Ladies and gentlemen! Your attention please! This is your first look at what, I believe, is the most anticipated television show in the history of the universe. By what can only be attributed to a stroke of divine intervention, The History Channel granted us at Movieguys the opportunity to preview the series premier of The Legend of Shelby the Swamp Man.
According to History:
For the past four seasons, viewers of HISTORY’s hit series AX MEN followed the exploits of Shelby “Swamp Man” Stanga, the larger-than-life character who lives and logs in southern Louisiana. Born on the bayou, Shelby answers to no one and plays by his own rules. Most people think of the swamps as a place ridden with critters, mud and danger. For Shelby, it’s home.
In the wake of Hurricane Isaac, the “Swamp Man” has a problem… his house on the water is wrecked in the storm. Shelby is left with nothing but his best canine buddy, Willie. Over the course of eight / 30 minutes episodes, viewers will follow Shelby as he goes in search of a new houseboat, all while doing odd jobs to make money for his new home purchase.
Finding a new houseboat presents a huge challenge: Shelby must venture into the real world. He may not be afraid to look a 10-foot gator in the mouth, but he has seldom ridden in a car and never used an escalator.
His adventures take viewers deep into bayou culture and the colorful characters in his life. Whether he’s hog hunting, encountering venomous swamp creatures, working with a voodoo priestess or ridding swamp rats from a fancy house, the “Swamp Man” takes on each project with enthusiasm— on his own terms.
If you read my first article about the show, you know how excited I am. If you didn’t read it, I’ll sum it up for you in one word: I’MFREAKIN’EXCITEDHOLYCOWICAN’TWAIT! Ahem, excuse me. Shelby did not disappoint! As the episode opens, we dive right into the problem at hand. Hurricane Isaac has swept through the Louisiana bayou, leaving Shelby’s houseboat dead in the water. With the help of a realtor, this episode follows Shelby on his hunt for a new home. The realtor gets the nickle tour of his partially sunken houseboat (in the typical Swamp Man fashion) to get an idea of what the Swamp Man is looking for in a new abode. Then, the search begins, and hilarity ensues.
When they say Shelby seldom rides in a car and has never been on an escalator, that’s no exaggeration. And of course Willie the dog is along for the ride. By the end of his search, Shelby has seen several prospective homes, made a couple new friends, confronted…….an old nemesis of sorts, and somehow still manages to surprise me with what he finally settles on.
I think I read it on a shirt somewhere: “I’m a low-tech man in a high-tech world.” This theme is evident throughout the season premier. After watching The Legend of Shelby, some might be surprised at just how much of a redneck/hillbilly/country boy Shelby really is. (I apologize if any of those terms are considered derogatory in the bayou. Don’t think I would want to get on the Swamp Man’s bad side.) It’s incredibly difficult for me to write about the show without spilling the beans on any of the good stuff. Heck, it’s all good stuff. I’ll just leave you with this. You’re gonna love The Legend of Shelby the Swamp Man. Trust me. It’s a show everyone will love. You don’t have to be a die-hard Ax Men fan. Get the family together on Tuesday, August 6th at 10:00pm, turn on the History channel, and chuck the remote out the window. Here we go junior!