- Dog the Bounty Hunter
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Dog the Bounty Hunter 
Directed by Marion Akar Starring Duane "Dog" Chapman
Lyssa Chapman
Beth Smith Chapman
Leland Chapman
Duane-Lee ChapmanCountry of origin USA No. of seasons 7 No. of episodes 219 Production Running time 30 minutes (season 1–5 & 7)
60 minutes (season 6)Broadcast Original channel A&E Network Original run August 31, 2004 – present External links Website 
Duane "Dog" Chapman
Dog the Bounty Hunter is a reality television show on A&E which chronicles Duane "Dog" Chapman's adventures as a fugitive recovery agent, or bounty hunter. Dog's 30+ years of experience, technique, instincts and leadership, along with his outspoken anti-drug stance, unconventional appearance, and strong Christian faith, have made him "the world's most famous bounty hunter." With a few exceptions, the show takes place in Hawaii or Dog's home state of Colorado.
Contents
Cast
Dog is joined by his business partner and wife, Beth Smith Chapman; his grown sons Duane Lee Chapman, II and Leland Chapman, and his "brother," Tim "Youngblood" Chapman (despite having the same last name, Dog and Tim are not biologically related). In Season 2, Dog's teenage daughter, "Baby" Lyssa Chapman returns home and becomes a member of the bounty-hunting team. Justin Bihag (son of Beth's friend) also helps out during Season 1 and occasional later episodes.
Production history
The program spun off from Chapman's appearance on the show Take This Job, a program about people with unusual occupations. Both shows are produced for A&E by Hybrid Films, a New York-based production company. Dog the Bounty Hunter captured an audience immediately by drawing viewers into the interaction of Dog and his family/team, mixing street smarts, romance, arguments, teamwork, adrenaline-laced arrests, and a philosophy of hope and second chances. Viewers responded to the family's ability to overcome their own criminal histories to live law-abiding and Christian faith-based lives.[citation needed]
Viewers are taken along as Chapman and his family/team locate and arrest clients who have become fugitives by breaking the terms of their bail agreements. Bounty hunts and arrests segue into the rides to jail, during which Dog and his team show compassion and strongly counsel the fugitives to start over, leaving behind drugs and/or crime to become dependable members of their families and society. Rounding out most episodes are scenes featuring Dog, Beth, and their large family of children, grandchildren and friends.
As the show progressed, viewers were taken further behind the scenes during Baby Lyssa's training as a licensed bail bondsman and bounty hunter, Dog's capture of Andrew Luster and the ensuing arrests of Dog, Tim and Leland in Mexico, the deaths of Beth's father (Garry Smith) and Dog's oldest daughter (Barbara Katie Chapman), Dog and Beth's 2006 wedding, Baby Lyssa's wedding and the birth of her second child, and the shock and fear of the family after Dog, Tim and Leland were arrested by federal marshalls in Hawaii to await possible extradition to Mexico. Dog and Beth freely invited viewers into their lives, sharing personal stories about Dog's 1976 imprisonment, his ex-wives and custody battles, his baby son who died at one month old, Beth's son whom she had given up for adoption, Dog's son Tucker's imprisonment for violent crimes, Beth's arrest as a teenager, Dog's complicated relationship with his own father, and the struggle for the team to be accepted as professional bounty hunters. Conversely, some family situations have been omitted from the program, such as several family divorces, Tim's arrest (and acquittal), and details about some of Dog's children.[citation needed]
Da kine Bail Bonds' main location, run by Dog and Beth, is in Honolulu, Oahu. Leland Chapman has established his own Da kine Bail Bonds office in Kona on the Big Island, where he lives. Episodes are also filmed in the family's hometown of Denver, Colorado, where they make extended visits to bounty hunt for their own company there as well as several other companies run by long-time friends (and sometimes former rivals).[citation needed]
Music
Heavy metal artist Ozzy Osbourne sings the show's theme song, "Dog the Bounty Hunter". The song can be heard on Ozzy's Prince of Darkness box set (CD #3). Many episodes feature at least one song from a band that is either unsigned or with an independent label, usually played during an action scene. These songs are plugged at the end of each episode, following the closing credits. Several episodes in season three and four have music from NYC-based dub reggae group Subatomic Sound System's On All Frequencies album. Featured songs include: "Criminal", "Doin' It", and "Ghetto Champion". Soulja Boy's music video for "Yahhh!" includes an impersonation of "Dog".
