BHB On Discovery

I didn't see a thread about this when I searched. So if there is one let know. If not, what do you guys think?

In case you didn't know, he's getting a show on Discovery. Some folks are badmouthing him hard on FB as a "sellout" but I know Brian is truly passionate and would be a good thing for that channel to have. Especially with the newleadership promising more science base content.

So good for him. I think he deserves it and would rep us well.

So here's my take...

I don't disagree that Brian is passionate about reptiles, but what I take away from Snake Bytes is he's more passionate about how reptiles make him ca$h. The things I predict happening once the show airs are: The BP market if not reptiles as a whole will initially boom. There will be a lot of animal welfare push back from all the people who were unaware of how this industry works. Because to the general public, keeping thousands of snakes in small plastic tubs in a shelf to be bred for profit raises a massive ethical debate. And last but not least, there will be an explosion of breeders trying to cash in on some scaled gold.

I just had a similar thing happen this year. My handle Polyangler is my from my main hobby of kayak fishing. This is something i got into 16 years ago. I'm sponsored by five companies, and am the Safety Coordinator for Heroes on the Water NWest Chapter. We're a nonprofit dedicated to rehabilitating disabled vets and public servants through kayak angling. I bring this up because of the show Pacific Warriors. The drama that was forced kinda made everyone in the sport look like jackasses. I'm loosely connected to those guys and can tell you that was in no way an accurate portrayal. The sport can be inherently dangerous. In fact, May 15th marks the anniversary of a close friend drowning as we paddled through the surf to halibut fish. It's not a place for just anyone, but thanks to the new found popularity, I end up playing Coast Guard almost every fishing trip because someone gets in over their head trying to follow me 5-7 miles offshore.

So in a nutshell, I don't think this show will do anything positive for the hobby over the long haul.

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I doubt the problem will be Brian, but in how the end product turns out when it airs.

Check out the "Skunk Whisperer" and you'll see a show presented as a nice guy who has a varmit removal business. Basically he goes to people's houses and wrassles racoons and skunks and snakes at great danger to his own life, saving the poor helpless homeowners. He's got several people working for him, including one who is the typical redneck bumbling idiot, who constantly gets in over his head for laughs.

The reality is that show is completely opposite of what the man thought it would be. His business usually consists of him working with homeowners to keep wildlife out of homes, but still in their own environment. The bumbling idiot is paid by the network to do stupid stuff that will look great on camera(ahem, Chewy).

The poor star of the show was appalled and appealed to the network to change the program as that's not what he filmed, and quit allowing film crews. He's still trying to recover his image.

Anything to do with breeding animals will end up with the AR extremists coming out in force, all the snake haters pushing for making more species illegal, as well as the second BP boom in breeding which will have a ton of ill-educated folks jumping in to make a fortune.

I have great doubts that the program will be anything good. But I don't feel that way because it's Brian. Just from the history of reality TV.

I think he started as a reptile keeper, but became a business man instead. I still watch his videos sometimes because of the snakes I get to see.

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Donated much time here in SA taking out wounded warriors myself.

I see all the drama on FaceBook and that's where it needs to stay.
This forum isn't the place to sling poo.

That being said.
I personally think what Brian is doing can be a good thing for the hobby.
We need more positive light on our hobby.

I do find it interesting how many people can throw a stone though.:rofl::rofl::rofl:

I definitely didn't mean Brian will be the damning factor. It will no doubt be the editing and dramatic selling point the general population of sheepple seem to qualify as good television. I don't feel like Brian's tendency to talk profit and money will do any favors for the overall image either. Even his video on "ethics" reverted to breeding for money when he talked about his $45k scaleless head. There's a trending theme of Discovery Chanel reality shows being based on profit. I'm certain this will be no different, and the animal rightists will have a field day in the end.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

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Donated much time here in SA taking out wounded warriors myself.

I see all the drama on FaceBook and that's where it needs to stay.
This forum isn't the place to sling poo.

That being said.
I personally think what Brian is doing can be a good thing for the hobby.
We need more positive light on our hobby.

I do find it interesting how many people can throw a stone though.:rofl::rofl::rofl:

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You involved with HOW as well? Regardless thanks for what you're doing! I could type a book on the good I've seen come from the program in my 5 years of involvement!

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Originally Posted by Yodawagon

I think he started as a reptile keeper, but became a business man instead. I still watch his videos sometimes because of the snakes I get to see.

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And? You make it sound like a bad thing as if you are running a business you are no longer passionate?

I know a few breeder friends who are making a living at this, and let me tell you only the people who not only are PASSIONATE and have a business mind are successful at this and the is nothing wrong with it quite the contrary.

