TVCH FORUMS HOME . JOIN . FAN CLUBS . DONATE . CONTACT . CHAT  
                  Quick Links   TOPICS . TREE-VIEW . SEARCH . HELP! . NEWS . PROFILE
Archive through July 27, 2009

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2010 - 2: Deadliest Catch: ARCHIVES: Archive through July 27, 2009 users admin

Author Message
Terolyn
Member

05-06-2004

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - 7:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Terolyn a private message Print Post    
Missed why they chose to fire Russel.. Can anyone fill me in?

Bluejaxrock
Member

04-23-2004

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - 8:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bluejaxrock a private message Print Post    
Terolyn, the Hillstrand's use Mike Fortner to run the boat in the summer. They even sent him to Washington to get his Captain's license. So when they had him on the boat for King and Opies, they knew someone would have to be let go. Even though Jonathan got into it with Mike, they decided to let Russell go because Mike "brings more to the table". I like Mike and Russell, but was sad that they let Russell go. I was hoping he'd end up on another of the Deadliest Catch boats. Sure am glad that Keith took him on. All of Keith's crew were happy to have Russell - I hope it works out for both Russell and the Wizard, 'cause I think Russell brings humor to the show/boat. I remember him going in the water to pull somebody in, but can't remember what season that was. A guy went overboard from a boat that was near the Time Bandit, Jonathan got closer and sent Russell in after the guy. Ever since, I've loved Russell.

Terolyn
Member

05-06-2004

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - 9:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Terolyn a private message Print Post    
me too, just could not figure out why he was sacked.

Bluejaxrock
Member

04-23-2004

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - 9:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bluejaxrock a private message Print Post    
I don't know why the other guy, Fred(?), wasn't let go. I missed the reasoning there - Russell had been on the Time Bandit forever and according to Jonathan He & Russell had been friends forever, too.
Maybe Fred got less $$$ than Russell and that helped decide - you know how it goes - between two people, usually the one that makes more is let go so the company can save even more $$$. At least that's what happened to me.
I can't wait to see Crosby and Russell on the same crew. Love me some Crosby, too.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - 10:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
They have also shown this season that Russell no longer was working as hard (and perhaps they only showed his non-working moments to explain why he was let go) - he would always go into the sauna between pots and was many times shown kind of lingering back by the bait pots as opposed to getting on the deck during the sorting and manhandling of the pots process (or at least that's my perception).

Bluejaxrock
Member

04-23-2004

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - 3:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bluejaxrock a private message Print Post    
Roxip, I noticed that too, and wondered if they were editing it that way to lead up to his getting fired, or if he really was slacking this year.
I also wondered if Russell wouldn't end up on the NW since Jake had to fly home, then realized that Jake would most likely be back for the next season, leaving Russell without a job again. Would've been interesting seeing Edgar and Russell on the same crew.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - 8:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
You know, it probably has to do with experience rating also...a crew member with more experience probably gets a higher percentage of the catch, whereas a greenhorn's pay is considerably less (didn't somebody figure out they were at times paid by the day?)...too many senior crew members would cut into the overall profit of the boat.

Seems like the Wizard needed an experienced crew member at the right time...now we see if Russell gets to stay on the Wizard for king crab.

If Russell and Jonathan were old friends it could also have been that Russell had started taking that friendship for granted and Jonathan had to let him go for the sake of the overall attitude on the ship. If I had been one of the other crew members I would have been infuriated by one crew member taking a lot of breaks.

Terolyn
Member

05-06-2004

Friday, July 24, 2009 - 6:02 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Terolyn a private message Print Post    
watched it again. Still don't understand WHY Jonathan fired Russell... I don't think Russel knows either. The whole exit interview was weird. No explanation given just kept pointing at his notes on the paper and making no sense.

Didn't like how he called Mike up there first to act like he was firing him.

And Andy sitting there with his glasses on refusing to offer input or even look at Russell.

Even if and I am not saying there is not, but even if they had the best reason in the world to fire him - it was badly done and just plain weird. I think Jonathan's last remark is true - where he said the friendship was over.

