Discovery Channel’s Alaskan Bush People is not canceled. Why?

Alaskan Bush People

Do the Alaskan Bush People get paid? We asked! Read our interview with the Brown family.

Alaskan Bush People Season 1 Recaps: Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | The Wild Life

Season 2 Recaps: Episode 1 | Episode 2Episode 3 | Episode 4Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8  | Wild Times | Episode 9 | Episode 10 | Episode 11 | Episode 12 | Episode 13 | Episode 14 | SHARK WEEK! | Episode 15 | Episode 16 | Lost Footage | The Wild Year

NEW! Is Alaskan Bush People Fake? Does It Matter?

Alaskan Bush People
There were a lot of things about Discovery Channel’s unscripted series Alaskan Bush People that didn’t pass the smell test. Now there’s more foul air surrounding the Brown family, and it’s very likely we’ve seen the last of them on TV.

 

Commenter Talkeetnachris tipped us to this:

Billy brown was just charged with stealing over $13000 filing fraudulent PFD claims in Alaska. His near life will be in prison. A few other family members were also charged. This guy and his family are frauds. I have lived off the road system for years and these people won’t last a year. You have to be self sufficient. Hell, I even had to stitch a band cut on my leg once. Many of these shows only have entertainment value with no real practical lessons on what really living on your own is about.

Many commenters doubted that the Browns were actually living off the land, as the show depicted. Instead, it appears the Browns may have been living off of fraudulent Alaskan Permanent Fund Dividend applications. According to Anchorage’s KTUU, patriarch “Billy Brown alone faces 24 felony counts and is accused of illegally obtaining $13,080 in dividend cash for himself and others. The charges do not describe why investigators believe the Brown family was not eligible for the dividends that some members received between 2010 and 2013.” Also indicted were five of Billy’s seven children: Amora Jean Snowbird, Joshua “Bam Bam,” Gabriel “Gabe,” Solomon “Bear” and Noah.

This will come as disappointing news to the many fans of the show who appreciated the Browns’ family values and the off-the-grid lifestyle that they claimed to represent. The credibility of Discovery Channel and Park Slope Productions has to be questioned, as they apparently weren’t diligent about checking the Browns’ backgrounds (even before these indictments came to light) and then aired a special episode with the family defending their authenticity. And personally, recapping Alaskan Bush People has been great fun, and I’m going to miss writing about it and reading all of your comments.

I’m so mad, I could punch a fish.

Update: Get this. Discovery Channel says they are “currently filming new episodes.” From the Alaska Dispatch News:

Stair said that between October 2009 and August 2012, the family did not meet the “physical presence requirement” to receive PFDs. This means the state believes the family spent more than 180 days a year living outside of Alaska and lied about it on their applications, Stair said.

Sean Martin, director of communications at Discovery Channel, wrote in an email Thursday that “we don’t divulge our actual shoot dates, so cannot let you know when filming concluded on season one, but can confirm that we are currently filming new episodes, but have not announced those air dates yet.”

I don’t even…

 

66 Comments

  1. This show demonstrates:
    1) Ignorance.
    2) Stupidity
    3) Hypocrisy

    And a pretty high chance of incest.
    The show is disgusting on more levels than time allows to describe.

  2. Love the show. Family trying to make it away from the ratrace of everyday city life. Glad to see them being as authentic as they can. Of course ammo, guns, and some food items necessary for a balanced diet must be obtained in some way. Naturally they are proud of what they do whether glorified camping or whatever. Be glad for them! Their little family compound looks amazing to me!
    Doubt those guys realized fraud! Most likely ignorance. Hope all works out for them and they receive enough money for dental help for several of tbe family members, especially Mama with her absesses.

