This week, a reader pointed me back to "Alaska: The Last Frontier." For those of you who haven't been following the Alaska reality TV beat closely, let me recap for you.
Currently in its fifth season, the show follows the trials and tribulations of the Kilcher family, who live on a homestead just outside of Homer. The Kilchers are related to Jewel, who's from Alaska and was a famous singer back in the late '90s and early aughts. Each episode, the show amps up some drama about the Kilchers' struggle to maintain their homesteading lifestyle against the elements of Kachemak Bay.
The plot recently revolved around Atz Lee, who was injured after falling 40 feet down a cliff. In last Sunday's episode, we meet Atz Lee in the intensive care unit at the Central Peninsula Hospital with his wife.
But as this skeptical former EMT reader pointed out, there would appear to be several potential liability issues with Discovery being allowed into the hospital for the episode. A call to the hospital's public relations department confirmed the whole thing was indeed filmed at the hospital while Atz Lee was a patient. As a lowly freelance writer, who am I to judge what's real and fake about medical portrayals on television? What I can judge is the entire Kilcher family's aptitude for drama.
Anyway, the rest of the episode revolved around mundane tasks, like moving a ramp from the beach up a hill with an excavator. And transporting horses from Halibut Cove back to Homer. Seriously, it's shocking how many people will watch people do boring things if it happens in Alaska. (See also: "Railroad Alaska.") I will give it to the Kilchers, though: They are pros at hypin' the drama.
This episode bled into the "Alaska: The Last Frontier Christmas Special," during which each member of the Kilcher clan made their family members gifts by hand.
The most interesting thing about this Christmas special was a commercial for a new show called "Married by Mom & Dad" in which parents choose a spouse for their unlovable children. Ummm yes, this is what I'm talking about. High-five, TLC.
Yada yada yada, the Kilchers have a magical Christmas. Some homemade gift highlights: jewelry featuring gold that was panned in their local gold panning spot (because in Alaska, we all have a local gold panning spot); a chain saw that was fixed after being stored for years in an old freezer; and a washboard bass.
Since it's the holidays and you are bound to get sick of your family, and you can only watch "Elf" and "Christmas Vacation" so many times, here are some recent recommendations of non-Alaska reality TV: "UnREAL," "You're the Worst" and "Master of None" are all really fun. Also, back in reality TV land, there's a new season of "The Challenge" airing now, an amazing Bravo show call "Apres Ski" and the "Bachelor" starts back up Monday, Jan. 4. You're welcome, happy holidays.
Emily Fehrenbacher lives in Anchorage, where she reviews Alaska reality TV. You can reach her at realitycheck@alaskadispatch.com or on Twitter @ETFBacher.