Jonathan and the Time Bandit have always been a favorite of mine until the last year or so.

Heyltslori
Moderator

09-15-2001

Friday, July 24, 2009 - 6:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Heyltslori a private message Print Post    
I'm having a hard time understanding it too, unless there is just a lot of stuff that happened that we didn't see. I would have liked to think that loyalty and friendship meant more than the money.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Friday, July 24, 2009 - 6:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
If Russell wasn't doing the job then Jonathan did the right thing - friendship goes both ways and if he wasn't pulling his weight (and more people commented on it than just the Hilstrands...Mike joked about it several times) then it was time for him to go elsewhere.

Jonathan seemed to be under a rather heavy burden the last show, didn't he? His outburst on the crew, his firing of Russell - wonder if we will ever find out the truth.

Terolyn
Member

05-06-2004

Friday, July 24, 2009 - 7:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Terolyn a private message Print Post    
Yeah, I am not saying that Russell maybe did not deserve it, but you could tell he never saw it coming. When Jonathan was showing him the list, he still didn't realize that he was the one being cut. Whether he deserved it or not, I still think it was badly done.

Sabbatia
Member

08-15-2005

Friday, July 24, 2009 - 7:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sabbatia a private message Print Post    
I HAD a friend that worked for me too. I had known her since HS...and that's a LONG time. It's hard when they feel like they are exempt from the rules and don't have to act like everyone else does. You feel betrayed by them because you feel they are taking advantage of the friendship...and it IS a heavy burden when you feel this way.It hurt for a long time, and I'm sure it hurt Jonathan and Russell both deeply.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Friday, July 24, 2009 - 12:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
I think the thing we can all agree on (and we're really not disagreeing anyway) is that Jonathan is not the most tactful human being in the world...LOL!

Captainswife
Member

06-05-2009

Sunday, July 26, 2009 - 12:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Captainswife a private message Print Post    
Please don't take this the wrong way anyone but really it is none of our business why he was let go. Yes I understand it is a TV show but this real life for them, and I am sure there is more too it than what was shown on TV after all it is editted to make the show better! The Captain's have to do what is best for the boat and the rest of the crew, it isn't a choice they made lightly these men become a family imagine having to fire a family member it's not a easy thing to to and not there is not always a tactful way to do it.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Sunday, July 26, 2009 - 3:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
When we are let in on the lives of people via their willingness to participate in a television show, we do have the liberty to speculate. We all understand how editing can either clarify or scramble our perceptions of how things happen.

Jonathan has come across over the years as a pretty happy-go-lucky guy and many have been fans of his because of this. So to see him be rather cold was "different" and people are just sorting it all out.

These same sorts of discussions happen in every single thread here, it's nothing personal against crab fishermen!

Bluejaxrock
Member

04-23-2004

Sunday, July 26, 2009 - 6:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bluejaxrock a private message Print Post    
Speaking for myself, more curiousity than anything else. We just see a tiny bit, I'm sure, of what all goes on during the season.

Bluejaxrock
Member

04-23-2004

Sunday, July 26, 2009 - 6:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bluejaxrock a private message Print Post    
Y'know how sometimes a song will get in your head and won't leave? Well, I was just listening to Springsteen's Badlands and now the tune is running round my head, but instead of the words Badlands I'm hearing crablands...lol
"Crablands, whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa crablands"

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Sunday, July 26, 2009 - 7:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
I'm the type of person who would speculate on a coworker being let go so this is not out of character for me...don't you always wonder what that person did? we mean no disrespect to either Russell or Jonathan...but we do wonder why.

Captainswife
Member

06-05-2009

Sunday, July 26, 2009 - 9:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Captainswife a private message Print Post    
I guess I look at things differently lol for I am on the other side I am the wife at home taking care of the kids, I am the wife who had to quit wearing my boat jacket because I couldn't go to the grocery store without someone harrassing me about it, even though our boat was not a featured boat (thankfully) it was hard the first couple seasons. A lot of people these days just don't understand respect and take things too far...
Imagine being the mom of a young child and having a complete stranger walk up to you in a grocery store and say OHHHH I watch the show on TV aren't you scared your husband is going to die? Then having to explain to a young child who doesn't really grasp the idea yet! So if it seems I take somethings personal I guess maybe I do. But I honestly was not trying to be rude with my post just stating my opinion as you all are, maybe I have interpurted posts wrong, as it is hard when it is a message board to fully understand the meanings behind some posting. So if my post offended anyone I am sorry,if it has and you feel I should not post I will respect your wishes.

