Dog the Bounty Hunter: Persistence and Contrition Pays Off For TV's Bounty Hunter

Big Ratings also Didn't Hurt
"Dog the Bounty Hunter's" Return Official

Dog the Bounty Hunter fans can now start their celebrations.

It's now official: Dog the Bounty Hunter is coming back to the A & E TV line-up.

An A&E spokesman confirmed yesterday the resumption of the show's production immediately, though no date yet has been set for the show's new premiere.

KHNL TV in Honolulu stated that Beth Chapman confirmed to KHNL Tuesday morning that the show would resume production immediately.

Persistence and a showing of public remorse, along with a charity outreach to black groups, made a difference.

So did the actions of thousands of "Dog the Bounty Hunter" fans.

And the show's formerly big ratings on A&E Network didn't hurt, either.

ALSO: Dog the Bounty Hunter: The Dog is Back!

The public acts of remorse and contrition are over and a new journey that starts for the star of any TV show looms: to lure back enough former viewers to keep the show at the top of A&E's ratings line-up.

The announcement marked the latest step on a 3+ month journey of redemption and contrition for Duane "Dog" Chapman. Since the furor broke with the National Enquirer's publishing of the audio tapes of Chapman's heated exchange with son, Tucker, over his girlfriend during a private cell-phone conversation.

Get the whole story!
DBKP DOG the BOUNTY Library of stories and videos on Dog the Bounty Hunter and his struggles since November 1, 2007.

Over 40 stories and videos on Duane "Dog" Chapman and his family.

Fans of "Dog the Bounty Hunter" were first shocked, then angry and defensive about the suspension of their favorite TV reality show.

Eventually, fans went on the offensive, and a plethora of petitions sprung up around the web. Letter-writing campaigns and boycotts were also organized against everything from A&E Network's remaining line-up to the show's former sponsors.

One campaign even advised fans to send 1000s of pineapples to A&E's NY Headquarters in protest of the show's removal.

The news from around the web is almost universally cheerful at the return of the reality show, "Dog the Bounty Hunter", and it's star, Duane "Dog" Chapman. The show, which stars Chapman, as well as his wife, Beth, partner, Tim Chapman, son, Leland Chapman, and various other members of Duane Chapman's extended family.

Here's a round-up of what others are saying on Tuesday morning, February 20, 2008.

REUTERS:

Celebrity bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman is set to return to television after his reality TV show was pulled from the air three months ago in a controversy over his use of a racial slur, cable channel A&E said on Tuesday.

An A&E spokesman said the network had decided to start production again of "Dog The Bounty Hunter" but no airdate has yet been scheduled.

"Over the last few months, Duane "Dog" Chapman has taken and continues to take the appropriate steps in reaching out to several African American organizations in an effort to make amends for his private comments to his son which were released publicly," said a statement from the network.

"Since the premise of "Dog The Bounty Hunter" is about second chances - we have decided to give him one."

E! ONLINE:

"We take this matter very seriously," A&E said in a statement at the time of the show's production suspension. "Pending an investigation, we have suspended production on the series. When the inquiry is concluded we will take appropriate action."

A&E, which removed Dog the Bounty Hunter info from its Website just after New Year's, has not yet set a date for the show's return, but a camera crew is reportedly in place, and lodging and cars have been rented for a fifth season.

CANADA NOW:

The network, A&E, has yet to set an official premiere date for Dog The Bounty Hunter, but it has been confirmed that he is coming back.

Production is set to start as soon as possible, as everything is just about set to go.

MONSTERS and CRITICS:

A&E are satisfied that Dog made ammends, and claim they are happy he reached out to the African American community.

HOLLYSCOOP:

The Dog will hunt again. A&E has confirmed that production has begun on the next season of Dog the Bounty Hunter in Hawaii. Guess A&E isn't worried about [Chapman's Enquirer-published comments], because their main man is back. That show did make a ton of money, and I can't imagine marathons of that show Intervention are keeping the ratings high. Congrats Dog! Now just keep your mouth shut.

Dog the Bounty Hunter, Duane Chapman, and wife Beth Smith, got in a little R&%R at Madison Square Gardenk last month. In town for the Felix "Tito" Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr. Special Light Heavyweight Attraction boxing showdown at the NY venue. 19 January 2008. EPA/JASON SZENES

A week ago, it was announced that the Dog the Bounty Hunter star would be making a charity appearance in Chicago in April.

The star of the Dog the Bounty Hunter is set to perform at Mooseheart Child City and School in Chicago, Illinois on April 11 and April 12. He'll be in concert with bands such as Echoing Angels, Emery, Inhabited, Flatfoot 56, and Will Duvall for two very different nights.

More importantly, Chapman will speak for 45 minutes from his heart about his life, tragedies, triumphs, and faith. Tagging along is his wife Beth Chapman, who also appears on the reality series Dog the Bounty Hunter. This meet and greet event also encourages spectators come with an open mind, and leave with a changed heart.

A former gang member with 18 prior convictions for armed robbery, Chapman was sentenced to five years in a Texas prison in 1977 after being convicted of the first degree murder of Jeremy Oliver. Chapman maintained his innocence of murder but was considered as a legal accessory for not reporting the shooting to the police. He was released on probation after 18 months. Eventually, he became a bail bondsman and bounty hunter, which is also the focus of the reality series Dog the Bounty Hunter.

As of Wednesday morning, no announcement was on the A&E Network's website yet. This was the latest story on the Dog the Bounty Hunter News Updates.
A&E Network:

January 30th, 2008: Duane "Dog" Chapman is officially free from his Mexican legal ordeal. A three-judge panel in Mexico unanimously ruled on Tuesday, January 29th, that the criminal charges against Dog, his son, Leland Chapman, and his close friend, Tim Chapman, must be dismissed; they cannot be extradited to Mexico to face criminal charges for their 2003 capture of serial rapist and fugitive Andrew Luster.

Andrew Luster, the famed heir to the Max Factor cosmetics fortune, had been convicted of drugging and raping three women over a four year span. During his trial in 2003, Luster fled the country, leading to an international manhunt. In June 2003, Dog and his team tracked the fugitive Luster in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where he was living under an alias, and seized him. Luster was handed over to the United States government by Mexican officials. He was subsequently found guilty and is currently serving a 124 year prison sentence.

However, as Mexican law does not permit private individuals to engage in bounty hunting on their own, Dog, Tim and Leland were arrested by the Mexican authorities, but were later released and they returned to the United States. In February 2007, US Marshals took all three men into custody on an extradition warrant stemming from the 2003 charges. The extradition warrant was dismissed in 2007 and the the criminal charges in Mexico have also now been dismissed.

A&E did have this in "About the Show", which is undated.

Last year was the Chinese calendar's Year of the Dog – and Duane "Dog" Chapman – the world's most famous bounty hunter - had enough drama to last him two lifetimes. Now, staring adversity in the face with his own freedom hanging in the balance, Dog is coming back with a vengeance to hunt down fugitives with his wife Beth and fearless Posse.

This year the Posse is back in action once again hitting the streets, tracking down fugitives, and giving them that one-of-a-kind dose of tough love only Dog can provide. In addition to Tim, Leland, and Duane Lee this year Baby Lyssa, Dog's daughter, joins the Posse full time.

With the threat of Mexican justice hanging over their heads, the stakes are higher than ever for Dog & the Posse; but the Chapmans are sticking together to get the job done – both on the streets and in the courts. As Dog says, "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger."