“Dancing With the Stars” kicked off the show’s latest season last night with “Duck Dynasty” star Sadie Robertson taking to the dance floor and stunning the judges.
The 17-year-old danced the cha cha, with parents Willie and Korie Robertson watching from the crowd. And the response to her first performance with partner Mark Ballas was incredible.
“Duckling no more! Here we have a bird of paradise,” proclaimed judge Bruno Tonioli.
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba added, ”You’re a star, honey. You don’t even know it yet.”
Watch Sadie’s dance below:
The “Duck Dynasty” family has become known for their overt Christian faith in recent years including the family praying at the dinner table at the conclusion of each episode of the show.
And it seems Robertson isn't planning to stop talking about and showing her faith. In footage that aired on “Dancing With the Stars” before her performance, she was seen praying with her family.
Showing posts with label Willie Robertson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Willie Robertson. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Friday, June 13, 2014
‘Duck Dynasty’ Season 6 Premiere Ratings Off Significantly
Season 6 of the A&E reality hit premiered Wednesday night, drawing significantly fewer viewers than the Season 5 premiere in January.However, the show still remains the number one cable show on Wednesday night.
Wednesday's “Duck Dynasty” premiere drew 4.6 million total viewers — nearly 4 million less than the 8.5 million who tuned in for the Season 5 premiere.
The slide continues a sharp downward trajectory for the show. The 8.5 million who tuned in for the Season 5 premiere was itself a dramatic drop from the 11.8 million total viewers who tuned in for the Season 4 premiere in August 2013. Granted, the Season 4 premiere set a record for the series, but still — those are pretty big back-to-back declines.
Wednesday night's numbers are also a drop from the Season 5 finale in March, which had 6 million total viewers.
Wednesday night's premiere featured a special guest appearance by Louisiana Gov .Bobby Jindal, who awarded Willie Robertson the inaugural Governor's Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence for his success in making the Duck Commander family business a multi-million dollar company.
"It was really neat to have the governor on our show," Willie Robertson told The Daily Advertiser. "His family loves watching the show, and they all came up to West Monroe to participate."
Jindal's guest appearance evidently did not do much to help the show salvage its declining ratings. Although many media outlets are blaming the drop in ratings over controversial statements Phil Robertson made to GQ Magazine last December, others argue that "Duck Dynasty" is simply following the usual, short lifespan of docusoaps.
"Critics and ratings-gazers will be quick to attribute Duck Dynasty's fall from grace to any number of factors -- one of them obviously being star Phil Robertson's controversial persona in the wake of anti-gay comments made in a GQ profile -- but the fact of the matter remains that docusoaps have a short lifespan. And A&E has already milked more out of Duck Dynasty than anybody could have imagined," wrote Michael O'Connor for The Hollywood Reporter.
Wednesday's “Duck Dynasty” premiere drew 4.6 million total viewers — nearly 4 million less than the 8.5 million who tuned in for the Season 5 premiere.
The slide continues a sharp downward trajectory for the show. The 8.5 million who tuned in for the Season 5 premiere was itself a dramatic drop from the 11.8 million total viewers who tuned in for the Season 4 premiere in August 2013. Granted, the Season 4 premiere set a record for the series, but still — those are pretty big back-to-back declines.
Wednesday night's numbers are also a drop from the Season 5 finale in March, which had 6 million total viewers.
Wednesday night's premiere featured a special guest appearance by Louisiana Gov .Bobby Jindal, who awarded Willie Robertson the inaugural Governor's Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence for his success in making the Duck Commander family business a multi-million dollar company.
"It was really neat to have the governor on our show," Willie Robertson told The Daily Advertiser. "His family loves watching the show, and they all came up to West Monroe to participate."
Jindal's guest appearance evidently did not do much to help the show salvage its declining ratings. Although many media outlets are blaming the drop in ratings over controversial statements Phil Robertson made to GQ Magazine last December, others argue that "Duck Dynasty" is simply following the usual, short lifespan of docusoaps.