Heyltslori
Moderator

09-15-2001

Monday, July 27, 2009 - 3:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Heyltslori a private message Print Post    
Hi Captainswife! Personally I really enjoy hearing your side of things, so stick around! :-) I think it's good to get different perspectives. This whole conversation has been very respectful in my opinion, and like some of the other posters have said, we're all just trying to figure it out.

Jonathan and Andy have always been my favorite captains. They've always seem laid back and a lot of fun. In fact, I bought and read their book (which is a GREAT read) and then bought it 3 more times for various friends. I even (dork moment) sent a fan letter!

So... like some of the other posters have mentioned, this Russell thing just seemed out of character and I think threw some of us for a loop. However, what most of us reality tv diehards (lol) usually assume is that there IS more to the story and there ARE things we're not seeing in the small amount of footage that they decide to put on the show. So we're just all chatting and speculating and trying to figure it out. No harm done and certainly no disrespect meant anywhere. Just conversation. I appreciate everyone's contribution.
:-)

Lexie_girl
Member

07-30-2004

Monday, July 27, 2009 - 3:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lexie_girl a private message Print Post    
Yeah, what Lori said. My opinion is that we care so much for these guys that when something like what happened between Jonathan and Russell occurred, it leaves us scratching our heads.

But in the end everything worked out because Keith really needed an experienced deckhand so it's all good.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Monday, July 27, 2009 - 6:02 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
I agree also that there is a line you don't cross and I think that people who would be so insensitive as to walk up to you and do something like that in front of your children are idiots...what we do in the privacy of our own message board is one thing and out in public is another...I know I would feel very awkward coming up to someone in public who might (or might not in your case) be a public figure and talking to them.

I personally wasn't offended by the way...and hope you stay.

Bluejaxrock
Member

04-23-2004

Monday, July 27, 2009 - 6:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bluejaxrock a private message Print Post    
Captainswife, what Lori & Lexie said...lol
How horrible that strangers in the supermarket would be so crude/rude to you, especially in front of a child. You're right - how do you explain to a child just how dangerous daddy's job is without scaring them to death (no pun intended.) As far as wearing the jacket, I'm spiteful enough (just ask my family) that I'd wear it anyway. To any of the "afraid your husband will die" questions I'd ask the person if they're not afraid to die 'cause no one is guaranteed tomorrow, no matter how "safe" you think you are.
All that to say, please do stick around, Captainswife. I really like the "other side" perspective, too.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Monday, July 27, 2009 - 6:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Captainswife, I'm not sure why you're thinking that some people took your post as rude. I don't see any replies to you that even hint at that, so don't be going anywhere!

Terolyn
Member

05-06-2004

Monday, July 27, 2009 - 10:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Terolyn a private message Print Post    
I love the show, Totally admire the guys and the captains. Would not EVER EVER do it - shoot I get seasick looking at what they have to deal with.

I can't help but have my favorites. Captain Phil is one, Jonathan and Andy as well. Hell, at this point they are all my favorites. They all bring such great personality to the table.

And yes I still wonder why Jonathan chose Russel to be let go. Just seemed weird and his and Andy's lack of any emotion or explanation (not to me but to Russel) confused me. Just seemed out of character for the both of them. I know its not easy to fire someone, especially a close friend so it had to suck big time but Jonathan's people skills were sadly lacking that day.

I also wondered why Murray left and if someone else leaves I will wonder why they left or why they were fired. I also wondered where Mike Rowe was and why he didn't host After the Catch. I guess I am a curious person.

All that being said - I was not offended by any post here and I hope I give no offense. I will not stop posting and I do not want anyone else here to stop posting. We are all joined together by a love of this show and "Those who go down to the sea in ships".

Hugs!