My mom watched soap operas. I always wondered what she did during the forced “rest time” my brothers and I endured every summer afternoon. One day, my curiosity overrode my fear of punishment. I tiptoed to the living room and discovered my mom, ironing clothes and crying over As the World Turns.
I thought soap operas were strictly an American thing, but in my travels, I realized soaps are popular all over the world.
While living in Russia, my children came in from playing with their Russian friends, and asked, “What is Santa Barbara?” I started to explain that it was a city in California when I realized their friends were talking about the American soap opera, Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara dubbed in Russian. What a hoot.
We discovered the popularity of Santa Barbara when we named our dog, Katya. We gave her a Russian name, thinking it would help her fit in with the neighborhood dogs. To our amusement, we realized most of the Russian dogs were named after characters on Santa Barbara: Eden, Nikki, Cruz. There was even a dog named Bill Clinton, who of course didn’t star on Santa Barbara, but whose life resembled a soap opera.
One day, I took a cab to the airport and struck up a conversation with the Russian cab driver. “Have you ever been to America?”
“No, but I hope to visit there someday,” as he deftly swerved to avoid a collision with a bus.
“Where would you like to visit in America?”
“Oh, I would go to Santa Barbara. I already know everyone in Santa Barbara.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that his soap opera acquaintances didn’t live in Santa Barbara.
Two years ago, I returned from overseas to my home state of Alaska. My popularity suddenly soared among my friends in the lower 48 (that includes all y’all south of Canada.) Why? It seems everyone who has cable TV watches Alaskan reality shows. I had no idea how many reality shows feature Alaska. It’s mind-boggling.
When I’m traveling, I hesitate telling people I’m from Alaska. Because the conversation immediately turns into a recap of Alaskan Bush People, Deadliest Catch, Gold Rush, and Alaska: The Last Frontier. People assume I’m acquainted with every character on these shows. Unfortunately, I don’t know them any better than I knew the characters on Santa Barbara.
But, I do know Alaska. Yes, it is an incredible place. Even in the city of Anchorage, I see moose on a regular basis. Once in a while a bear. I’ve seen a river full of spawning salmon. And the mountains. Oh, those mountains! I lift my eyes to the mountains and see the glory of the Creator.
My backyard moose
Even though it may cause my popularity to plummet, I have to write this next statement.
Not all Alaskan reality shows are real!
Sorry, but you need to know the truth. I can’t let you continue to be ignorant uninformed.
Now, I confess there is a little reality in some of the shows. But the producers tend to film things to look a bit more dramatic than the situation warrants.
Let’s take the show Alaska: The Last Frontier. The Kilcher clan is more believable than many of the shows. Their family began homesteading back in the 40’s and lived without water and electricity. They have a long history of living off the land. But things have changed since the early days. If the camera swung around to a new angle, you could almost see the town of Homer just 12 miles up the road. If the family doesn’t kill that moose and get it in the freezer for the winter, they won’t starve. They can probably have a pizza delivered right to their door. And there are plenty of groceries at the local Safeway.
Now, I could share a lot more about other Alaskan reality shows. But, I don’t want to destroy all your illusions in one day.
The truth is Alaska is an amazing place. Even people in the city live a semi-subsistence lifestyle and take time to stock their freezers with moose, salmon, and halibut. Drive out of town for 15 minutes, and you are in the wilderness. But like our southern neighbors, we also have decent internet connections and cell phones. And cable TV.
Of course, for Alaskans, some of us have a fascination for reality shows like Swamp People, Hillbilly Handfishin’, and Duck Dynasty. These reality shows help us better understand our southern neighbors. When we come to visit you, we need to understand your lifestyle. Plus, we enjoy shows about warmer climates during the long dark Alaskan winter. Especially if they make us laugh.
What’s your favorite Alaskan reality show?
I had to laugh about your mother watching soaps. They were such a big part of my teen years. My mom and my sisters all cried several times. I was still crying when I visited the orthodontist and admitted a “friend” died. Even my dad (your great Uncle Laurence) joined my mom in watching ATWT at end of his life. But the end for me came when was son was 3 years old and he was telling my husband what we had watched that day. The show had become much more adult for my young son to witness. No more for me!
I remember seeing a little of ATWT as a teenager, and was shocked as an adult when I watched it once that the same characters were still on the show. They must have started acting when they were children!