"Critics and ratings-gazers will be quick to attribute Duck Dynasty's fall from grace to any number of factors -- one of them obviously being star Phil Robertson's controversial persona in the wake of anti-gay comments made in a GQ profile -- but the fact of the matter remains that docusoaps have a short lifespan. And A&E has already milked more out of Duck Dynasty than anybody could have imagined," wrote Michael O'Connor for The Hollywood Reporter.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
What Low-budget Hit 'God's Not Dead' Says About Christians and Hollywood
It may be “The Year of the Bible” in Hollywood, but American moviegoers are still startling the industry with their robust enthusiasm for faith-filled films targeting the tastes of the faithful.
This weekend, the small-budget “God’s Not Dead” took in more than $8.5 million Friday through Sunday – a surprising fifth-place in this weekend’s box office numbers.
Even more startling, say observers, is the fact that the movie, aimed toward Evangelical Christians, was shown in only 780 theaters – far fewer than those ahead of it, each of which were showing on more than 3,000 screens.
“While this huge opening may be a surprise to the industry, it is not so much to us,” said Mark Borde, co-president of the film’s distributor, said over the weekend. “The in-house tracking, the legitimate one million Facebook fans, the very high trending on Twitter and Fandango, among many other platforms, and the huge positive reaction from the hundreds of screenings over the many past months, gave us hope for a significant opening.”
While not a blockbuster of biblical proportions, the small film’s significant success this weekend comes at a time when Hollywood has been trying to capitalize yet again on the faith-based market, which also made a hit out of “Son of God” earlier this month. The film was condensed from the History Channel’s smash TV hit, “The Bible,” and has taken in nearly $56 million since its release Feb. 28.
But “God’s Not Dead” is a very different kind of film, many observers say. It has a deep resonance in the Evangelical subculture, which often feels mocked and demeaned by the nation’s media and entertainment elites.
“There's a negativity towards Christians in Hollywood,” said Kevin Sorbo, the actor who plays the atheistic philosophy professor. “And a negativity towards people who believe in God.”
“The silent majority is starting to get annoyed with what’s going on,” the Christian actor continued. “I think more people need to start speaking about it instead of just sitting there and taking it.... It’s happening; you’re getting attacked; you need to stand up for yourself and your beliefs.”
Indeed, the film leaps headlong into the culture wars, striking back against famous atheists, referencing the views of Stephen Hawking, Noam Chomsky, and others.
The film also has a number of subplots that reference real-life issues that chafe many Evangelicals. A journalist, described as a radical vegan, conducts ambush interviews with “Duck Dynasty” star Willie Robertson and his wife, who play themselves. It also follows the story of a young Muslim woman, who converts to Christianity and secretly listens to podcasts of the evangelist Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham. Her enraged father violently kicks her out of the house. There is also a subplot about a local pastor struggling with his faith, the vegan journalist who later discovers she has cancer, and the philosophy professor’s mistress, who becomes a Christian.
“I’m so glad a film like ‘God’s Not Dead' is bringing to the public the very real culture clash going on in American public life, especially in education,” e-mails Mitch Land, professor and dean at the School of Communication & the Arts at Regent University, an Evangelical school in Virginia Beach, Va. “We have a right and obligation to express our faith without fear of discrimination or reprisal.”
But responses to the film are as stark as red and blue.
Scott Foundas, chief film critic at Variety, called it a “ham-fisted Christian campus melodrama,” saying its depiction of the college professor was “rather like the Jews in the wartime Nazi propaganda films.”
And so far, some 2,000 ratings on the site imbd.com reveal a divide as wide as it could possibly be. On Monday morning, about half of the arm-chair critics on the site rate the film a "Citizen Kane"-level 10 out of 10 stars (46.3 percent). A full third, however, give it a rock-bottom, "Ishtar"-level 1 star out of 10 (32.8 percent). There's no shades of gray for those who see this film.
Still, others see it in a far less conflict-laden context.
“The success of 'God’s Not Dead' shows at least three things,” says Paul Levinson, media critic and professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University in New York: “Big budgets are not necessary to make popular movies, there is a significant part of the population that cherishes faith-based movies, and students like narratives about arrogant professors who get their due.”
read full article
This weekend, the small-budget “God’s Not Dead” took in more than $8.5 million Friday through Sunday – a surprising fifth-place in this weekend’s box office numbers.
