Alaska: The Last Frontier

Everytime someone says " homestead " take a drink. Every time something endangers their most cherished anything or their precious food supply , take a shot.

Do not mix these up. I think they get paid to say " homestead" three or more times per minute

I actually watch this show because I am entertained by it and the family characters are amusing.

But, let's face it, the show is contrived and staged.

Every week, we are treated to the next "Gotta get this done before winter" emergency fulfilled with an old "insert recycled item here" Example: Using an old semi flatbed to make a cow feeding station. After using a 100K bulldozer to move the bed, we will use commercial lumber that mysteriously appears to make the paddocks. Along with acetylene torches and various other power tools. Where do they get the tanks of acetylene? I guess they take the family barge to town?! But wait, why didn't they just BUY a feeding station? After all, they are multi-millionaires?

However cornball it might sound... I like programs like "Alaska -- the Last Frontier", with intelligent people behaving sensibly.

I should point out that these people /do not/ lead a "subsistence" lifestyle, which would require that they make everything they need. They have access to power tools (some of them Very Large) and store-bought supplies in an emergency. Still, it's sobering to see people who spend most of their time doing the work needed to support themselves, rather than in vain pursuits.

Otto is the unintentional star. He's extremely intelligent and has an ironic, self-deprecating sense of humor. (The sequence in which he blows up a stump and brags about it is classic.) The show would be merely "good" without him.

As for the "excessive" killing... If you're not a vegetarian, you have no right to complain. The domestic animals have led uncaged lives, and are killed humanely. (I loved it when Otto had his son kill a favorite cow that wouldn't have made it through the Winter. Instead of the animal dying on its side, it ends up on its back, with its legs angled in "dead cockroach" position.)

I'm 66 years old and have heard theme songs for scores of TV shows. "Alaska -- the Last Frontier" has absolutely the worst. The lyrics and melody are either consciously cornball C&W -- or the writers are idiots. They've got to be kidding... (It seems he song was written and sung by Atz Lee! My condemnation nevertheless stands.)

"Sometimes it's blood, sweat, and tears On Alaska, the last frontier. But life is simple, life is good, When you're livin' like you should. Hey! Hey! Sometimes it's struggle 'n strife Fathers, sons, brothers, wifes. But we're makin' our way, And yes, we'll stay Right here! On Alaska, the last frontier!"

How about "Life is simple, life is good, when you've got takeout Chinese food." Well, it is, isn't it?

The first 2-3 seasons were pretty good when they were airing original footage . The producers spend MUCH too much time showing and reshowing and reshowing footage that aired on previous episodes . I'm now on season 4 episode 6 and there has barely been any original footage in all these 6 episodes. I keep fast forwarding hoping for something new .

The cast is great ! It's educational and interesting . The only problem is the producer airing the same footage over and over , ESPECIALLY in this season . I'd like to know if this is how it's going to be in all future seasons . I guess I'll just keep watching and fast forwarding .

I enjoy watching this show sometimes. At other times it drives me crazy. Year after year after year they have problems with their new calves getting mauled or frozen to death. They are penned up in a tiny pen with three feet of mud and cow poop in the spring and 4-5 feet of snow in the winter. These people have A LOT of money. Why in heaven't name don't they BUILD A BARN to put the cows and calves in and keep them safe until spring. It's NOT good for cows to stomp around in a mud pit. Those poor cows! Charlotte goes on and on about how much she loves animals. WHY DON'T YOU BUILD A BARN??? The men spend their time building cabins they aren't going to live in, so they have the time. Geez, if you can't bring yourself to do it for the animals, HIRE SOMEONE!