Steven Spielberg is a secret reality TV fan and calls this amazing Deadliest Catch his “Guilty Pleasure”
Some may think that our favorite actors and filmmakers do nothing but work around the clock. But, they’re just like us! They have downtime and watch movies and TV shows too! But when you learn just what they are fond of, that’s when things might become a massive shock. Just take legendary visionary Steven Spielberg. Steven Spielberg is one of the most prolific filmmakers ever. His body of work has not only inspired generations of films, but his extraordinary resume has had a lasting legacy for decades. But like most of us, Steven Spielberg has his guilty pleasures that help him wind down.
As someone who has brought the world high-octane action films like Jurassic Park and Jaws, it should come as no surprise that the blockbuster director loves high-octane television. But not necessarily scripted TV! Oh no, Steven Spielberg loves reality television. To the point of having Deadliest Catch as his guilty pleasure. It’s time to figure out just why!
Steven Spielberg Never Wants to Experience This ‘Deadliest Catch’ Moment
Back in 2009, ahead of being honored by Boston University, my alma mater, BU Today spoke with Spielberg about filmmaking, television, and movies. When he revealed Deadliest Catch as a television fav, some were shocked. At that time, Deadliest Catch had only been around for less than half a decade, and yet, it was still one of Spielberg’s favorite shows on TV. Though he didn’t delve into why he loved the series, he did share what he had learned from it. “The only thought process I have when I’m watching Deadliest Catch is I hope I’m never caught at sea in a storm,” he shared. It might seem like a wild statement coming from the man who has brought the world some of cinemas pulse-racing moments. But hey, it’s all make-believe, right?
Though there’s little more known about what else earns the show praise from Spielberg, as he seemingly hasn’t spoken on it much since. But maybe there could be an inspirational storm brewing in his genius mind should he even transport Deadliest Catch to the big screen. There are many elements of Deadliest Catch that might make a perfect Spielberg film. Having filmed a massive hit on the ocean, he knows the dangers that lurk in the great unknown. Jaws was about hunting a great white shark that is terrorizing beach-goers. It’s a true man versus nature story. Just like Deadliest Catch. The crabs the captains and their crews hunt may not seek to destroy their fishing vessels, but their mission is still the same: no sleep until victory. Additionally, in the mindset of man versus nature, it’s those storms that Spielberg is fearful of that terrorize the crews. Sometimes to the point of defeat.
Spielberg knows the objectives and risks that individuals like the crabbers put themselves in on a daily basis. All in order to survive. In a Spielberg universe, the feature film version of the Discovery Channel hit might put a further spotlight onto the world of the show that has been on the air since 2005. Steven Spielberg is an expert at creating riveting stories and captivating characters, so his take on the dangers in the Bering Sea could catch him another Oscar!
Why ‘Deadliest Catch’ Is So Beloved
Steven Spielberg is not alone in his adoration for Deadliest Catch. This is partially why the series has been a Discovery Channel staple for two decades. It’s a show that takes its die-hard fans on an adventure they might never go on. Just like a Spielberg film, Deadliest Catch is a celebration of a world unknown through the eyes of real individuals. There’s the heart. There’s terror. There are authentic characters. There are trials and tribulations. There is an innate authenticity that pours through the screen, watching the captains push themselves to the brink, doing what they love. It’s a larger-than-life world with dangerous twists and turns around every corner.
From a character perspective, the show has given some extraordinary arcs to some of its protagonists. Take Captain Sig Hansen, for instance. As the series’ entry point, Captain Sig has gone through it all. He’s been a hero and mentor. He’s witnessed life and experienced loss. He’s shown the importance of family and legacy. He’s almost lost it all when he had a heart attack himself. Imagine Captain Sig in a Spielberg universe. It almost writes itself. Maybe in some world Steven Spielberg sees a little bit of himself in the visionary that is Captain Sig Hansen.
