Is New Discovery Show ‘Moonshiners’ Exaggerated and Dramatized?
- Posted on December 30, 2011 at 9:45am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Virginia alcohol regulators say the Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners” television show is misleading viewers into thinking the state is tolerating illegal booze manufacturing and that it wouldn’t have participated if they knew how the episodes would turn out.
The television series is about people who brew their own moonshine and local authorities’ efforts to track them down. The show includes actual western Virginia residents and state agents.
Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control spokeswoman Kathleen Shaw told The Associated Press in an email Thursday that viewers have asked why the state is allowing a crime to take place. Shaw said the show is a dramatization, and no illegal liquor is actually being produced.
“If illegal activity was actually taking place, the Virginia ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement would have taken action,” Shaw wrote.
Earlier Thursday, the department issued a statement saying it would not have participated in the filming had they known how the show would’ve turned out.
“Virginia ABC agreed to participate in an informative piece that documents the history of moonshine and moonshine investigations in Virginia. Virginia ABC did not participate nor was aware of the false depiction of moonshine manufacturing, distribution and/or transportation in the filming, and would not have participated in the `documentary’ had it known of this portrayal,” the statement said.
Shaw said the Discovery Channel had been asked to add a disclaimer “but the request was overlooked.”
Messages left with a show publicist Thursday were not immediately returned.
Among other things, a Nov. 30 news release announcing the show’s premiere says that “Viewers will witness practices rarely, if ever, seen on television including the sacred rite of passage for a moonshiner – firing up the still for the first time.”
The release does not specify whether parts of the show are dramatized.
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Comments (151)
clayusmcret
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:06amWhy do people keep supporting all of these stupid shows?! No Reality TV – None of the Time!
Report Post »PlowMan
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:32amI agree there are some reality shows that are dumb and really shouldn’t be on. But there are many that are really good. Mythbusters, pawn stars, pickers, auction hunters, auction kings, to name a few. I can’t see these shows being any more dumb than a scripted program. (yes I know part of each of these shows are scripted). I guess the lure is that these are real people doing real things not some actor who can’t get his or her hands dirty.
Report Post »Old Truckers
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:04pmI concur, all those shows are scripted and contrived. How about that “American Choppers” show? Do we really think the family hates each other? Now they cooperate producing one show depicting that they are separate companies Ppfftt….. and where did Paul get his capital to start his own shop????
Phony!
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:07pm@yoursense
Report Post »Your right, their conservatives, they will be able to survive when this socialist house of cards falls down….. Lets see how far that liberal Arts Degree with a minor in drama gets you !!! You’ll be on your knees tradin favors for dog biscuits..
Baddoggy
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:14pmIt isn’t reality…It’s total bullcrap. I know, my brother is one of the producers of some of these shows. They are ALL staged.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:26pmChoice… not Fascism!
Report Post »The Sergeant Major
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:35pmDats wad I say “Thuud em” dats a biggin “Thuud em”
Report Post »MEANS2RESIST
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:42pmI personally like the show. I know its a bit dramatized to add to the suspense of trying to dodge ‘the man’. These folks are self reliant survivors and just generating revenue to be able to feed their families. The state of VA FED are just ticked off that they are missing out on these good ol’ boys enterprise so they can rape them with their taxes. Legal shine brewing is taxed to the hilt by the feds.
Report Post »Old Truckers
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:48pmIf Hollywood would ride along with a real truck driver, and film the day without adding all the drama, It would be real but boring!
Report Post »txjb
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 9:57pmPaul Sr.and Paul Jr. are on the outs . About the money , it comes from sponsors and net works , it’s a drop in the bucket .
Report Post »skindeep
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 8:56pmWhy do people care how one man decides to put food on his table?? From the sounds of these crying Virginia people and from the looks of the towns shown on the tv series they got nothing better to do than worry about why is mah parker down the street not wearing white panties but red ones.. The people of this town and state that cry about something so trivial are the reason our country is going to hell… Those people shouldn‘t be worried that it will hurt Virginia’s image but be grateful that area was chosen for the show not only for the business that it has brought but also for the fact that it put such a small town on the map…. Worry about real issues that actually effect you better yet join PETA they need more people like you to support their drama…. Go attack super mario brothers for using a racoon as part of mario’s costume instead of people trying to make a living…
Report Post »glennisright.com
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:03amEVERY “reality” tv show is exaggerated and dramatized!