International syndication
In Australia, viewers can watch the show on FOX8 or Go!. In Germany, it is broadcast on RTL II. In New Zealand, the show is broadcast on Prime TV. Fans in Norway can see it on MAX, and in Sweden, it is available on Kanal 5. In Canada, the show is available via the United States-based A&E. Beginning in July 2011, A&E is running four repeat episodes per day during the week (7:00-9:00am, with the last hour repeating from 2:00-3:00pm).
In Italy, starting in 2007, a special adaptation of Dog the Bounty Hunter was aired on the GXT satellite channel.
Season 4 hiatus
Production and airing of the show was halted by A&E on November 2, 2007, after a disturbing audio tape was released, featuring Duane Chapman using the word "nigger" repeatedly in a rant directed towards his son Tucker's black girlfriend. Tucker had sold the tape to the National Enquirer, and it quickly was picked up by numerous print and broadcast media outlets. This media exposure led Duane to make a tearful apology on CNN's Larry King Live for his lack of sensitivity on the matter, educate himself and vow to make amends. He soon received support from fans and leaders of the black community. On February 19, 2008, A&E announced that the show would return.[1] Reruns of Dog the Bounty Hunter, along with never-before-seen episodes from season 4, began airing on June 25, 2008, and the show continued, along with special episodes about the arrest and fallout from the Luster situation.
Season 7 shooting
On April 21, 2009, during filming of Season 7, Dog was allegedly shot at with a handgun while his crew, along with bail bondsman Bobby Brown, were attempting to arrest a fugitive named Hoang Nguyen in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The suspect escaped on a motorcycle and was captured by Dog about 6 hours later. This is contrary to evidence shown on the A&E airing of this episode, Easy Rider, on December 16, 2009. According to Dog's website and TMZ, Nguyen was arrested and charged with attempted homicide related to the shooting attempt of Dog and the Chapman family. On May 15, 2009, the El Paso County Assistant District attorney dropped the attempted murder charge against the alleged shooter due to lack of evidence and conflicting statements by Dog, his son Leland, and bail bondsman Bobby Brown. The prosecutors also state that they have not received the requested video footage from the incident which was allegedly filmed by the television crew.[citation needed] In March 2011, Nguyen filed a lawsuit against Chapman, Brown, and Dog's sons Duane Chapman II and Leland Chapman. In the lawsuit, Nguyen claims he lost his job as a result of the incident and had to relocate. He also says he was injured by pepper pellets that were allegedly fired at him. Dog's attorney, James A. Quadra, told Celebrity Crime Reporter the lawsuit has no basis "in law or fact."[2] The case is currently in mediation. If mediation fails to result in a settlement, the suit will move forward to trial on November 28, 2011.
Books
The television series led to a 2007 autobiographical book, You Can Run But You Can't Hide, which chronicles Chapman's years before becoming a bounty hunter and some of his more infamous hunts, including the controversial hunt that took him and his team to Mexico to capture serial rapist Andrew Luster. It also delves into his criminal past as well as his family background, imprisonment in Texas, marriages, and children.[3][4] A second book, Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given, was published in 2009. Its title reflects Dog's overriding philosophy of second chances, which he writes about at length as he asks the public for a second chance of his own. The book largely deals with the fallout from two things: the federal marshals' arrest and the N-word situation. Dog writes of his personal growth, a new humility and a more mature philosophy of family leadership, self-control, and responsibility for one's words and actions.
Family and friends appearances
- Tucker Chapman (Duane's son)
- Wesley Chapman (Duane's son)
- Dominic Davis (Beth's son)
- Cecily Barmore-Chapman (Beth's daughter)
- Bonnie Joanne Chapman (Duane & Beth's daughter)
- Garry Chapman (Duane & Beth's son)
- Dylan Chapman (Duane's grandson, Duane Lee's son)
- Travis Chapman-Mimms (Duane's grandson/ Barbara Katie & Travis Mimms' son)
- Abbie Mae Chapman (Duane's granddaughter/ Lyssa's daughter)
- Madalynn Grace Galanti (Lyssa and Bo's daughter) (birth featured in the episode Bounty Baby).
