Outdoor Channel’s New Lineup: Still No Smiles

The Outdoor Channel is one of the few places you can watch people shooting things. You might even call it a ballistic ghetto. If so, you gotta admit: it’s ghetto fabulous! And now, they’re 100 percent HD. And celebrity crazed. Of course, when I say celebrities, I’m not talking about Kristen Stewart shooting a prairie dog with a Barrett 50 cal. Or Gordon Ramsay shouting at an IDPA competitor. It’s former Miss USA beauty Kimberly Pressler, World Champion Bull Rider J.W. Hart and Rascal Flats singer Gary LeVox doing hunting type stuff. In the interests of specificity, I’m listing the Outdoor Channel’s third quarter gun-related series after the jump. Note, I might have added a little high concept fun to the descriptions, so do NOT take them at face value.

New Series:

Benelli on Assignment – Debuts Wednesday, June 30th at 5:00 p.m. ET
“Benelli on Assignment” features world-class bird shooting action and exciting big game adventure in pristine locations with top writers and photographers, who take dead animals and leave only footprints. The series teams brand marketing manager and host, Joe “Benelli” Coogan with writers and photographers from the nation’s most recognized outdoor magazines, such as Outdoor Life and Shooting Shit Monthly. Coogan and his guests (i.e. bought and paid for journos) travel the globe to field test and showcase Benelli products at the world’s top hunting spots from Botswana’s incredible game-filled Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert to North America’s majestic mountain ranges, waterfowl-packed marshes, spectacular plains and prairies, infinity and beyond!

Boone and Crockett Country – Debuts Sunday, July 4th at 10:00 a.m. ET
“Boone and Crockett Country™” is a weekly hunting documentary celebrating the lost episodes of Miami Vice where Tubbs was replaced with a semi-fictional character called T. Boone Pickens. The program features the best in big game hunting and conservation in North America (aside from the episodes of Benelli on Assignment shot in North America). Presented by America’s Optics Authority™, B&CC explores all aspects of promoting sponsors’ kit, including comments like “I never would have killed that moose without my Leupold Golden Ring® Riflescope!” “Boone and Crockett Country”delves into the time-honored, ethical traditions of recreational hunting. (“That was a highly ethical kill Crockett.” “Thanks Boone.”)

Buck Commander protected by Under Armour – Debuts Saturday, July 3rd at 10:00 a.m. ET and 7:30 PM ET
This July, join former MLB superstars Matt Duff, Chipper Jones, Ryan Langerhans, Adam LaRoche and Tom “Tombo” Martin as they team up with “Boss Hogg” Willie Robertson from Outdoor Channel’s popular series “Benelli Presents Duck Commander” in a new show called “Benelli Present the Buck Commander Company protected by Under Armour Sponsored by America’s Optics Authority™.” From batting practice to bow practice and outfield to in-the-field, every episode highlights the camaraderie, comedy and corporate “antics” of the six co-owners of the Buck Commander Company. For these budding entrepreneurs, avoiding bankruptcy means never having to say you didn’t kiss corporate ass.

Dream Season Celebrity – Debuts Tuesday, June 29th at 10:30 p.m. ET
ScentBlocker® and Drury Outdoors® challenges teams from athletes to music supertars to put their skill, desire and luck to the ultimate test in a head-to-head battle for deer-hunting supremacy. Watch as lead singer of the band STAIND Aaron Lewis, former UFC World Champion Tim Sylvia, World Champion Bull Rider J.W. Hart, and World Champion Pitcher Adam Wainwright compete in the reality hunting show, where only one lucky contestant is left to tell the tale. Thanks also to ProMax Concealable Vests® from preventing a MAJOR lawsuit.

Field & Stream’s Gun Nuts presented by Smith & Wesson – Debuts Wednesday, June 30th at 9:30 p.m. ET
When it comes to rifles and shotguns, Field & Stream’s rifles field editor Dave Petzal and shotguns columnist Phil Boujaily are the real deal. They love them, study them, collect them, and they’re not afraid to tell viewers what they think about them! Aside from the guns they send back to the manufacturer when they really suck. “Field & Stream’s Gun Nuts presented by Smith & Wesson,” is a wide open, cover the target, fill the ammo box, locked and loaded, wallow in the freebies, worship us we are gun gods, white people rock, half-hour magazine series. Each week, Petzal and Bourjaily educate, enlighten and entertain gun lovers of all ages (including toddlers) with expert tips, how-to’s and field tests. The duo will also showcase the latest and greatest hardware, provide thorough retrospectives on classic shotguns and rifles, and love, love, LOVE Smith & Wesson products.

Craig Morgan All Access Outdoors – Debuts Saturday, July 3rd at 11:00 a.m. ET
“Craig Morgan All Access Outdoors” is new reality show that gives viewers an all access, backstage pass to country music sensation and diehard (with a vengeance) outdoorsman Craig Morgan. Whether he’s bowhunting big game, motocross racing or entertaining screaming fans at sold-out shows, Craig’s as high as a kite and ready to party! Craig’s fellow country music artists – as well as professional athletes and motocross celebrities – join him each week. Each week. All of them. Until his old lady gets pissed off and kicks them all out, waving a .357 Ruger revolver.

Gold Tip’s 4CE – Debuts Thursday, July 1st at 7:00 p.m. ET
“Gold Tip’s 4CE” is defined as a movement that makes a difference by carrying on the traditions and freedoms that American Sportsmen value and live by. The right to end a sentence with a preposition, the right to bear arms, keeping “In God We Trust”, and feeding one’s own family self-harvested game–whether they like it or not. Simple freedoms that many take for granted, other obsess about and may soon be taken away—over my cold dead fingers! “The 4CE,” will be regularly hosted by three friends who happen to be lifelong hunters and outdoorsmen (coincidence? I think not). Each episode will have its own unique way of showing the viewer how they can make a difference, whether it be taking children hunting, teaching an archery class, deciding on an arsenal for a secluded bolt hole or feeding the homeless freshly killed squirrel. “Gold Tips the 4CE” will include big game hunting across the U.S., in addition to heading to New Zealand and Africa for some big game action and Canada and Mexico for some big bucks. That’s deer, not cash. They spent all that on beer.