It’s the episode we’ve all been dreading but won’t be able to turn away from: Tonight, Capt. Phil Harris passes away on Deadliest Catch. Son Josh Harris and friend Johnathan Hillstrand stopped by The Tonight Show Monday and shared a few memories of the beloved skipper. Josh remembered the day his father, who was always in a hurry, rushed home because he had so many things to do. “Meerkat Manor comes on, on Discovery… Life stops,” he said. “And then follows Escape to Chimp Eden. And he’s like, the first thing, ‘Look at the nuts on that monkey.’ And he’s callin’ his buddies up. ‘You gotta turn this on right now. Check out this monkey called Cozi.’ My dad was the weirdest guy you’d ever meet. He was an awesome guy.”
After Josh and Johnathan vowed to Leno that they would both quit smoking — Phil had gone from 9.5 packs of cigarettes a day to about one — Jay showed a clip from tonight’s two-hour episode. It shows Josh at his father’s bedside, telling him that just like Phil used to come and grab his hand when he was a child whenever something went wrong, that’s what he’ll do for him now. Phil then apologizes for not being a better father when Josh was growing up. And Josh tells him he was the best dad he could have been, he taught him everything he needs to know to be a man. Josh says he won’t let him out of his sight, and they exchange “I love you”s as Josh wipes a tear from Phil’s eye. I’m so glad they had that conversation. Watch the clip below.
Also after the jump, two more preview clips from Discovery. One shows the aftermath of Josh’s hotel room confrontation with his younger brother, Jake, who was dealing with an addiction and couldn’t muster the same strength for their father. (The guys told Leno Jake’s completed rehab and is doing much better.) The second clip shows the rest of the fleet hitting massive waves. (The thought crossed my mind that the storm was the Bering Sea, angry that it was losing Phil.)
UPDATE: Josh Harris spoke with EW’s Lynette Rice today. Read the interview.
I am already stocked up for tonight’s episode…Empty house = check, Box of Kleenex = check, ice packs for my eyes afterwards = check!
Good call on the ice packs.
I hear ya, I am also stocked as well. I am going to use ice packs to thanks for the tip.
Here are a couple more
Phone off=check
Not on door saying “Knock on pain of death” =Check!
and yes, thanks for the ice pack tip
I DVRed Leno last night — haven’t watched it yet. I don’t know if I have the emotional strength to watch tonight. Discovery is handling this entire life moment in a very compassionate, honest fashion. My opinion of Johnathan has done a 180 after seeing the support he’s provided. I love these guys, and hope that the Harris boys know how many folks are thinking about them.
I’m a sucker — I just watched the clip of Leno and am sobbing. As someone who has lost a father after an extended illness and hospital stay, this brings back so many memories. I’m glad that Josh and Jake got those last few weeks with him to say all of the “I love yous” that they can.
I am right there with you Sadie… it has just been 5 years since I lost my father to a stroke, and my family and I sat there at his bedside for 5 weeks before he passed. I have to walk out of the room and just sobb… and have to come back to finish the show or wait until another day to finish the show… My heart breaks for these boys because of knowing the pain they went through and are still going through
I watch Countdown on MSNBC via the web. Every commerical inbetween the clips has been for tonight’s ep. I’m at work and getting choked up every six minutes. That’s just plain cruel! I’m just thankful that so many people on this site feel the same as I do. It just goes to show what kind of man Phil was. RIP Capt, we’ll miss you!
9.5 packs a day????????????????
That number is mind-blowing. I think of pack-a-day smokers as being extreme. 9.5 is just insane. There doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to smoke that much.
Crab farts forever.
RIP Capt. Phil
i am quitting smoking, i’ve set a quit date. partly because it’s expensive, partly because i’ve wanted to for a while. and of course, it’s capt phila nd josh that have given me even more inspiration
Good for you!!! best of luck! Excellent way to honor Phil’s memory.
Yes, good for you!! I’m with TQB – this is a great idea and I wish you the best of luck. I bet the Deadliest Catch folks would be thrilled to know that they’ve inspired people like this.