Even more startling, say observers, is the fact that the movie, aimed toward Evangelical Christians, was shown in only 780 theaters – far fewer than those ahead of it, each of which were showing on more than 3,000 screens.
“While this huge opening may be a surprise to the industry, it is not so much to us,” said Mark Borde, co-president of the film’s distributor, said over the weekend. “The in-house tracking, the legitimate one million Facebook fans, the very high trending on Twitter and Fandango, among many other platforms, and the huge positive reaction from the hundreds of screenings over the many past months, gave us hope for a significant opening.”
While not a blockbuster of biblical proportions, the small film’s significant success this weekend comes at a time when Hollywood has been trying to capitalize yet again on the faith-based market, which also made a hit out of “Son of God” earlier this month. The film was condensed from the History Channel’s smash TV hit, “The Bible,” and has taken in nearly $56 million since its release Feb. 28.
But “God’s Not Dead” is a very different kind of film, many observers say. It has a deep resonance in the Evangelical subculture, which often feels mocked and demeaned by the nation’s media and entertainment elites.
“There's a negativity towards Christians in Hollywood,” said Kevin Sorbo, the actor who plays the atheistic philosophy professor. “And a negativity towards people who believe in God.”
“The silent majority is starting to get annoyed with what’s going on,” the Christian actor continued. “I think more people need to start speaking about it instead of just sitting there and taking it.... It’s happening; you’re getting attacked; you need to stand up for yourself and your beliefs.”
Indeed, the film leaps headlong into the culture wars, striking back against famous atheists, referencing the views of Stephen Hawking, Noam Chomsky, and others.
The film also has a number of subplots that reference real-life issues that chafe many Evangelicals. A journalist, described as a radical vegan, conducts ambush interviews with “Duck Dynasty” star Willie Robertson and his wife, who play themselves. It also follows the story of a young Muslim woman, who converts to Christianity and secretly listens to podcasts of the evangelist Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham. Her enraged father violently kicks her out of the house. There is also a subplot about a local pastor struggling with his faith, the vegan journalist who later discovers she has cancer, and the philosophy professor’s mistress, who becomes a Christian.
“I’m so glad a film like ‘God’s Not Dead' is bringing to the public the very real culture clash going on in American public life, especially in education,” e-mails Mitch Land, professor and dean at the School of Communication & the Arts at Regent University, an Evangelical school in Virginia Beach, Va. “We have a right and obligation to express our faith without fear of discrimination or reprisal.”
But responses to the film are as stark as red and blue.
Scott Foundas, chief film critic at Variety, called it a “ham-fisted Christian campus melodrama,” saying its depiction of the college professor was “rather like the Jews in the wartime Nazi propaganda films.”
And so far, some 2,000 ratings on the site imbd.com reveal a divide as wide as it could possibly be. On Monday morning, about half of the arm-chair critics on the site rate the film a "Citizen Kane"-level 10 out of 10 stars (46.3 percent). A full third, however, give it a rock-bottom, "Ishtar"-level 1 star out of 10 (32.8 percent). There's no shades of gray for those who see this film.
Still, others see it in a far less conflict-laden context.
“The success of 'God’s Not Dead' shows at least three things,” says Paul Levinson, media critic and professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University in New York: “Big budgets are not necessary to make popular movies, there is a significant part of the population that cherishes faith-based movies, and students like narratives about arrogant professors who get their due.”
read full article
Monday, March 24, 2014
God's Not Dead Is America's Fifth Most Popular Movie This Week
At just 780 locations, God's Not Dead earned an incredible $8.56 million. That ranks seventh all-time among faith-based movies, and ranks first among those opening in fewer than 1,000 theaters. It's a bit below Courageous ($9.1 million), but above Fireproof ($6.8 million).
The PG-rated film about a college student who is challenged by his professor to prove God's existence was driven by solid advance ticket sales and by church-based outreach. Kevin Sorbo and Dean Cain starred and Duck Dynasty's popular Willie and Korie Robertson made a cameo which was used in the marketing push.
