With nearly 12 million viewers, last week’s Season 4 premiere of A&E’s Duck Dynasty was the most-watched nonfiction cable telecast in history. One of these viewers was me. Now, I know that one doesn’t see a show about a family of bayou-living hunters and think “This is definitely something that Shulman watches.” Oh, but it is.

1.  Even the so-called scheming and one-upping is good-natured and utterly lacking in malice. For instance, this ‘confession’ from Miss Kay (in reference to Phil’s forgetfulness with dates): “On the bright side, I can just tell him it’s our anniversary, every few month. I actually did it, last year; with my birthday. He never knew the difference… Two presents!

2.  Uncle Si.

3.  Phil and Miss Kay are the most wonderfully happy couple on TV. Teenagers should be taking lessons, in being randy, from them!

4.  At its heart, and behind the beards, it’s an inherently sweet show about a close-knit and loving family that lives and works together; and represents the American Dream.

5.  There’s no bitchiness (except for the occasional bout of sibling rivalry between brothers Jase, Willie, and Jep), no backstabbing, and the whole premise revolves around the message that at the end of the day, you can always count on family.

6.  Every episode ends with the family, at Sunday Dinner, and Phil saying grace. And while I’m no great fan of organized religion, per se; this is actually presented in an endearing, non-preachy kind of way. Also, Willie’s voiceover message, heard over the end credits, is always clever.

7.  The tagline for this season is “…release the quackin’” – enough said.

As Julia Sugarbaker, said, on TV’s Designing Women, “This is the South and we’re proud of our crazy people. We don’t hide them up in the attic; we bring them right down to the living room to show them off.” True dat!

Duck Dynasty on A&E
Wednesdays 10/9c
Click HERE for info

Get into it!