Twenty years ago this week, I was in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, with a small TV crew, trying to figure out if the dangerous business of crab fishing was a show that people might actually watch. Today, two decades later, it might sound like a forgone conclusion, but back then, none of us close to the action had any idea if the show would be a hit. Until we saw the footage from an aerial photographer named Dave Arnold.
If you’ve seen the show, you’ve seen the unforgettable images of crab boats struggling to stay afloat in 30-foot seas. You’ve seen the bows plunging beneath the surface and you’ve held your breath, hoping and praying the vessel would come out safely on the other side of the wave. That footage was captured from the back of a helicopter by Dave Arnold, and when I first saw it, it was on a computer screen in the production office in Dutch Harbor, long before the first episode premiered. That’s when I knew that Deadliest Catch would be on the air for a long time. And now, as we go into production for season 21, I thought it might be fun to check in with my old friend, who is still making his living from the back of a helicopter, showing the world his unique perspective.
What a fun and long overdue chat. The whole conversation is here. A short clip is below. Enjoy.
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