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I don't know why Brian gets all the hate, I really like his videos and he comes off as really passionate in them. I don't really see the problem with turning your passion into a business. I hope the show will do some good in educating the public about these reptiles.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

And? You make it sound like a bad thing as if you are running a business you are no longer passionate?

I know a few breeder friends who are making a living at this, and let me tell you only the people who not only are PASSIONATE and have a business mind are successful at this and the is nothing wrong with it quite the contrary.

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I feel the same way as POP. It's not to say you can't be passionate and get paid. I wish I could make a living fishing from kayaks! The feel from his videos is he's more passionate about money, and he loves his reptiles because they bring him money. This perception somewhat discredits his passion for the animals themselves. If he portrayed more love for the animals with money being a fortune byproduct of his passion, it would have a different impact. I don't know Brian, and this may truly be the way he feels, but its certainly not the message I receive when I watch his videos.

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Originally Posted by Polyangler

You involved with HOW as well? Regardless thanks for what you're doing! I could type a book on the good I've seen come from the program in my 5 years of involvement!

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I was, been done with them for close to 10 years now.
Several of us couldn't come to agreements on too many levels.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

I was, been done with them for close to 10 years now.
Several of us couldn't come to agreements on too many levels.

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Too bad... I've heard of similar internal struggles from some other chapters. It's really hard to dedicate the time, money, and effort we do to keep chapters healthy. Things seem to be running far better as a whole nation wide now. The HOW foundation and leadership has really grown. I've been able to volunteer with a few chapters nation wide now, and things seem a little more uniform aside from things like regional sponsors and local supporters.

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Originally Posted by Polyangler

I feel the same way as POP. It's not to say you can't be passionate and get paid. I wish I could make a living fishing from kayaks! The feel from his videos is he's more passionate about money, and he loves his reptiles because they bring him money. This perception somewhat discredits his passion for the animals themselves. If he portrayed more love for the animals with money being a fortune byproduct of his passion, it would have a different impact. I don't know Brian, and this may truly be the way he feels, but its certainly not the message I receive when I watch his videos.

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I'm not jumping on you Poly, just wondering.......
Many people that bash for one reason or another, I wonder if Brian is the target because he is more televised than anyone else?
Also with a collection of his size, I would hope he managed it from a business point of view. I have been looking at mine the same way the last couple years, doesn't change my thoughts of the hobby. Just means I don't take gambles or make stupid moves without weighting the outcome.

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Originally Posted by Polyangler

Too bad... I've heard of similar internal struggles from some other chapters. It's really hard to dedicate the time, money, and effort we do to keep chapters healthy. Things seem to be running far better as a whole nation wide now. The HOW foundation and leadership has really grown. I've been able to volunteer with a few chapters nation wide now, and things seem a little more uniform aside from things like regional sponsors and local supporters.

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The end for me was hauling an overloaded trailer full of kayaks and waiting on the bank for a couple hours to a no show bus.
Seems something happened and they went back but didn't notify anyone on our end.
We spend hours with these guys in the Ft Sam pool getting them use to kayaks and all the dos and donts.
I'm not better than anyone else but my time is worth money to me and they didn't value what we were donating as much as I did.
I don't think anyone in San Antonio is doing anything kayak related with them anymore. No one realizes the amount of time it can take.

He has a video about becoming a millionaire off reptiles. That comes off as a business man. He has unimaginable prices on scaleless and sunsets. I not saying a breeder can't or shouldn't make a living off reptiles. When you compare him to the other big names in the industry, he comes off as greedy and money hungry. We are all entitled to our own opinions, that's just mine.

He's also not doing much for the snakes reputations and misconceptions by having chewie get bit on video, showing his female named Satan trying to bite him,and acting like a snake charmer to avoid getting bit. Many other huge players in the market have videos that don't show that. He's doing that all for the money. Plan and simple.

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Originally Posted by Polyangler

The feel from his videos is he's more passionate about money, and he loves his reptiles because they bring him money. This perception somewhat discredits his passion for the animals themselves. If he portrayed more love for the animals with money being a fortune byproduct of his passion, it would have a different impact. I don't know Brian, and this may truly be the way he feels, but its certainly not the message I receive when I watch his videos.

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Funny thing about perception & the assumptions people make without knowing someone, I usually judge people based on what I see and hear when I meet said someone in person not on what I think I know after reading a blog, seeing pictures or watching a video, and I think people should try that sometimes. :gj:

I am not part of anyone's fan club, neither am I part of the "I want to be cool so let's hate on so and so" bandwagon, people's high school drama mentality is what is killing this hobby/industry faster than anything else always has always will.

Brought to you my someone whose reptiles brings money too....I guess I must love them because they do :rolleyes:

I don't want to debate how this will turn out, but I would be interested in watching the show and making my judgement then. Anyone have any ideas on when the show will air or what it will be called?