God's Not Dead had a grassroots marketing effort targeted specifically at Christians, who often feel neglected by Hollywood. In addition to the Duck Dynasty stars, popular Christian band Newsboys (who have an album titled "God's Not Dead") were also featured in the film. At least as important was its intriguing story, which centered around a devout Christian college student's philosophical battle with his atheist professor (Kevin Sorbo).
Distributor Freestyle Releasing is looking to expand the movie next weekend. With good word-of-mouth, this could ultimately earn over $30 million total.
The PG-rated film about a college student who is challenged by his professor to prove God's existence was driven by solid advance ticket sales and by church-based outreach. Kevin Sorbo and Dean Cain starred and Duck Dynasty's popular Willie and Korie Robertson made a cameo which was used in the marketing push.
God's Not Dead had a grassroots marketing effort targeted specifically at Christians, who often feel neglected by Hollywood. In addition to the Duck Dynasty stars, popular Christian band Newsboys (who have an album titled "God's Not Dead") were also featured in the film. At least as important was its intriguing story, which centered around a devout Christian college student's philosophical battle with his atheist professor (Kevin Sorbo).
Distributor Freestyle Releasing is looking to expand the movie next weekend. With good word-of-mouth, this could ultimately earn over $30 million total.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Going Hollywood: 'Duck Dynasty' stars 'honored' to be part of Faith & Values Awards
The annual Movieguide Faith & Values Awards celebrates productions focusing on American patriotism, Christian beliefs and the traditional family. Now in its 22nd year, the gala ceremony – being held Friday evening at the Universal Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles – is welcoming “Duck Dynasty” stars Willie and Korie Robertson into the fold.
"We're excited to attend an awards show that honors and recognizes actors, directors, writers, producers and executives providing a positive message in film and programming," Korie Robertson told Fox News. "We are honored to present an award and to see Willie's work recognized as a nominee."
Gala founder Dr. Ted Baehr said the Movieguide Awards are equally as thrilled to have the Robertsons as guests and nominees.
"I think they were pretty beaten down by the media following Phil’s interview last year, and went through a period of extreme angst," Baehr said. "But they’re so excited to be coming and they’re bringing the family."
Willie has a Grace Prize TV nomination for his role in “Last Man Standing: Back to School,” while “Duck Dynasty: Till Duck Do Us Part” is also in the running for the Faith and Freedom TV awards and the Epiphany Prize TV award.
Furthermore, Willie and Korie will together present an award for the Best Family Movie. Nominees in that category include “Frozen,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” and “Oz, The Great and Powerful,” while the “Best Mature Audience Films” is acknowledging “Captain Phillips,” “Gravity” and “Iron Man 3.” On the small screen, “Blue Bloods,” “Remember Sunday” and “Christmas in Conway” will face off against “Duck Dynasty” for the Faith & Freedom Award and the hit History Channel series “The Bible”” is up for both a TV Grace Award and the TV Epiphany Prize.
Other confirmed presenters include Mark Burnett, Roma Downey, Andy Garcia, James Denton, Ali Landry and Holly Robinson, while Ritchie Sambora, Billy Ray Cyrus and AJ Michalka from “Grace Unplugged” will perform.
“This past year has been the greatest year we’ve ever had for movies with faith and values; these are being lifted up everywhere," added Baehr. "But we really try to focus on more than celebrating the actors is the people behind-the-scenes – the writers, directors and produce who make these movies and shows happen. These are the people who are too often forgotten.”
The 22nd Annual Movieguide Faith &Values Awards airs March 1 and 2 on the Reelz Channel.
"We're excited to attend an awards show that honors and recognizes actors, directors, writers, producers and executives providing a positive message in film and programming," Korie Robertson told Fox News. "We are honored to present an award and to see Willie's work recognized as a nominee."
Gala founder Dr. Ted Baehr said the Movieguide Awards are equally as thrilled to have the Robertsons as guests and nominees.
"I think they were pretty beaten down by the media following Phil’s interview last year, and went through a period of extreme angst," Baehr said. "But they’re so excited to be coming and they’re bringing the family."