  3. love THIS SHOW I BELIEVE IT TO BE BELIEVEABLE IT COULD HAPPEN . I WAS RAISED MUCH THE SAME WAY IN IDAHO , ONLY I AND MY BROS . AND SISTERS WENT TO SCHOOL WE ALSO HAD OUTDOOR PRIVIES . WASHED IN A ROUND GALVENIZED TUB AND HAD A FIREPLACE BIG ENOUGH TO BURN A FOURFOOT LOG , IT WAS COLDER THAN H -LL IN THE WINTER AND HOTTER THA H-LL IN THE SUMMER WE FINALLY GOT AN INDOOR BATHROOM WHEN I TURNED FIFTHTEEN . THE WHOLE POINT IS NOT EVERYONE IS BORN WITH A SILVERFOOT IN THEIR MOUTH , NOT EVERYONE GETS A BREAK . SO LIKE THE SHOW OR NOT WATCH . I LIKE IT SO I WATCH .

  4. I think most people are missing the whole point of the ( Show) is’ s Alaska and and away of life that is completely differant and the same as any here,in the lower 48, or in Hawaii..you just have to find the right folks.real people.. the ( show is about real people in real places with real times..) and a camera man and a sound man and a director oh and wild brown bears..Great Entertain,heck, they even got into town and got some pizza.. met some girls invited them out. made the mistake of saying call him on his cell phone that his had show on one day on his belt. They do mess up if you watch close,nut your just supose to relize. Were not all perfect but we try hard that’s the import part, be kind,be fair, be happy,don’t judge, Alaska last frontier

  5. I really enjoy watching the Brown Family build structures out of sticks, hunt for food, climb trees, and most of all appreciate a family of 9 be so supportive and loving while facing the ups and downs of surviving off the grid in Alaska! If you are not enjoying the eye candy of Alaska & don’t think the Browns are entertaining, turn on FOX NEWS for a different type of REALITY!

  6. first of all id like to say, this show is a reality show , in all reality it could b made, done , acted, lived , or any other thing u want to add to that list , it could b done that way . thats reality. not everyone is a professional at doing things the perfect way . ITS THEIR WAY! thats reality ! for those of u that r out there in tv land that have watched the show and u dont like it , in case u dont realize it , here in the u.s. we still have some sort of freedom. TURN THE DANG CHANNEL , u will not b judged, its your opinion, as u have judged these people . wheather it b fake or not remains to b seen by all. for those of us that do LIKE the show , leave us the heck alone on what WE wanna watch on tv. we like to think that maybe it is a for real show but forsure real entertainment. if u think u r a better writter than the ones that r writting it , then. by all means , apply for their job . bet cha dont get it tho !!!!! PERSONALLY, I HOPE THEY NEVER CANCEL THE SHOW! ! Reguardless of their personel lives off the show . i guarantee u , every actor has a shady past . wheather u r an actor or not , we all have a shady past . move on ! i look fwd to it every fri night and cant wait til the next episode . i sincerely hope they r already filming the next series in advance . at least for a little while some of us r sitting here maybe smiling. or laughing at the little things that maybe could or couldnt b done to perfection . at least some of u used to watch gilligans island , n loved it too . or perhaps red skelton, more current opra winfrey. everyone doesnt always like the same shows thats why u have cable or satellite and a remote control ! all im saying is quit bad mouthing the show n the people. dont like it .. dont watch it !!!! plain n simple or dont u know what that means ?

    • Lol Jo it is not that serious darlin’…people are allowed to voice their own opinions whether you agree with that or not. We’re not bad mouthing anyone, we’re simply giving good rebuttal and without that it wouldn’t be fun ☺ it’s a group discussion…keep calm and howl on its gonna be okay

  7. By 10 p.m. Eastern on Fridays I am well into my second six pack as I try to recuperate from my weekly 6 to 10 job in a factory. I do watch this train wreck of a T.V. show simply to keep from letting myself be mesmerized by the WD-40 coated apple peeler/battery charger being offered on HSN… I’m really good at making heater elements…I should have been a reality show writer. The show is an obviously staged, poorly written and ridiculously rudimentary stepping stone intern program intended to train prospective videographers. I wish I had not smoked that last ounce before finals… What a dummy. Oh well, may God bless us all with aluminum free deodorant and unlimited Crest…….

  8. My husband and I actually watch and enjoy this show. TV is entertainment. Change the channel if you don’t want to watch.