I’m doing the same thing Kelly. I set my quit date as the day Phil passes away on TV. The very BEST of luck to you!
After reading your posts, I too have set a quit date. “deeeeeeep breath” I hope I can do it, for Phil and the boys
Good luck quitting. It’s not easy, but I PROMISE you, using the patches helps A LOT (buy the store brand versions for half price). You should also get a lot of chewing gum (not nicotine gum) and/or toothpicks to chew on. I tried quitting cold turkey and tapering countless times over the years and it was only when I figured out I had to break two addictions (the nicotine AND oral fixation) that I succeeded.
It’s interesting…after a couple months, cigarettes became repulsive to me.
I shouldn’t have watched. Now I’m all choked up with dread/anticipation for tonights episode.
Tonight’s episode is going to be heartbreaking to watch…
Just reading the summary almost made me cry at work… if I watch this tonight, I’ll be a total mess.
Heck, I teared up just reading this story! Tonight’s episode will probably be the most heartbreaking thing I ever watch on TV. But I feel I owe it to Phil to watch, no matter how tough. I hope other fans feel the same.
I have been agonizing over this day.. I alsofeel I have to watch to have the closure… miss you
It’s going to be a rough 4 hours tonight because of course I’m going to torture myself all over again by watching the past 2 episodes first.
It is heartbreaking. Who knew a show about crab fishing would grab me as it has for the past two years. The best drama out there right now, but unfortunately it’s real drama, too real. Captain Phil and the Cornelia Marie quickly became my favories of the show. It’s going to be a rough one tonight.
I couldn’t agree more. In fact, I’m sratching my head that DC didn’t get an emmy nod for best reality program (non competition). Seems strange since it’s the best one out there.
They did get nominated for best non-fiction show or something like that.
I have to say, all the media attention focused on this show lately due to Capt Harris’ passing has gotten my attention. I knew it was supposed to be a good show, but with limited time to watch TV, I tend not to watch too many different shows and crab fishing didn’t seem like something I’d want to watch. It seems this was a false conclusion, given the action scenes on the ships and the bared souls that I’ve seen in clips lately (that girl counseling her dad about smoking – amazing!). AND – I can’t tell you how excited I am to know that Phil watched Escape to Chimp Eden!!!! That was one of my favorite shows, and I’m still sad it didn’t get renewed. I LOVE that they name-checked Cozi the chimp. If you didn’t know about it, it was this great show that took place in South Africa and the guy who ran a sanctuary for rescued chimps would try to help them psychologically heal as well as go out around Africa and rescue new ones from abusive situations, which often involved some serious drama. Discovery/Animal Planet are fantastic.
I am also surprized to know that Cpt, Phil watched Meer Cat and Chimp Eden. That just shows that he had a big heart. Thanks for telling me that Chimp Eden is going off the air. I am sad to hear that. Cozie, the chimp, is funny and I like watching him. I will really miss Capt. Phil. He was my favorite on the show. My husband gets teary eyed every time he sees the commrecial for tonights episode. The Harris boys will go on and have a good life b ecause their dad will be in there beside them in spirit. I will always see Capt. Phil when I see the Cornilia Marie. He is now in God’s hands.
I cried when the news broke he died. Now, I’ll be crying all over again.
Love Love Love, Johnathan Hillstrand
I have always loved Phil and Jonathan has not always been my favorite but I have gained so much respect for him. He has shown a side of him that you just don’t see on the boat. Time Bandit always seemed like the boat that joked around. You get to see the real emotion and how this has affected the fleet and the whole world. Phil will be missed. God Bless these boys and the whole Deadliest Catch family.
Reading the article and the exchange between Josh & Phil began to cry. I can just imagine what will happen tonight. I am also working on quitting smoking as well. Last week I was out with friends and in honor of Phil, I did a duck fart. Discover has done a wonderful job and I am so glad Jonathan has been there for the boys. Will be missing you for a while Capt. Phil, RIP.