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:37amNext thing ,you will be able to watch congress
What C-SPAN Nevermind..
Report Post »kevinbogard
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:00amMy Grandfather and all my family are from Clay County KY
Report Post »These idiots on the TV are not the shiners my Grandfather was……………… Most “reality” shows have some sort of script anyway.
If you didn‘t know that YOU’RE AN IDIOT
rpp
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:55amA “reality” that is not real? Wow!! That is just shocking. Goodness, the next thing you know someonw will come up with the crazy idea that water can get you wet.
Report Post »msconstrue
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:39am@bassist…..oh darlin’, if thats the case then the ‘shine you had wasnt fit to be called ’shine. it should go down smooth and warm you up like an august night in kentucky!!
Report Post »SPOT_OF_TEA
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:37amIf its a reality show then of course its dramatized and exaggerated…..Just another worthless piece of crap like all rest of them.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:08amIt’s disgusting how the “reality” genre has infiltrated channels that had been devoted to actual informative programming. I‘m a big fan of both History Channels and have no clue why the hell I’m supposed to give a hot squat about fat bodies and their quest for the ultimate piece of overvalued junk. Pawn Stars, American Pickers… this crap belongs on the garbage bin of “educational” TV, the humorously named The Learning Channel (TLC). At least this brand of mindless “let‘s follow some good ol’ boys around and see what goes down” crap hasn’t infiltrated The Military Channel… yet. Triggers is one of the coolest new shows to come along in a while. Hope it isn’t screwed up by some marketing wizard.
Report Post »Seems like Discovery Communications has way too many MTV wannabes making decisions.
FREDD The WILSON
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:33pmJust another group of libs trying to portray a mostly conservative southern state as a bunch of backwards hickstyle baffoons. In reality our backwards needy ignorant democrats are mostly in the cities and “Southern Washington DC ”” areas of the state where they can get their free stuff and be coodled and babied by the bureaucracies that run those areas. Peopel in the rural areas and the true countryside are great people who do for their own learn to manage and prosper, without the meddling intentions of the government. Who do they think we are West Virginia :-))
Report Post »1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 2:07pm@THE GOOCH
The History Channel or the Hitler Channel; it is a joke too!
Report Post »4jschaefer
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:32amMaking of liquor or other fermented beverages is only illegal because the government wants money. This is one of our first taxes and was rebelled against (wiskey rebellion). My thinking is that the government that was imagined of by our founders would have had no problem with taxation of liquor. But the government of today is so out of control they would be moonshining just like tohose guys on the show. The only way to get rid of the monster is to starve it. Can any one say Ron Paul?
Report Post »G.W. Dobbs
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:47amI can say RON PAUL even being aware that the CFR has already selected Romney and since the Elite has the money and controls the Media, America will continue its downware spiral to Third World status, faster under Obama but going there regardless under the Republicans, imo.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:02pmI bet RON PAUL drinks a few gallons of shine a day. I mean…just listen to him!
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:17pmTrolltrainer…You mean listen to Ron Paul talk about returning to the Constitution? If he is drinking then you are smoking crack. Maybe you should actually listen to Dr. Paul, you might learn something about how our Country was founded.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:38pmPaul is gonna lose, Paul is gonna lose, neener neener neener…
I actually like much of what Paul says…but then he goes off the deep end on something and shows what a nut he really is. But I have very few problems with RON PAUL.
It is his idiotic, braindead, moronic supporters that are simply ridiculous.
Report Post »King Troy
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:27amtake a look at the pic and you can see what 99% of the people that post on this site look like.
Report Post »G.W. Dobbs
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:42amYeah, I look a little like this Good Ole Boy. Better that than looking like the Elite Crooks in Washington and in our Governments: Federal, State, County, City and 70% of the attornys.
Report Post »Who is the WORST Criminal? I say it is they who openly commit crimes and are so emboldened that doing so does not concern them.
robinakilt
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:42amSo what if they do? What is your point? Are they to white for you?
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:00amProjecting much!
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:14amI suspect you’re a big Marilyn Manson fan…
Report Post »Freedomtomakeupmyownmind
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:51am@King Troy, LOVE IT!!! SO TRUE!!!
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:09pmI encourage you to continue sneering, deriding, belittling and attacking as you are doing. Every post or public statement, such as you and your leftist friends are wont to engage in without hesitation and with the self righteous, impassioned fervor of a Jesuit Inquisitor of the middle ages, are excellent recruitment tools that I use, at every opportunity, to bring people into the pro-liberty camp.