  9. Should be careful about jumping to conclusions.
    The problem with the 180 days is that either the Browns have to prove they were in state or the state has to prove they were not…. I don’t know which the law states. Either way it is a very difficult thing to do for something up to 4 years ago. Consider this can you prove that you were in the state you claimed to live in 4 years ago? How would you go about it?
    How would the state prove you were not in the state and how would they go about it?
    I like the show, whether they are fake or not.
    I always remember that as it is on TV it is entertainment not necessarily fact filled.

    • I ran across the show by accident. It is entertainment only and to me far more entertaining than the Kardashians. It is the Duck Dynasty oxymoron. Same concept with no $. I have only watched a little of the show, and wondered if they all really are one big family. A lot of the show is probably bogus, like a guy giving them $30k of lumber for their cabin for $5k and a handshake that the boys will provide the mill owner $25k of future labor. It would be interesting to know their true history as I doubt they lived there in a one room wilderness cabin for 30 years or more and all the kids would elect to do so as they become adults. I wonder what Discovery Channel is paying them?

    • Well let’s see how I would prove I was in state 4 or 5 years ago. There would be friends and family to vouch for me. All emails I sent out can be traced to the address where the wifi is connected. People I’ve done business with in town because surely the bush didn’t supply ALL my needs. Bank statements that held the PDF money and other bank activity. Any number of bills like rent or mortgage statements and last my JOB!

  10. When its proved that Billy and his clan are guilty in court. I hope he can get a bath , shave and a good haircut. Then get some deodorant for Gabe . Mom gets a new tube of crest and Bear can get a bowl of kibbles and bits. Matt gets a large roll of saran wrap.

    • Why are these people even on TV? They are obviously fake and apparently legally fraudulent as well. It’s OK to live off the grid if you want to, even if you have money, but don’t pretend that you raise your children in the wilderness of Alaska, when it is quite obvious from research that you didn’t. I know Mr Brown is proud of his children, most parents are. However, I seriously doubt that all of them, if any of them, as as gifted as he writes. By the way, why aren’t the girls talented as well? Are they deficient because they’re females? Back to the boys. I’m sorry, but they’re just plain creepy. Tell the Elvis impersonator to get rid of those stupid sideburns. And they are making enough money per episode to pay for some dental care. Please send them all to the dentist. Get rid of the fake accents that come and go.

      • how do u know they r guilty of fraud ? were u there ? fake ? do u live there with them ? how do u know anything for sure of them , since u dont live there. with them n by the way mr brown DONT WRITE THE SHOW . there r writters for that part.

      • I totally agree with you afmurray. Except that I think that some of the Brown kids have speech impediments and not accents. One of them and I can’t remember which…i think it’s Solomon doesn’t seem to have it. Also you can watch them and listen to them and know that they haven’t spent much of their lives in the bush. Also the fact that they screw up so much. And if I enjoyed living in the wilderness I would NOT be living in a hotel with the discovery crew. Or I wouldn’t be trying to present myself as one thing while doing another. I’m still wondering about that tattoo I saw on is it bear? Where do you get those in the bush?

        • I think I’ve noticed cross tattoos on a couple of the boys. And did you notice how in the first few episodes, Rainy’s hair had some yellow highlights in it. I think that’s how I started to realize it’s phony. They do all talk kind of different. I think Bam is the one that doesn’t have too much of an accent.

  11. I could be wrong but living in the bush would mean roughin it basically….but yet they have dishes, a cooler, and gas for a boat….really lol
    Plus how do they keep meat fresh in the cooler without ice????? It’s cold but not that cold

      • Then why do they claim to live outside of the normal way of life, which is what they claim. Living with the same norms and all that doesn’t make them bush people. Makes them land owners or squatters till they get the boot again. Bush people – look at Matt graham. He’s a bush person. If i howl and jump over sticks does that make me a bush person ? I hunt and fish so I guess it does since I do everything they do…

        • Word terror toe!!!! And Ava if they have no connection to the outside world then where are they getting gas for the boat?

