Unleashed - Dog the Bounty Hunter takes his show on the road
Two girls huddled by the phone, it rings, instant freakout.
It's like Justin Bieber calling two tweens — except this
time it's Dog the Bounty Hunter, a personal hero rather
than a personal heartthrob, but equally impressive.
My friend and I are likely two of the few 20-something girls who freely admit they are massive fans of the hit A&E show, Dog the Bounty Hunter — which almost makes it more special that Dog is calling us from Hawaii on a May afternoon, no one gets why we're so excited.
Duane Chapman, a formidable-looking man originally from Colorado, and his equally formidable family run Da Kine Bail Bonds in Honolulu, HI, has been a reality-show superstar since 2004 when Dog the Bounty Hunter premiered on A&E. Audiences were drawn in by the Chapman family's look — a mix of leather and tattoos — but even more so to their family-focused business, and of course, the thrill of the chase.
But while The Dog presents an imposing figure on television, the man has a good heart and a great story.
After asking Chapman how he got into bounty hunting, he jokingly chastised me for not reading his book — I assure you I am picking up a copy immediately. He found his calling when he was in prison after pleading guilty for being an accessory to the murder of Jerry Oliver by not reporting the shooting.
Chapman worked in the prison barbershop that was located by a building called The Hole, he explained. Often prisoners were escorted there if a member of their family died, and they were a potential threat to themselves. One day, a big “kid” nicknamed Big Foot was being escorted out, and Chapman saw one of the guards fly backwards and Big Foot take off down the road, he recalled.
Suddenly Chapman found himself running after Big Foot, yelling at officers to stop shooting at him, feeling bullets on his own back, he said. Eventually he tackled Big Foot down, when the lieutenant threw down the cuffs in the dirt and said: “Hook him up bounty hunter.” And the Dog was born.
The show, Dog the Bounty Hunter, has seen six seasons and plenty of criminals caught. But in addition to the action-packed chases, viewers tune into the car talks between Dog and the captured. Miraculously, it seems like the man changes lives in the span of a car ride to the jail. While Chapman's main goal is to “protect the public,” particularly the victims in particular situations, he also never fails to connect with those caught.
“I knew the bad guy wasn't always bad,” he said.
Part of what helps his relationships with the criminals is that he understands their position. “We've taken that path,” he said. Chapman is also an example of hope — who espouses faith as an important factor in his life.
“Faith is part of any successful person,” he said. “When it's really bad ... that's when it takes over. I gotta go through all the ‘I'm not going to make it,' (you) gotta do it for yourself.”
This summer, Chapman is touring with his famous family to bring his own story and message of hope to cities on his Mercy Tour. Chapman found book signings didn't give him the proper outlet to connect with fans so he's taking to the road in a more speaking engagement way.
“When people come to see Dog the Bounty Hunter, (they) come with hope, they wanna have faith,” he said. “I don't like to say something that's not real. I go with what God leads in my heart (and) I don't use any cuss words.”
Dog, you are a true gentleman.
Dog the Bounty Hunter's Mercy Tour will be making its way to London on June 22 at Centennial Hall. The FSU has two tickets and will be giving them away at the Strawberry Social on June 9, but you can also purchase tickets online at http://www.centennialhall.london.ca.
My friend and I are likely two of the few 20-something girls who freely admit they are massive fans of the hit A&E show, Dog the Bounty Hunter — which almost makes it more special that Dog is calling us from Hawaii on a May afternoon, no one gets why we're so excited.
Duane Chapman, a formidable-looking man originally from Colorado, and his equally formidable family run Da Kine Bail Bonds in Honolulu, HI, has been a reality-show superstar since 2004 when Dog the Bounty Hunter premiered on A&E. Audiences were drawn in by the Chapman family's look — a mix of leather and tattoos — but even more so to their family-focused business, and of course, the thrill of the chase.
But while The Dog presents an imposing figure on television, the man has a good heart and a great story.
After asking Chapman how he got into bounty hunting, he jokingly chastised me for not reading his book — I assure you I am picking up a copy immediately. He found his calling when he was in prison after pleading guilty for being an accessory to the murder of Jerry Oliver by not reporting the shooting.
Chapman worked in the prison barbershop that was located by a building called The Hole, he explained. Often prisoners were escorted there if a member of their family died, and they were a potential threat to themselves. One day, a big “kid” nicknamed Big Foot was being escorted out, and Chapman saw one of the guards fly backwards and Big Foot take off down the road, he recalled.
Suddenly Chapman found himself running after Big Foot, yelling at officers to stop shooting at him, feeling bullets on his own back, he said. Eventually he tackled Big Foot down, when the lieutenant threw down the cuffs in the dirt and said: “Hook him up bounty hunter.” And the Dog was born.
The show, Dog the Bounty Hunter, has seen six seasons and plenty of criminals caught. But in addition to the action-packed chases, viewers tune into the car talks between Dog and the captured. Miraculously, it seems like the man changes lives in the span of a car ride to the jail. While Chapman's main goal is to “protect the public,” particularly the victims in particular situations, he also never fails to connect with those caught.
“I knew the bad guy wasn't always bad,” he said.
Part of what helps his relationships with the criminals is that he understands their position. “We've taken that path,” he said. Chapman is also an example of hope — who espouses faith as an important factor in his life.
“Faith is part of any successful person,” he said. “When it's really bad ... that's when it takes over. I gotta go through all the ‘I'm not going to make it,' (you) gotta do it for yourself.”
This summer, Chapman is touring with his famous family to bring his own story and message of hope to cities on his Mercy Tour. Chapman found book signings didn't give him the proper outlet to connect with fans so he's taking to the road in a more speaking engagement way.
“When people come to see Dog the Bounty Hunter, (they) come with hope, they wanna have faith,” he said. “I don't like to say something that's not real. I go with what God leads in my heart (and) I don't use any cuss words.”
Dog, you are a true gentleman.
Dog the Bounty Hunter's Mercy Tour will be making its way to London on June 22 at Centennial Hall. The FSU has two tickets and will be giving them away at the Strawberry Social on June 9, but you can also purchase tickets online at http://www.centennialhall.london.ca.