Willie has a Grace Prize TV nomination for his role in “Last Man Standing: Back to School,” while “Duck Dynasty: Till Duck Do Us Part” is also in the running for the Faith and Freedom TV awards and the Epiphany Prize TV award.
Furthermore, Willie and Korie will together present an award for the Best Family Movie. Nominees in that category include “Frozen,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” and “Oz, The Great and Powerful,” while the “Best Mature Audience Films” is acknowledging “Captain Phillips,” “Gravity” and “Iron Man 3.” On the small screen, “Blue Bloods,” “Remember Sunday” and “Christmas in Conway” will face off against “Duck Dynasty” for the Faith & Freedom Award and the hit History Channel series “The Bible”” is up for both a TV Grace Award and the TV Epiphany Prize.
Other confirmed presenters include Mark Burnett, Roma Downey, Andy Garcia, James Denton, Ali Landry and Holly Robinson, while Ritchie Sambora, Billy Ray Cyrus and AJ Michalka from “Grace Unplugged” will perform.
“This past year has been the greatest year we’ve ever had for movies with faith and values; these are being lifted up everywhere," added Baehr. "But we really try to focus on more than celebrating the actors is the people behind-the-scenes – the writers, directors and produce who make these movies and shows happen. These are the people who are too often forgotten.”
The 22nd Annual Movieguide Faith &Values Awards airs March 1 and 2 on the Reelz Channel.
Monday, January 20, 2014
One Direction Star Is Getting It From All Directions After Tweeting Support for 'Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson
One Direction singer Liam Payne is getting it from all directions after sending a supportive tweet to "Duck Dynasty" star Willie Robertson. Fans are upset with Payne, who they claim is showing support to someone who made anti-gay remarks in an interview last month.
"@williebosshog huge love to you/your family huge respect for your business prosperities and the family values you still all behold. Big fan," Payne tweeted.
His words immediately set off a firestorm of responses from those who follow the popular singer. Many were upset that Payne would support Robertson after his father made controversial remarks during an interview with GQ magazine last month.
"Being a fan of someones show and the way they still hold a family together doesn't mean I am ok with all they say," Payne later tweeted in response to all of the comments.
Other fans, though, have started a Twitter campaign with the phrase "#LiamWeStandByYou" in order to combat all the negative reactions he's received.
"Fox & Friends" posted a photo of Payne and Robertson expressing themselves with cartoon bubbles, though it's not known whether Robertson actually replied to Payne's comments.
"Thanks bro. Congrats to u boys as well. Y'all keep rockin', we'll keep quackin'. Stay strong in this nutty world," Robertson says in the photo.
Payne continued to defend himself against comments from followers and went on a bit of a rant against all the publicity he was receiving because of his comments.
"I can't do anything without being judged u try that and write about it. Sick of all this bull I'll be back again when the freedom of speech law is back and people don't believe to [sic] much into the [expletive] they read," Payne tweeted.
"@williebosshog huge love to you/your family huge respect for your business prosperities and the family values you still all behold. Big fan," Payne tweeted.
His words immediately set off a firestorm of responses from those who follow the popular singer. Many were upset that Payne would support Robertson after his father made controversial remarks during an interview with GQ magazine last month.
"Being a fan of someones show and the way they still hold a family together doesn't mean I am ok with all they say," Payne later tweeted in response to all of the comments.
Other fans, though, have started a Twitter campaign with the phrase "#LiamWeStandByYou" in order to combat all the negative reactions he's received.
"Fox & Friends" posted a photo of Payne and Robertson expressing themselves with cartoon bubbles, though it's not known whether Robertson actually replied to Payne's comments.
"Thanks bro. Congrats to u boys as well. Y'all keep rockin', we'll keep quackin'. Stay strong in this nutty world," Robertson says in the photo.
Payne continued to defend himself against comments from followers and went on a bit of a rant against all the publicity he was receiving because of his comments.
"I can't do anything without being judged u try that and write about it. Sick of all this bull I'll be back again when the freedom of speech law is back and people don't believe to [sic] much into the [expletive] they read," Payne tweeted.
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