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Mix and match
Friday,30 March,2012 13:27:34
In downtown Portland, Maine, we’re preparing for the bizarre vortex that will become of our Arts District when President Obama and rapper Snoop Dogg hold simultaneous events across the street from each other tomorrow evening.
While odd combinations like this often lead to major headaches with traffic, security and parking, they also give us an opportunity to re-evaluate our surroundings and see them with an outsider’s perspective.
That’s how I felt when I read that Gloucester, Mass., fishermen showed up on a red carpet for the premiere of “Wicked Tuna,” the latest commercial fishing reality series. This one is available on the National Geographic cable channel, as well as online.
Anyone who watches the show or knows anything about commercial fishing will understand the contrast between the red carpet and a red deck. Tuna fishermen see a lot more of the latter, if they're lucky.
But what I love most about this show, aside from the action, is its ability to tell the story of American tuna fishermen. These guys are risking their lives and responsibly fishing a limited resource simultaneously. That’s not a bizarre combination. That's commercial fishing at its finest.
“Wicked Tuna” premieres officially on Sunday at 10 p.m.
For a limited time, you can watch the first episode on the NatGeo site or on the channel's Facebook page.