- Cobie Chapman (Duane's grandson, Leland's son)
- Dakota Chapman (Duane's grandson, Leland's son)
- Leiah Brianna Chapman (Duane's granddaughter, Leland & Lynette's daughter)
- Harrison Chapman (Duane`s grandson)
- Garry Smith (Beth's late father)
- Travis Mimms (Duane & Beth's son-in-law/ Travis Chapman-Mimms' father)
- Tim Chapman (Tim's son)
- Summer Rain Chapman (Tim's daughter)
- Autumn Sky Chapman (Tim's daughter)
- Storm Chapman (Tim's son)
- Teresa Chapman (Duane Lee's ex-wife)
- Jodi Chapman (Duane Lee's ex-stepdaughter)
- Maui Chapman (Leland's ex-wife)
- Brahman "Bo" Galanti (Lyssa's ex-husband)
- Serena Galanti (Bo's daughter)
- Davina Chapman (Tim's ex-wife)
- Moon Bihag (Justin's mother/family friend)
- Bobby Brown (Bondsman)
- Jamie Hackett (Bondsmen)
- Chris Pollack (Bondsmen)
- Fred Pollack (Bondsmen)
- Mary Ellen Pollack (Bondswoman)
- Sherrie Pollack (Bondswoman)
- Erik Schneider (Bounty Hunter for Mary Ellen Pollack)
Appearances on other shows
- Beth and Dog also appeared in the Corner Gas episode "Coming Distractions", in which - during a daydream - they show up to arrest Brent.
- Dog appeared with his wife Beth on the Criss Angel Mindfreak one hour special. Dog tied Criss up to a chair and lowered him into a hot tub. After four minutes, Criss loosened the ties but could not fully free himself.
- Dog has appeared on Detroit's popular radio show, Dave and Chuck "The Freak".[when?]
- Dog appeared as himself in an episode of The George Lopez Show, wherein George goes to his mother's neighborhood to pick up her pet dog and meets "Dog" instead.
- Dog appeared as himself in the season two finale "The Trial" of the NBC show My Name Is Earl, capturing Joy Darville in Mexico.
Parodies
Dog has been parodied in live action productions.
- In Season 3, Episode 13 of Boston Legal, "Dumping Bella", Dog is referred to, perhaps satirically, by Alan as one of the only two people he truly admires, and as such the only candidate besides Shirley herself to be his costume for the party.
- In Season 2, Episode 9 of Psych, "Bounty Hunters!", the parody character's name was Byrd Tatums (played by Kevin Sorbo).
- In Season 5, Episode 2 of Reno 911! the Dog parody, "Tommy Hawk", was portrayed by Diedrich Bader.
- In Season 3, Episode 9 of 30 Rock Jenna says "Now Dog The Bounty Hunter is the second grossest guy I've been with."
Dog has also been parodied in both motion animation and print:
- In the American Dad! episode "Joint Custody", Roger dresses up as Dog, and tries to hunt down Jeff Fischer.
- In the Family Guy episode "Something, Something, Something, Dark Side", Stewie calls a bounty hunter meeting and Dog is briefly seen.
- Dog, his crew, and the TV show were all parodied in an issue of Mad magazine.
- Dog, his crew, and the TV show were all parodied on Cartoon Network's television program, Mad, as "Frog the Bounty Hunter".
- In The Simpsons episode "Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes", a bounty hunter named Wolf is featured.
- In the tenth season South Park episode "Miss Teacher Bangs a Boy", Eric Cartman portrayed Dog, but was a hall monitor rather than a bounty hunter.
DVD releases
DVD name Ep # Release date Additional information The Best of Season 1 7 January 25, 2005 Features Dog's episode of Take This Job, cast biographies, and promos. The Best of Season 2 7 March 29, 2006 Features cast biographies and a pop-up dog hunting quiz. The Best of Season 3 8 February 27, 2007 Features a photo gallery. The Best of Season 4 8 August 26, 2008 The Best of Season 5 8 September 8, 2009 The Wedding Special 1 December 12, 2006 Features 5 featurettes titled: - The Drama of Dog's Wedding Ring,
- Dance Lessons,
- Shopping with Beth,
- The Bow Wow Vow, and
- A Tribute to Dog & Beth.
The Arrest 1 September 25, 2007 - Features additional scenes.
- Also Features The Special Double Episode Year of the Dog.
Crime is on the Run To Seize and Protect Special Edition- Previously Unreleased References
- ^ "Bounty Hunter "Dog" to return to the air". Reuters. February 20, 2008. http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSSP8436520080220.
- ^ "Dog the Bounty Hunter's Attorney on Lawsuit: "The Chapmans Acted Properly"". Celebrity Crime Reporter. March 04, 2011. http://www.celebritycrimereporter.com/2011/03/dog-bounty-hunters-attorney-on-lawsuit.html.
- ^ http://www.dogthebountyhunterbook.com/
- ^ Hank, Melissa (2004-07-10). "Dog: The Bounty Hunter, unleashed". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. http://web.archive.org/web/20071012153929/http://entertainment1.sympatico.msn.ca/TV_Guide/Interviews/Features/Articles/070410_dogthebountyhunter_MH. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
External links
Categories:- A&E shows
- American reality television series
- Television shows set in Hawaii
- Television shows set in Colorado
- 2000s American television series
- 2004 American television series debuts
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