If reality TV viewers were to name at least one show that brought entertainment as well as amusement, many would nameSwamp People. Reality TV bossMathew Ostrom, who was also behind HBO’sThe Chris Rock Showand ABC’sWife Swapas a developer and producer, is one of the main reasons why fans are blessed to watchSwamp Peopletoday. However,Swamp Peoplewas not just an instant thing, or easy.
Ostrom launchedSwamp People, which airs on the History Channel, while he was the VP of the then-production company Original Media.TV Insiderhad a conversation with Ostrom about the creation ofSwamp Peopleand how it came to be. When they asked him how it all started with the long-running series, Ostrom said thatit all started with a call from a television network.
“That started with a call from a television network saying, ‘Hey, there are the swamps in Louisiana. There seems like there might be something interesting going on in Louisiana,’” he said. “A week later the History Channel called back and said, “What if we give you money to goexplore the swamp?’” They gave me money to go into the swamp and figure out what the show is here. Is there a show in this region of the country? I found a tour guide and a shooter producer.”
Why Fans Almost Didn’t Get Swamp People
“We looked at every job people did in the Atchafalaya Basin,” he continued. “We were with flat bottom boar builders, people who were protecting the logging industry. We were in a Cessna airplane. We did this giant exploration. The whole time you’re looking for something that is really cool, a repeatable action that people will want to come back and watch. I’ve also thought, ‘What is something that can kill you?’
Elsewhere in the interview, Ostrom also stated thatalligator hunting was illegalaround the time he did his research to start producingSwamp People, though, in the swamp,alligator hunting had just reopened. He also detailed how he found his original cast member,Junior Edwards, thanks to his tour guide. “He showed me this video of one of those who goes in and hunts the alligators,” he said. “He is in a boat, shooting an alligator and putting it into the boat. It would come alive in the boat and have to shoot it again.I thought this was insane. As I was sitting there, the hairs on my arms stood up.It was the craziest thing I’d seen in my life. I found it super interesting. I met the guy and his son who was really good.”
DespiteSwamp People’s success, the network showed disdain at the thought of the show. According to Ostrom, the network was “a little squeamish” about alligator hunting, as they felt that the show whereone aspect is alligator hunting and the other was the people. “That’s around the time we foundTroy Landry, who was amazing. A huge personality,” Ostrom said. “Then we found a few other characters. Those were the days too where, if you found an interesting world or subculture, you could plant a flag for it and put forth a casting presentation on the world. The network would say, ‘Great, we’ll do eight episodes on that.’”Swamp Peopleairs on the History Channel.
Swamp People
Source:TV Insider