In short, you make my job very, very easy. Thank you.
Report Post »FormerLib
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:39pmYes, liberal crooks who wear suits and work for unions and government and Wall Street institutions are so much more refined and classy. But he’re a question for you, genius:Which criminal is more dangerous, the guy in overalls and a boonie hat making a few hundred gallons of corn liquor every year, or the guys in the suits with MBAs, poli-sci and law degrees steering the country?
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:40pmWe could look like Barry
Report Post »With our smug chin, stuck up in the air.
We could look like Bwawney Fwank
Bent over a kitchen chair, by his boyfriend
We could look like Pelousy
Botoxed stiff face, placing insider trades.
We could look like Helen Thomas
Nah, nothing should look like that skank.
We could look like Whoopy or Joy
A couple of old FartZ
GUNNSUP
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 6:43pmKing, pull up your pants & tighten that belt…and don’t try to tell me that your pants hangin down below your arse is comfortable.
Report Post »Dr. Joel Fleischman
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:54pmGo to an Occutard rally and you will see what 99% of the people who look like King Troy.
Report Post »Dr. Joel Fleischman
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:55pmOh look, freedomtomakeupmyownmind/Encinom/Sensi/Conservakilla dropped in.
Report Post »Jinglebob
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:27amYou mean… this show is a Drama Realism program?
Report Post »brother_ed
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:25amMaybe if CAIR asked the Discovery Channel to put up a disclaimer, they would’ve listened.
Does anyone else catch the different reaction to requests for disclaimers or censorship?
Report Post »robinakilt
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:24amROTFLMAO…..Hey big brother!!!!! IT’S TIME TO MAKE THE MOONSHINE!
Report Post »Conkuur
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:19amI don’t understand what the big deal is about distilling. I mean they tolerate marijuana growing, beer and wine can be made at home. New Zealand has had distilling legal since 1995 for personal use. Alcohol distilling has far more uses then drinking it can be used for fuel,and medical practice,cleaning,disinfecting etc….I think it should be legalized especially in these troubled economic times. If the Economy collapses the first thing I will build is a still legal or not.
Report Post »stone2016
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:28amTaxes and control. The government first wants their cut, since they are working so hard to produce the moonshine. They secondly want to control how it is made with things like an “FDA approved rake” and how many ways it has to be filtered.
Remember, only the government has your BEST interest at heart. You cannot be trusted to make decisions about what you put in your body. The government is just following the constitution here because they are just protecting your freedoms by making sure you don’t put something harmful in your body.
Report Post »ozchambers
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:49amI agree. I don’t manufacture or consume any illegal substances, but my great grandaddy used to run shine down in the mountains of NC along with many other relatives down near Ashville. They made good money, especially during prohibition, and as poor as their neck of the woods was, it was about survival.
The best moonshiner in modern times down in Ashville area was “popcorn” Sutton. That old fella got a federal sentence for his craft and took his own life than rather spend his last years in a prison.
Government needs to take about 10 giant steps back out of the free enterprise market and out of our business in general and let liberty breathe again. The gestapo feds are killing liberty, the way of american life, and the free market system that has fueled the economic prosperity of this once great land.
Report Post »felix
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:14amduh – what was your clue ?
Report Post »RejectFalseIcons
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:09amThis show is discovery’s way of cashing in on the interest in the rural south created by mainstream shows like Justified and Sons of Anarchy. Just like all the house flipping shows when Arrested Development was popular. Of course it’s scripted. Television is the Government Cheese of art.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:25amI won’t waste my time on shows like this. Just like the repo shows that are scripted. If I had some down time, I’d rather watch Paula Dean cook up some good ole southern cuisine. Good food and family.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:08amI have enjoyed the show. Of course it is fake, what kind of idiot would “run shine” in a souped up black hotrod? That car was a cop magnet and you do not outrun cops anymore. You would also have a good idea on the status of the land you set a still up on. These guys “took a ride” out in the country, found what appears to be a well used hunting trail, and without a clue as to who owns the land set up a double pot still? Really?
But…It has been an entertaining part of Wed. night for several weeks now and I am sad to see it end. I really like Tickle…I have known many like him. Brain dead from alcohol but loyal to their death. He is a moron, but a good man also.
