonary embolism at the height of crabbing season last year, tries to return to helm his Cornelia Marie. But berthed at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, he awaits a doctor’s call that could keep him dry-docked.

“Am I still going to be able to do this? This is my career, man,” a weary, chain-smoking Harris tells a camera crew in tonight’s opener. Meanwhile, sons Jake and Josh squabble over lost bait sacks that cost Harris $5,000.

Rival skipper Keith Colburn, who got into a memorable in-your-face shouting match with brother Monte aboard the Wizard last season, has a cancer scare. He nervously awaits the results of a biopsy that could sideline him for the season.

Northwestern captain Sig Hansen, meanwhile, laments whether he’ll recoup the $800,000 he sank into repairs and modifications to his aging trawler.

“Everybody’s got their bumps and bruises and scars,” Hansen tells USA TODAY. “It isn’t a gravy train.” Noting the health concerns facing some of his peers, Hansen says onboard diets can be lousy and quips that his largely is a “three-c” menu: coffee, cigarettes and chocolate.

Still, a load of king crab harvested in just a few weeks can fetch $1 million, offsetting fuel, wages, insurance and other overhead costs.

Hansen, perhaps the best-known and most opportunistic fisherman to emerge from Deadliest Catch, has appeared on virtually every late-night talk show since the series vaulted to one of basic cable’s biggest hits. (New episodes regularly draw more than 3 million viewers.) Fame prompted Hansen to develop a line of specialty foods, coffees and video games…

READ MORE…

Sig Hansen to be on Conan O’Brien!

It’ll be really deadly out on Tuesday night, July 8th.  Not only is there ‘Deadliest Catch’, After the Catch to watch, but also a ‘Deadliest Catch’ skipper appearance!  Sig Hansen will on Conan!  According to their schedule, he’s slated to appear along with Selma Blair and Little Jackie.

(Check out these pics of Sig & Edgar Hansen.  Thanks to fan Mel, who snapped these at a recent Redmond, Washington appearance for Xbox game Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm) 

Edgar & Sig Hansen are definitely proud of the Xbox 360 game, Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm, which includes over 4500 lines of dialogue sequences.  You can read up on the details of the game and listen & watch Capt Sig discussing his perspective on it, and fishing in general here.

Ready to go Crabbing? Xbox Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm is Out!

According to the F/V Northwestern website, “Major retailers currently carrying the game include Walmart, Best Buy, and Blockbuster. Call your local store for more information. “  As for the PC version, the understanding is that there were some last minute complications with both versions that could have delayed the release of the game, and rather then delay both, developers focused on the Xbox version.  The PC version will be released soon!

Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm: Battle 40 Foot Waves,
Storms and Ice As Captain of a Bering Sea Crab Boat
Available Now on Xbox 360, Coming Soon to PC

SEATTLE, WA.  (June 17, 2008)  – Now millions of fans of Discovery Channel’s highest rated and Emmy®-nominated series DEADLIEST CATCH can hunt for elusive King and Opilio Crab in the challenging new Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm video game.   The Xbox 360® version of the game is available now at major retailers, with the PC version coming soon. 
 
Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm was inspired by Sig, Edgar and Norman Hansen – three brothers who have made their living crab fishing on the Bering Sea aboard their family’s fishing vessel, the Northwestern. The Hansen brothers started game development with Liquid Dragon Studios in October 2005.
 
Authenticity and realism were critical to the Hansen brothers. They invited key development team members to Dutch Harbor, Alaska to personally experience life on the Northwestern. The game’s realism is enhanced with four real Bering Sea harbors and 34,000 miles of real Alaskan coastline created from the United States Geological Survey. In addition, Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm is the first video game to feature United States Coast Guard vessels and helicopters.
 
With waves over 40 feet high, Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm features the best wave effects in a video game to date. In the words of Captain Sig Hansen, “It may not be life or death, but chills went up my spine the first time I saw the Northwestern sink in the game.”
 
Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm lets gamers captain their own boat in the frenzied search for King and Opilio crab. Gamers select one of five real crab boats, including the Northwestern, Cornelia Marie and Sea Star – all featured on the series, or create and customize their own boat. Gamers then recruit and manage their own crew from a roster of twenty real crab fishermen.  Selecting the wrong boat or recruiting the wrong crew member can mean the difference between landing a Bering Sea jackpot or disaster. The ultimate goal is to return safely each season, upgrade your boat and crew, and attempt to break Captain Sig Hansen and the Northwestern crew’s actual lifetime catch of twenty million pounds.
 
Features:                                   
·  Career Mode (Extremely realistic and challenging simulation for gamers and Deadliest Catch fans
·  Missions (Includes United States Coast Guard missions, ice flow navigation)
·  Mini-Games (Allows casual gamers to enjoy fun crab boat challenges, including crab boat races and skiff races)
·  Five Authentic Crab Boats (including Northwestern and Cornelia Marie)
·  Customize Your Own Boat
·  20 Real Fishermen (including Edgar and Norman Hansen, Josh and Jake Harris)
·  Five Authentic Captains (including Captains Sig Hansen, Phil Harris and Larry Hendricks)
·  4,500 lines of recorded character dialogue
·  1st Time United States Coast Guard in Video Game  
·  Captain the 370ft. USCG Cutter Mellon
·  Throw-the-Hook Mini-Game
·  Skiff Racing Mini-Game
·  34,000 Miles Actual Coastline
·  Four real Bering Sea harbors (Akutan, Dutch Harbor, King Cove and St. Paul)
·  Virtual tour of the Northwestern crab boat
·  100 exclusive crew videos
·  Xbox Live multiplayer for up to eight players
 
Whether a die-hard fan or someone who has never seen the Discovery Channel series, Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm is an immersive and challenging experience, putting them at the helm of one the world’s most dangerous jobs– that of a crab boat captain in the icy Bering Sea.
 
Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm is available at select retailers such as Walmart, Gamestop, Best Buy and Blockbuster and can be ordered online. The game has been developed by Liquid Dragon Studios and is published by Greenwave.  It’s available now for the Xbox® 360 video game system from Microsoft, and will be coming soon to PC . The game is rated T and is $59.99 on Xbox 360 and $39.99 for PC. For more information about Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm, visit www.alaskanstorm.com or www.greenwavegames.com.
 
About Greenwave
Greenwave is a new video game publisher creating fun, high quality games for existing markets and fan communities. The company is privately held and headquartered in Seattle. For more information visit www.greenwavegames.com. 
 
(Reprinted with permission)

Keeping up with Sig Hansen

He’s a really busy fisherman!  This week, Sig & Edgar Hansen will be at the Redmond, WA Town Center Gamestop Wednesday night to celebrate the launch of their new Xbox 360 game which is currently shipping out to retailers this week!  If you’re in the area, it’ll be from 6-8pm at 16475 NE 74th Street.  Sig and Edgar will be on hand for photos and autographs, as they celebrate the launch of their first game and an Xbox 360 exclusive. 

Earlier in the week, Sig & Edgar Hansen were photographed in what looks to be a promotion for Xbox game Deadliest Catch-Alaskan Storm.  (Photo courtesy of Daniel Brunner, check out his pics!)

And that’s not all.  There’s more!  A couple of weeks ago, Sig Hansen was involved in a fund raiser with country singer Toby Keith… 

 The fifth annual Toby Keith & Friends Celebrity Golf Classic raised a record-setting $709,000 for Ally’s House, a local nonprofit that helps children with cancer and their families. The total bested last year’s $500,000, pushing the 5-year total past $2.3 million.

“I knew we could make a difference with Ally’s House, but it really is even bigger than I’d hoped,” Keith said. “We’ve helped a ton of families…and we’re proud that we have never had to turn away an Oklahoma family that needs help.”

As in past years, many participants went home with some one-of-a-kind events on their calendars. The June 6-7 gathering brought 750 celebrities and guests together for golfing, music and a silent auction. Top auction items this year included dinner with Keith with 2 selling for $35,000 each. A Deadliest Catch package brought $27,500 for a chance to ride with Captain Sig and the Northwestern crew from the hit Discovery Channel crab fishing series.

Link for charity event

Xbox, Coffee, and Beer in the works for the Hansens…

You may have already heard plenty about the Xbox 360 Deadliest Catch game soon coming out in June with a pc version as well, but did you know that Sig, Edgar, and Norman Hansen of the Northwestern also have their own line of coffee in the works, and beer as well?  Mike Ferreri, of Komo tv news recently spoke with Sig Hansen and reports details on the projects….

SEATTLE — Bering Sea crab fishermen are riding a wave of popularity with the success of the Discovery Channel’s hit show “Deadliest Catch.”

One crew from Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood is converting its new-found fame into all sorts of business possibilities.

Members of the Hansen family have been braving the dangerous Bering Sea and crab fishing for decades. Now, thanks to reality TV, they’ve turned a deadly job into their luckiest catch.

In an occupation where half the luck is finding the crab and the other half is living to tell about it, Sig Hansen and his crew have been one of the best.

“It’s like a gamble. Fishing is a gamble,” said Hansen. “If you don’t like it, get the hell off.”

With another crab season behind them, the captain and his crew are back in Ballard for the summer.

“We’ve got a good team ,good guys. That’s why we do so well and we come back every season.. alive,” said Hansen.

The crew members are working on their boat, the F/V Northwestern, and soaking up the fame they’ve gained on the TV show.

“I’m more than amazed. Didn’t think it would snowball to this extent but why not, man? It’s fun,” said the captain.

Four years ago, Hansen agreed to let cameras on board for a crab season. Now he’s one of the most popular fisherman in the world and he’s cashing in.

“What helps us sell us is because we are who we are and I think people dig it,” said Hansen.

The crew has signed a clothing deal with Helly Hansen.

“We’ve got our own brand own, little logo. Those guys are helping us drive that market. It’s great,” Hansen said.

And there’s a line of coffee.

“It’s a part of our life, man, for me. It’s coffee, cigarettes and chocolate. The coffee is a natural fit,” said Hansen.
 

Read the rest after the jump

A Proper Tour of the F/V Northwestern

Watch Edgar Hansen give Kiro TV a tour of the F/V Northwestern.  While Edgar shows the news crew around, he also lets fans in on a few interesting tidbits you may be interested in hearing…For example, it sounds like we’ll soon be watching Edgar get thumped in the head by the pick hook.  Yes, that’s him in the previews we’ve all watched!  He said it rattled his teeth when it happened.  Also interesting to note, there are no extra bunks for the cameramen and one of them apparently crashes on the wheelhouse floor when it’s time to catch a few z’s…

Capt Sig Hansen gives tips on Alaskan Storm game

Very interesting!  Captain Sig Hansen gives a few real tips on boat safety and what to do when a man goes overboard.  What’s the connection to the game?  Watch the video clip and see the actual gameplay of a crew member going overboard! 

 

Commercial for Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm game

Watch Jake of the F/V Cornelia Marie vs Jake of the F/V Northwestern have it out over the new Xbox 360 & PC game, Deadliest Catch:  Alaskan Storm…