Gold Rush Alaska Discovery Channel, Thursdays, 7.30pm
“CAN’T a guy risk it all in America anymore?”
That poignant quote says it all about the most exciting show on pay TV.
Get set for a slice of man TV heaven.
To watch the promos for this reality TV show is to have the male senses excited beyond sensible levels.
Debuting last Thursday night, the glib 30-second promos for this one said it all.
What happens, simply, is this.
A father and son aviation company has hit hard times in the American recession, but fear not – there’s gold in them thar hills.
In Alaska, to be precise.
A lease is secured, plant is purchased, scrounged or flat-out made, and other unemployed friends are pressed into service.
A vast caravan of camper vans and low loaders hauling mining gear is assembled, to head for the barge that will take them to the frozen north.
It’s a redneck wonderland.
Despite being unemployed and broke, these men are still Americans. That means they have plenty of money for guns – and go to the gun store to stock up before they leave.
One purchases a .50 calibre hand cannon – just the thing for the bears set to appear in future episodes.
As our caravan of courage departs, their preacher – along to bless them – decides to come along for the ride.
With their God and their guns, what could possibly go wrong?
Plenty, of course.
Tyres are blown, tempers are frayed, a creaky bridge crossed, and they’re not even in Alaska yet.
A giant excavator fords a fast-flowing river. The only thing flowing faster than the water is the testosterone.
To watch this show is to be deeply ashamed of being a pasty-faced pen-pusher. Keyboard tappers are unworthy in this hyper-masculine world.As the project’s father points out:
“Any man in America with anything inside him would wanna be here with us.”And Australia, old man. And Australia.
– Jason Beck