Report Post »MEANS2RESIST
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 1:15pmI concur TROLL, my first thought was, whose land are they set up on? Myself & other landowners I am associated with watch our property like hawks. My brother in law caught some meth labbers once on his property & instead of calling in the law they shot that place to pieces…they never came back to try and salvage anything.
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:07am@Patriot Have you ever seen a “reality” show that wasnt scripted and full of crap. Because I havent. Its all crap, which is why I dont bother to watch any of them. Besides I get a huge dose of reality each day. Dont need anymore reality in my life.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:07amI’ve got 5 gallons of mead fermenting right now! HAHAHAHA! Just try to have a gov‘t employee come through my door and tell me I can’t. Just send in the old single and childless cops first. I don’t want to make any orphans or widows.
Report Post »msconstrue
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:04ami dont think making it is illegal, its selling it that will get ya in trouble!
Report Post »bassist237
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:10amYeah, and I don’t know why you would want to make it. It taste about as good as the smell of nail polish remover and rubbing alcohol combined.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:15amI do not know this for a fact but I believe any kind of distillation of spirits without a license is illegal. Fermentation is fine, but you cannot distill it,
In practice though, I do not think the government is going to worry too much over your 1 gal stovetop still…
Report Post »JohnnyinthePedros
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:39amDistilling alcohol is illegal.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:41pmIf distilling alcohol is illegal and punishable, then the feds need to crack down on every college campus and organic chemistry lab in America.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:03amJust about all of my relatives made shine or knew the ones that did. In the mountains of SW Va there wasn’t much to do for fun in a really bleak and hard scrabble existence.
Report Post »Dahart
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:02amI am less worred about Moonshiners and more worried about illegal immigrants
Report Post »...EriK
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:08amI was thinking this, as well. Seems to me that there is a federal agency (ATF) that is supposed to be controlling alcohol. So why are the fed’s even permittting a state enforcement agency? I think they should be taking this to the courts, as well. What a joke this this country has devolved into… Everyday I understand less the world I live in!
Report Post »King4wd
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:25am@Erik The state ABC agencies were around for many years before the ATF ever existed. The ATF, just like the federal Education department is redundant to pre-existing state agencies and is another means of centralizing control and usurping the 10th amendment.
Report Post »CobraBill
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 2:29pmI am worried more about all the bad koolaid going around.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:00amI tell you what, go apraoch some real shiners and lets see if you live to talk about it. These are some very poor peole and this is how many feed their family. I don’t agree with it one bit but maybe if their last name were Sanchez they would have the government climbing walls to help them.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:00amExcept for The Turtle Man, it’s quite possibly the dumbest show I have never seen!
Report Post »Temporal
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 9:58amIs the TV viewer so stupid they need a disclaimer to figure out that a TV show that embeds cameramen with both criminals and cops at the same time is “dramatized?”
That‘s about as dumb as Virginia’s ABC saying after the fact that “they didn’t know” when a whole host of their own employees are aiding in the making of the show.
Nonetheless, it’s a fun show to watch. Government outlaws moonshine as its political leaders continue to drink the stuff like water.
Report Post »texasfireguy
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:20amPeople thought Gilliagns Island was real to. No joke, they were calling the Coast Guard wanting to know why they hadn’t recused those nice people stuck on that island. The world is full of stupid people.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 9:52amIt’s obviously a dramatization. Do you really think the government would let liquor go untaxed?
Report Post »patriot4ever
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 9:51amIt‘s all scripted just like all the ’reality’ shows. My grandfather was a moonshiner and I can guarantee you that this show is a load of CRAP!
Report Post »gonetotheright
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:14amVery seldom do the “Hollywood type” every get it right. It is all about ratings and making money. If you are dumb enough to watch this crap, you may suffer from a severe brain salad disorder!
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:32amLong history of shine makers & ridge runners in my family. I grew up hearing the stories and I have some of the family recipes. I watched the show once to see how truthful it was. Not even close. You’re right…it’s a load of crap.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:35amPlease! Say it ain’t so! You mean that moonshiners aren’t really a religion with their own “sacred rites” of passage?
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 11:51am@Chuck
Report Post »Can‘t speak for everyone but in my family it wasn’t a religion and there weren’t any silly rites of passage
: ) They made it, they drank it, they liked it and yes, they sold it. LOL For anyone who hasn’t had a sip of shine, if you get the good stuff it’s not that bad.