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

I'm not jumping on you Poly, just wondering.......
Many people that bash for one reason or another, I wonder if Brian is the target because he is more televised than anyone else?
Also with a collection of his size, I would hope he managed it from a business point of view. I have been looking at mine the same way the last couple years, doesn't change my thoughts of the hobby. Just means I don't take gambles or make stupid moves without weighting the outcome.

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Definitely not the spot light that gives me a bad taste at all. He displays a very contextual view of his animals which by the way is completely normal. Most of us do. Example: I like dogs. I love my dogs. If a stray attacks my dog I wouldn't feel bad about killing the stray where it stands. I feel like he's somewhat deceitful in the way he carries himself in this way. He essentially has a farm. Nothing wrong with that. But ask any farmer and they will say they care about the well being of the herd/flock, but not for the individuals unless they are more profitable than another. Brian showcases Sunshine his albino burm as a pet, but claims to feel the same about all of his animals. B.S... The rest are his herd. If he truly "loved" all the animals, he wouldn't do things to intentionally stress them out like dress in a bunny suit and entice a bite. Shake his butt in front of a tray of green tree pythons so they would bite him. Instead he uses his "passion for the animals" to play us into buying into his act, instead of saying he's a reptile farmer, and he cares for the well being of his heard for the sake of his bank account.

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This is the first I'm hearing about this. Cool. For better or worse, I would enjoy watching it. I just hope it doesn't lead to a false popularity that leaves a bunch of free snakes on Craigslist. My area is good for things like that. Smh.

but that would prob happen no matter who the person depicted was.

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Originally Posted by Yodawagon

He's also not doing much for the snakes reputations and misconceptions by having chewie get bit on video, showing his female named Satan trying to bite him,and acting like a snake charmer to avoid getting bit. Many other huge players in the market have videos that don't show that. He's doing that all for the money. Plan and simple.

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I don't think Chewie even works for him anymore. Didn't Brian fire him a couple of years ago?

I personally was never a fan of his videos, they were too much like 'reality tv' which I absolutely hate so I just stopped watching them. If he has a deal with Discovery then good for him, I wish him all the best though I probably won't watch those either.

I love Brian and I'm really looking forward to this show! I think his passion and appreciation for animals always shows, and he just has a way of getting people excited about them. He's also done a great job educating people about best practices and husbandry, especially when it comes to housing.

I honestly consider Brian doing business more than an animal lover. Those idiot sensational Tv shows works for everything about wild live and feared animals. Brian surfed on it and give his understanding which is good but also a lot of misconceptions. This TV show will be even worst for animals than snake bites. IT s something to have a bunch of idiots cleaning your racks and getting bitten by milk snakes for fun but this is a large scale production and this will led to a lot of stupid kids buying in to be the next billinaire BHB like and it will be worldwild. The point is the TV show won t focus on housing, feeding, caring for 20 to life long according to the species.... Snake bites is all about showing plenty of morphs and extreme individual comportment explaining a little and this will be the cheap large scale version of it, this will be the anglophone public face of reptile lovers.....

Knowing the other TV garbage productions of discovery... We will see what Brian can manage and i m not talking about his bank account.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

I doubt the problem will be Brian, but in how the end product turns out when it airs.

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My husband was on Sons of Guns #505. Since we signed an NDA I can't say too much, except that I agree with the above statement.

Reality TV... simply isn't. If I wanted to produce a reality show about keeping reptiles, Discovery is the last channel I would approach.

I find it interesting all the people thinking brian gets hated on for no reason. Sure there are people who jump on the bandwagon as you say, but there are a lot of things he deserves. This is coming from someone that used to call him a friend.

However I do think it would be wise to watch his show, as I would assume most of us would be the "reptile person" in their social groups. If any non-reptile person wants to talk about what they saw on the show, you might want to be prepared already to respond. I try to do the same with reptile related news stories.

I did/do the same with dog shows, dog grooming in particular. I know for a fact that clients will come in and mention a dog grooming show, so I need to know what to respond with and need to know ahead of time so people can't blindside me with nonsense they saw last night on cable.

I'll try to catch the new snake show for similar reasons.

I watched hundreds of Snakebytes vids. Only reason I stopped was I got burned out on rinse and repeat content. But in what I watched he always came across as being about the animals first and the money second. And I ma sure he learned from many a mistake in experimenting on the show. Like his attempt at a "Will It Blend" spoof.

I don't think there is a problem with Brian, but with the discovery channels desire for drama rather then truth. Brian has too much love and respect for his animals to let a drama seeking director get in the way of the truth. He might have a battle, but he seems passionate enough about his animals to put up a good fight. So good luck Brian, let the world know what we all know about these gentle creatures.

sounds cool! i'll give it a shot.

