Tonight’s Deadliest Catch (Discovery, 9 p.m. ET) continues to follow Capt. Phil Harris’ final days. The first preview clip below shows a neurologist updating his sons, Josh and Jake, and Johnathan Hillstrand on his condition after a 12-hour surgery to relieve pressure on his swelling brain. As I said in my recap for last week’s episode, as a viewer, it gives me some comfort knowing that John was there for the boys. And for Phil. After Harris’ passing, Catch exec producer Thom Beers shared a story with us about the friends. He’d loaned Phil and John his tricked-out 1996 Chevy Impala Super Sport while they were visiting Los Angeles. “About four days later, I get a call from Johnathan. Again, I’m in Los Angeles. He says, ‘Can you do us a favor? We got to leave town in a hurry. We left the car. Can you get somebody to pick it up?’ I go, ‘Yeah. Okay. No problem. Where is it?’ He goes, ‘Uh, Las Vegas.’ I’m like, ‘What? What do you mean Las Vegas?’ ‘Yeah, we had to leave town in a hurry.’ I didn’t even ask,” Beers said. “That’s the kind of guys these guys are. I love these guys. They’re just rough and tumble. Not great table manners, but I’ll tell you what, they’ll tell you a story, they’ll live hard and they’ll play hard and they’ll take the risks, and God, you gotta look up to that. So many people spend their lives in complacency. These guys, man, there’s nothing complacent about them. And Phil certainly shows us that.” John, meanwhile, is showing us their heart.
The second preview clip follows the deckhands on the Hillstrands’ Time Bandit as they pull pots when it’s -30°. You wouldn’t think this would be the comic relief, but it is when guys say stuff like, “I wouldn’t pee outside, that’s how cold it is.”
If I ever met John Hillstrand, I would give him SUCH a big hug for all of the support I see him giving the Harris family. When I saw the episode last week, I told my husband that I was SO glad that he was there to pick up Josh and prepare him for what he was walking into…
These guys may have crusty outer shells (just like the crabs), but they have such big hearts, too. I’ve seen it before with how Sig takes care of Jake with all that he’s been through, but right now you’re seeing it from all angles.
Last week’s episode was the hardest for me so far because I just couldn’t handle all of the guys across the fleet showing their emotions the way they did…Especially when Sig chucked his cigarettes across the wheelhouse and turned the lights out…You just knew that he was wanting some time to cry and not get it on camera…
And I am proud that Discovery is handling all of this in such a respectful way…Heck, they wanted to stop taping but kept going because Phil told them too…Producers wanting to STOP the cameras is a true rarity in today’s world!
I’d hug all of them. And then make them tell me the story (the extended version) of why they needed to “get out of town.” Good to see the trust we have in Discovery to handle this with dignity and class was not misplaced!
I agree TQB – I really did want to hug them all last week…Especially poor Jake Anderson (he’s really been dealt a rough hand in life the past couple of years…) and Keith on the Wizard…
I told my husband that, to me, these guys usually come off as the “tough guys” who only admit to ever crying at Old Yeller…So, to see them crying is that much harder to watch (for me anyway)…
god bless jonathan hillstrand,hes a real man.
I love all the guys on this show. They have heart and courage and really live life to its fullest and I commend them for it.
It’s odd how I found myself wishing for another outcome for Captain Phil even though I know it’s impending doom. Also, a hug for Jonathan as well, nice he was there.
Bless all of those involved with this show – you have truly done a good job in telling a real story of life and death .. to the Harris boys..god bless you in this time of sorrow
It’s hard watching because you get hope, but then you obviously realize that this hope is going to be dashed. You know that Phil passes. One thing it does show you is the power of friendship and brotherhood, as displayed by Johnathan when he stayed with the boys at the hospital. It was also displayed by the brothers themselves being there together for their dad. This is raw, true life, real stuff here and is different than other “reality” shows. Other shows such as Survivor, Real World and such you get characters…people playing to the cameras. These guys don’t play to the camera, they just want to tell their story and show what they do, what they go through. This is TRUE reality and the best damn reality show out there.
If you’re a fan of “Deadliest Catch” I highly recommend picking up the books written by Sig Hansen, and Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand. Sig’s book (North by Northwestern) had me crying on one page and LOL’ing on the next. Johnathan and Andy’s (Time Bandit…) made me laugh so hard I cried.
God Bless all of you for showing us the life and death of your job. Phil Harris was and is a real man that really made me watch this show he made everything seem so real to me when he was talking. I also tip my hat off to Jonathon Hillstrand your a true friend and you have showed us what real brotherhood is all about and Sig as well. Harris boys hang in there guys your father is in a very special place and he is in good hands and I am very sorry for your loss. Everyone in Montana has you all in there prayers and hope that you have comfort in the days and years to come. God Bless you all.
thank you discovery channel for giving us a realty show like deadliest catch. . . i love these guys, last week i was crying right along with them. this is true tv at its best!
Phil Harris and the Cornelia Marie have always been my favorite family to watch. From the very beginning when I started watching “Deadliest Catch” on Discovery Channel, I fell in love with the Cornelia Marie and its family. There is and was something about Phil Harris that endured him to your heart. He never was embarrassed about telling his sons that he loved them. He was always hugging them and keeeping them as straigt as possible. I am so devasted over this great man’s death. I feel I have lost a good friend. Guys you had a great Dad and some great memories in the coming difficult days to hang on to.
God Bless You Phil!
May all the Captains and all the crew have calm seas
Janee, I am with you also. I feel like I have lost a good friend. I cry everytime I think about poor Phil and his boys. My heart goes out to the Harris family that they can keep the faith and know that Phil is in a better place. To all the Captains on Deadliest Catch….great job to the unsung heros!!!!
God Bless You Phil,Josh,Jake, Skippers and fleet. Your a part of everyones family. We’ve all seen the reality,and Discovery has done an excellent way of making each and everyone of you a wonderful part of our lives. I Love you all and will forever keep the fond memories in my Heart. God Bless each and everyone and always remember to keep sense of humor, its what Phil would want.
I want to say that i am very sorry for your loss. Phil was and is a very good man. You all showed just how tight the brotherhood is,it reminds me of the brotherhood that us Firefighters and EMT’s share. we watch each others back and help each other whenever needed! Take Care and know that Phil is in a wonderful place where he will watch over all of you!
i would like to say i could feel the hurt thoughs young man felt losing there father, i am sorry for ur losedand my god bless you and ur family.