Extreme Fishing With Robson Green – Why, oh why, is this on TV??
Actually, I already know the answer in part because I was forced to watch it last night when my husband insisted upon it. He loves fishing, not that he ever catches anything but nonetheless, he loves it. And as he rarely gets bleeper control, I felt it was probably about time I made an exception and let him… besides, I’d had a few glasses of wine so I didn’t really care, but truly, what is it that anyone finds interesting about watching someone else fish??
I can barely comprehend why anyone likes fishing when they’re actually doing it themselves, but to watch someone else?? I don’t get it. I hate to be sexist – and I’m sure there are millions of lady anglers out there – but maybe it’s partly a ‘chick thing’. The same ‘chick thing’ that means I can’t stand football, but there again, my daughter loves it. Ditto Grand Prix and cricket… she watches them all, and snooker too…
So there goes my ‘chick thing’ argument. Ergo I have to concede then that it’s nothing to do with gender and fishing and most other sports just bore me so much it makes me lose the will to live when I have to watch it.
Not that I object to watching Robson Green per se; I’ve always had a bit of a ‘thing’ for him which makes me feel ancient because so did my mum when she was alive.
But anyway, back to last night’s hour long second of eight parts of Extreme Fishing with said secret-sex-symbol Robson and the thing I most enjoyed was the Alaskan scenery; it was truly stunning.
He was there to achieve what was apparently a lifelong ambition to “catch a giant king salmon” and along the way to achieving this, he attended a Thanksgiving party and learned how to spear a fish ‘Alaskan style’… not sure how the country where one does the spearing affects the style of spearing. but what do I know? I buy frozen cod – that’s the extent of my knowledge of fish, period.
From what I could gather though, the majority of fish catching occurred courtesy of high tech stuff like electric reels – which, by the by, my husband reckons is ‘cheating’ – but I again enjoyed the scenery while he railed on about cheating and how to “really” fish and when Robson went ice fishing at the top of Sleeping Lady Mountain – a fabulously romantic name – I was just in awe, and not just at the scenery but also at the weaponry he was toting to catch the fish once he’d dug a hole in the ice!
In the wrong hands, the thing would’ve been lethal! It was a pole with nine very sharp looking spikes on it and he managed to stab to death seven fish before heading off in a little plane to cook the gruesome looking things.
And bless him, he and his buddies certainly seemed to be having a good time… the entire show was punctuated with high-fives, footballer-esque manly group hugs and phrases such as “You d’man” and “Gerrin!”
But still… scenery aside, where’s the fun in watching someone fish? If you can pinpoint the joy, please do inform me because for me, I’d rather watch wood warp, though granted, the scenery would be less spectacular!
Chat about this on the Unreality TV Forum »
Loading ...
I am so not a fishing fan (really not at all!!!!) but I caught an episode of this last Monday and actually quite enjoyed it.
Robson (or is it Jerome…..) was on a huge trawler facing 30 foot waves and throwing up at the same time. It was actually a little bit exciting and very tense in parts.
I wouldn’t watch it again, but last weeks episode wasn’t as bad as I would have expected.
Robert Green was on BBC Breakfast. He made some comments about course fishing and how 90% of fish returned die! It proved to me what I have for long suspected and that is this actor should keep to acting! He is an novice angler who should not be allowed to drag the sport of angling into disrepute. The BBC have been very nieeve showing this program .Programs like John Wilson’s are the quality angling programs the BBC should be showing.
its in the title EXTREME fishing, its about him going around the world and seeing all the extreme ways of fishing thats why there is the electric reels and everything else, we british call it cheating but the whole world is not going to do it the same way.
and who cares if he is a novice angler, you are basically saying he should not be allowed to do these other styles of fishing, he can do what he wants, and it makes good tv so to answer ur question why people like watching other people fishing? just just something about it u either like it or u dont, u cant really explain it, but with Robson he is pretty funny with some of the stuff he comes out with and his reactions to things. so there is that bit of extra entertainment to it
I AM WRITING WITH COMPLAINT ABOUT EXTREME FISHING WITH ROBSON GREEN ,WE WATCHED THE LAST SERIES WITH OUR SON WHO IS EIGHT YEARS OLD AND THERE WASN’T ANY BAD LANGUAGE LIKE THIS SERIES.I THINK THAT YOU HAVE SPOILT IT FOR ALOT OF PEOPLE,IT MADE ME WANT TO TURN IT OFF.I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE NOTE OF THIS AS MY SON WAS VERY DISSAPOINTED AS WE WOULDN’T LET HIM WATCH IT.
As a fan of Robson and a fisher since birth (well near enough anyway)I thought I’d cracked the jackpot.
Wrong.
As the host of a fishing show our Robson just plain sucks chocolate starfish. Its a pity because the locations and the quarry are spot on and Robsons idiotic antics spoil it.
Stick with acting Mr Green.
I have absolutely no idea what you lot are talking about. Most of you are moaning about the show but if it’s that hard for you people to watch – TURN OVER!
Personally I love the program! As an occasional angler, the thrill for me is when he gets the bite as I can relate to the feeling of excitement. He’s so enthusiastic about what he does it’s almost contagious. My girlfriend isn’t into fishing AT ALL, but she loves the show.
It’s not just about the fishing, but the different ways people do it all over the world. It’s also about the people he meets along the way and the amazing places he goes to.
People are happy to watch crap like Coronation Street, Eastenders and the likes. Also to sit for hours on end watching a bunch of freaks talking about nothing in the big brother house. You’ll even watch the entertainment channel to find out what’s going on in the lives of your favourite celebrities (sad), but you complain about watching a man having the time of his life in some of the most spectacular places on earth!
As for the swearing issue, I see your point, but the show is on at 9pm which is after the watershed.
These days, most homes have more than one TV. Either switch over and watch something else, or go into another room!
Dear Wayne,
Thank you for the synopsis….even though we (The Moaners) had all seen the show, hence the critiques.
Thank you also for the sweeping generalisations.
I think you will find that the folk who watch programs like this do so because because they prefer factual “edutainment” over soaps, celebrity trash et al.
The premise of Exreme Fishing is excellent, the execution could most certainly be tweaked.
Dear MikeyMike
Thanks for the response to my comment. I suppose not all shows appeal to everyone.
My general point however was that I can’t understand why people would sit and watch a forty minute program if they didn’t enjoy it.
I’ll admit, he, (Robson Green) does come across as a bit of a complainer every now again, but he more than makes up for it in other ways throughout the show.
I’d certainly prefer to watch someone like him present a show like this (someone with a cheerful disposition who’s willing to have a go at anything), than somebody who looks like they’re just doing it for the money.
I don’t watch much tv, but this show is one that I will make a point of tuning into.
I look forward to seeing what else “Mr Green” has in store for us over the coming weeks.
I agree with Richard Munro. My husband tuned in to the show tonight, and I was really shocked at how many time this Robson Green person used the work “fucking” throughout the entire program! So, I decided to do a quick search to see if other’s found the program as offensive as I did. My husband and I are both lovers of anything outdoors, and we both love fishing, but all the swearing ruined the program for us. All that cursing is not necessary. I intend to write a very strong letter to channel 5 concerning the filthy language Robson Green is allowed to use on this program. For anyone else that also finds it offensive, may I suggest you do the same? Everytime, I complain about offensive material used on the telly, the reply is always the same …”We haven’t had any other complaints!” So, if you could help me out here, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.