          More everybody, MORE! ☺

          • This is one big camping trip. If you’re REALLY LIVING in the bush and want NO CONNECTION to the outside world then why be on tv? Where are they putting the money they receive from the show? Bush Bank? To live in the bush is not having access to a road or boat/ferry system and these people have both of those items. Billy doesn’t do crap but dictate and if it wasn’t for his adult children they’d be screwed! If your wife says build me this overlooking this view then get off your ass and build the damn thing don’t pawn it off on someone else. Where are they getting all their ammo from? Ammo isn’t cheap. Look at the real survival shows, do they have guns? Surely not and surprisingly they can still make their own weapons by what is given to them by mother nature in the middle of nowhere. Amazing isn’t it!

    • You don’t know these people. Take the time to read their backstory. Each has their own gifts. Maybe they don’t sound like you, and march to a different drummer. I respect their choice to live the way they choose. I love their show.

      • I like the show. It is clean, and entertaining. I will let the law sort out the proof of residency thing. R U assuming the government is right? only the uneducated would believe that. If you don’t like the show don’t watch it. I am sure there is some really FILTHY fake thing on another channel you can watch.

    • How can they be home schooled when they don’t own any books? if they lived in the bush, they would not look as polished as they do.

  12. Remember talk is cheap proof is final. If you dont like them
    dont watch them there like many of us just trying to get through
    this life the best they know how.

    • Yeah These people should be prosecuted! They are scammers need to get educated and get real employment the show should be cancelled

      • @Richard Sternbach From your grammer above, it looks like YOU need to take your OWN advice and “get educated”.

    • Frankly I’m jealous… I would love to leave it all behind and live off the land! (But really I’m too old now)

    • I love following the Brown family. I must’ve missed something. I’m curious how they got this new piece of land.

      • Discovery Channel leased it for them so they could film their farce. After each days filming they go back to the lodge in Hoonah. There are about 1200 ppl on that island where they are at.

        • dorothy, im not sure that is the line on the show , u could b right but i think the storyline says , from season 1, they sold their land in upper alaska , vought n lost a boat that sunk , moved into a town , where the guys worked , for awhile , ( not sure of time frame ) , they saved their money n bought the new land. I could b wrong as well , if i am please forgive me for trying to correct u .

  13. All you critics are murderers well, maybe not cause its not been
    proven in a court of law the browns are not guilty of any crime
    untill proven in a court of law get off there back, take them to
    court and prove what you say or shut up !!!

      • That was just ugly. You are no better than anyone else, including people you judge based on the roof over their head. Real classy.

    • The Browns have been charged with MORE THAN ONE Class C FELONY. (Class C felony in the state of Ak is the least serious felony. Still a felony and still serious.) They would not have been charged if there was not cause. Whether the law finds them guilty or innocent remains to be seen. Not everyone or every family can lay claim to having been charged with a felony or even served jail time but I doubt that it will make any difference to those who like the show.

    • Dean Gary- You do not even know what you are talking about! It is not that hard to prove if you were in the State or not! They would not have even been charged if they were able to provide evidence of their presence in Alaska! They obviously were not able to do that, So they got the Fraud charges put on them. They asked for a continuance 3 times now! As an Alaskan, i will not shut up! I have a right to voice my opinion on what is going on in my own state. Especially since stealing the PFD means they are stealing from Alaskans, That is OUR money they laid claim too. So NO i will not shut up!!

  14. It’s entertaining. The boys and girls need young friends outside of the family, which I’m sure they have. Billys a writer and has published books and his wife seems very sincere and nice. I hope they find there way and all ends well. This is television and I’m sure there are some smoke and mirrors involved, some staging and playacting. I wouldn’t make judgement calls against people I have never met in person. What you see on camera may not be what there really all about anymore than any other television or movie character. All the best to them.

    • Ahhh no if they are convicted with a felony they might have to learn to shoot in jail and something tells me that ain’t gonna happen. And weapons aren’t the only things they need to learn about. I give them an ‘A’ for screwing everything they do up.

Comments are closed.

About Ryan Berenz 2166 Articles
Member of the Television Critics Association. Charter member of the Ancient and Mystic Society of No Homers. Squire of the Ancient & Benevolent Order of the Lynx, Lodge 49, Long Beach, Calif. Costco Wholesale Gold Star Member since 2011.