Does anyone know when the first episode airs. I get the discovery channel 1 and 2 plus animal planet, all owned by the same people. So does anyone know which channel and the day and time.

Seems like an awful lot of assumptions going on based on extremely scant information. Here are some facts:

The show is called Venom Hunters and has nothing to do with Brian's BHB business or Snakebytes, except to reference those as his background.

Chewie IS with Brian as part of one of the teams searching for wild venomous snakes to capture for venom production. Chewie took this job VERY seriously and is not just there to be a goofball trying not to get bit.

Brian and Chewie spent a month in Australia filming for a total of six episodes of the first season of Venom Hunters. Whether or not they end up in all six episodes remains to be seen. There are other teams that are being followed as well.

The entire management team at Discover (and Animal Planet, etc) has been replaced due to the overwhelming negative reaction to the utterly ridiculous and fake programming they had been doing for the last few years. Their STATED purpose is to bring back a positive and educational message, while still entertaining their audience.

Brian is putting his trust in that stated purpose and trusting that the Venom Hunters series will NOT be sensationalized beyond reason and will not paint snakes as evil or keepers as idiots. WILL THE NETWORK LET HIM DOWN? That remains to be seen...but if they do, it won't be through any fault of Brian's.

The first episode is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 10 p.m. ET on Discovery.

I really, really think people should at least give the show a chance before they go blasting it to smithereens with righteous indignation.

I'll reserve my opinion until the show airs, I do enjoy Brian's youtube videos and have learned quite a bit about the world of BPs from watching. I hope Discovery doesn't distort the world of reptiles to shed a negative light on this passion.

I always wanted a snake, but thought it was too daunting of a task, plus my wife wasn't in favor. I stumbled on Snakebytes TV on YouTube one day. Watched a few videos with my kids, then showed a few to my wife. I'm now a proud Ball Python owner. I hope he does well and gets more people interested in herpetology.


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Jlc,

thank you you for the info! We will definitely be watching it in our house. It's good to hear that the channel plans on going away from all the.... Recent offerings. lets hope they stick to it.

So glad to see that both the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet are trying to get back to more quality programming rather than the garbage that they have been putting out recently. I am really looking forward to seeing this show.

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Originally Posted by lorrainesmom

So glad to see that both the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet are trying to get back to more quality programming rather than the garbage that they have been putting out recently. I am really looking forward to seeing this show.

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+1

If the show has nothing to do with his breeding operation, and Discovery is going back to their roots, it could be good.

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If that show was about to give document and scientific contents about australian venomous snakes they would not chose Brian because he is no expert on those species and i don t mention chewie. What they are willing to sell is sensational because it sells better. I really hope this show will present animals behaviors in wild but i guess it will be more about tracking and provocating animals strikes. Brian will for sure explain certain behaviors because he is trully passionate but honestly when they contact him and mention chewie he should step out has he should have known it will be grotesque. I don t think make fun on feared animals will make common people want to understand them.

I will give the show a try too, But i didn t appreciate Brian communication lately specially some weird advices to clients about Scaleless head and BHB lies on banana project to beginner : "buy a banana female for 600$ is the best choice to enter in the hobby" no, it s not : it s just the easiest snake to sell to a beginner as hatchling that just understand he should buy females earlier than males. Of course they didn t mention banana looking in adulthood, the weird sex ratio that led to the price crashing and the males who hardly find home for 100$. I sell myself bananas and always inform clients about this and ask about their future project. JKR made 4 articles about the way to deal with clients that i really like and that s not the way Brian and BHB work. So yes Brian deserves his reputation , it s doesnt mean he doesn t love reptiles but he loves money more and this show might prove it once more.

Oh, i was one of the guys that was actually buying is passion story telling on snake bites when i start breeding seriously and i was so admirative...

JLC I'm quite heartened to read that there's been such a huge shakeup at Discovery/AP with regards to the programming choices. Maybe there's hope that we'll get more good shows and less "Bigfoot" and "Rednecks doing stupid stuff" shows.

I kind of hoped it would be more about keeping snakes as pets, but anything that gives a good impression of reptiles is still a good thing.

There has been a new CEO appointed to discovery in the last year, whose goal is to leave the reality shows behind and get back to what the channels are supposed to be about. I am hopeful that Brian and this CEO will be able to accomplish this, because from his Facebook posts it seems like he does want this to be a positive educational show. I don't necessarily agree with every single thing he does or says, but I do believe that he has good intentions with this show. That being said, there is still I board of directors or programming or what have you to go through, so the show can really go in any direction. For the sake of the hobby and education, and something I am passionate about, I hope this will be a good change of pace for discovery.


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