Louisiana sure has gotten its fair share of TV shows in the last few years.
Being a diverse state, Louisiana has a lot to offer to TV. For
instance, we’ve come back strong after an enormous hurricane. But
these shows found other areas to focus their attention.
Are the shows portraying the State in a positive light? Let’s see.
A&E’s “Billy the Exterminator” was shot around Shreveport. While being
thoroughly entertaining, the show simply chooses to display the
dog-collared Billy slaying hordes of roaches in run-down shacks.
The History Channel’s “Swamp People” focuses on Cajun traditions, but
sadly this show made Louisiana look like a bunch of crazy Alligator
murderers.
The Discovery Channel’s “Sons of Guns” illustrated a different aspect
of the state — unrestrictive firearms laws. Moreover, most of the show
focused on Baton Rouge’s Red Jacket Firearms creating radical guns for
citizen customers (along with the occasional government contract).
But one show I failed to comment on in my column was quite different.
The Discovery Channel’s “The Colony” put 10 people into Chalmette, La.
— a suburb of New Orleans destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
While they could have focused on recovery, “The Colony” utilized the
post-apocalyptic landscape to set the scene for the show’s mock plot
line — 10 people trying to survive a virus outbreak.
Overall, each of these shows focus on debatably negative aspects of our State.
I have no problem with Cajuns or firearms, but really, why make this
the focus of our state on national television.
What do you guys think about these shows?
Hey, Chris! Great article today. Since we’re on the subject of LA-based TV shows, what about dramas like HBO’s Treme? It seems like the only non-caricature portrayals of LA residents are of New Orleanians…
You know, unless you count True Blood. But they’re, um, not actually human.
Hey, thanks Macy. I’ve never actually watched Treme. Ironic, I know. I always read good things about the show, but from what I hear from people who are from New Orleans, the show’s pretty inaccurate. I guess I’ll have to watch next season to find out…
Oh come on, Red Jacket Firearms shows that no one in your state can shoot str8, to hunt, at a target, do anything, without the need of the firepower that would put an Apache helicopter to shame to make up from lack of skill. That if it were legal you would hunt alligators with an Apache. Love the gun sounds they make when they find out they will be working on something automatic. The childish behavior continues with the having to blow something up. The people in this show are an embrassment to anyone who is an adult. The real deal, gunsmith work is boring and it takes a little more research and development and more testing then a one day trip to the field and if it doesn’t explode in our hands it proofs to get that big government contract, then Red Jacket does. Also that smirk on Will’s face is hard to take at the end of the show.
I do like Tabasco and for those times I remember my stays, New Orleans.