RIP Captain Phil

I often give all the wretched reality shows a hard time on this blog, but Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch has been one of my favorite shows on TV since it started back in 2005.  It’s kind of hard to pinpoint the appeal of watching someone else do physically demanding manual labor, or to put its popularity into perspective.  I believe part of it is placing yourself in these crab fisherman’s galoshes, and wondering if you would have the moxy to put your life on the line each day for a substantial paycheck.  The widespread popularity is also due in large part to the show having the most entertaining sea captains this side of Springfield; but the crew lost one of their finest today when news broke that the Cornelia Marie’s captain, Phil Harris, passed away at the age of 53.  I remember Phil as a chain smoking, Red Bull-swilling mariner who ran a tight ship, however, he was also the epitome of someone who truly loves what they do.  You sometimes couldn’t tell this from the many arguments that took place between him and his crew (which included his sons, Josh and Jake), yet whenever he reflected on his many years working the brutal Bering Sea, Phil’s passion for fishing and his love of family was evident.  The Discovery Channel recently released a statement, and eloquently expressed the grief being felt by family and fans alike:

“Discovery mourns the loss of dear friend and colleague Captain Phil Harris.  He was more than someone on our television screen.  Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him.  We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart.  We share our tremendous sadness over this loss with the millions of viewers who followed Phil’s every move.” 

Phil and fellow captain Sig Hansen engage in a high seas prank war: